I came home this evening from running some errands and wanted to watch a little TV while eating dinner before I began a project on my radar this evening.
I’ve heard Neil Howe (the generations expert at whose feet I bow) mention Xena: Warrior Princess quite a few times in talking about the Gen X archetype and how, especially in midlife (which always corresponds with the nation’s 20-ish-year-long Crisis Era), Xers are that lone hero who take on the dirty challenges of the moment because, well, someone has to.
So, when my TV screen tonight showed me a few popular-now shows and Xena was among them, I thought, “Sure, I’ll give it a look.”
Holy smokes! Not that I’m complaining in an overly prudish way, but this is a rather sexualized show–aimed at teens. The one show I saw (S6, E22) had her being whipped and stripped by some Satan-like bad guy who said he was going to use her like a whore for eternity … or something along those lines.
And then there’s the girl-girl love with Xena and ‘her Robin.’ They kissed in this show. I didn’t seek it or pick this show. It’s just the episode that play when I clicked ‘start.’
I think the Xena+Gabriella vibe is groovy and all. All for it. I just didn’t know there was so much proto-adult context in this show, though that shouldn’t surprise me as the GenX archetype always grows up quickly and is over-exposed to adult issues and content at a young age.
As I’m typing this post, I realize I just watched the final episode of the final show in the series. Well, that’s one way to do it: start at the end.
And for Xena? Go, Girl! Show ’em how it’s done!
Final episode kiss … though I do not recall The Flower Duet from Lakme playing during the TV show as it does in this clip.
