Episode: Crusader
(S-4, E-8)
Author:
CN Winters
Fandom:
Subtext report, Xena Fanfiction, Xena and
Gabrielle fanfiction
Author
Note: Many of these reports are littered with errors
because I wrote them quickly and 'on the fly' so I could post
them quicker to the 'Nutforum' back in the day.
Feedback:
Drop me a line at cnwinters71@yahoo.com.
Crusader
Crusader, or as I
like to call it 'subtext-o-rama' (G), has been worth the
subtext light eps. I have to take my hat off to the producers
on this one. They certainly know how to 'walk the thin line'.
But in all honesty, this is the most 'maintext' I've seen in
an ep to date.
With that said,
let's begin...
After getting their
fannies kicked by a female warrior, Xena and Gabby find out
she's the leader of a group of soldiers who mistakenly
attacked them. She's got a little 'greater good' army who go
around righting 'wrongs'.(G) Gabby likes her already.
The warrior,
Najara, asks Xena and Gabrielle to come with her to fight
against an evil slaver whose troops are going to take a
village. Najara has some spirit friends. They are called the
gin, or the jinn or the jynn - I don't know how to spell it
(like so many other words (LOL)). Anyway, the jinn are part of
the 'light' - her driving force in life. They give her the
gift of insight into people and she can see the troubles the
girls have faced recently. Xena and Gabrielle agree to go
along for the ride. (G)
Next we see Najara
looking at the water, Gabby comes up and asks if she's looking
for the slavers men (like Xena would of course) and she said
no, she's just enjoying the view. Gabby likes this. She's an
a**kicker who takes time to smell the flowers. Her perfect
warrior and it shows on her face.(VBG) Round one . . .Najara
(G).
Later that night as
the soldiers sing campfire songs Xena doesn't seem as
enchanted with Najara. Najara talks about starting a hospice
for all the unfortunates of the world. Gabby soaks this up big
time. Xena thinks she's all talk so Najara offers Xena the
chance to run her army which Xena takes. Najara warns Gabby
that she's far too trusting and she should listen to Xena.
Although Xena doesn't smile you can tell it pleases her. The
whole scene plays like a strutting peacock competition between
Xena and Najara(LOL). Round two goes to Xena(BG).
Xena goes to the
captured village and Najara and her soldiers soon follow. They
save the people but not before Najara saves Gabby's life first
by catching an arrow meant for the bard. Najara just smirks
triumphantly. Make sure as they fade to black you get a look
at Xena's face. Our favorite warrior is not all too pleased
that Najara got there first to be Gabby's hero. Round Three
goes to Najara.(BG)
Najara lectures the
slavers and tells them they can find the 'light'. Afterward,
she kisses kids and hugs grateful people. Once more Gabby
can't take her eyes off Najara and you can see the wheels
turning. Najara is everything she's ever wanted Xena to be.
Later that night,
Xena is thinking about her death. Najara senses it and asks if
Gabrielle is part of the vision. When Xena says yes she asks
Najara if she thinks it's possible to change the future.
Najara says yes but usually it takes drastic measures. Gabby
shows up and Najara asks them to travel with her to the
slaver's center - where he 'moves merchandise'. Gabby looks to
Xena for an answer but Xena doesn't say anything so Gabby
gives a hearty yes. Xena says sure(BG). Najara couldn't look
happier. Round Four - split decision.
While walking
through the forest Xena asks Gabby if she's okay and Gabby
says yes she's just thinking about Najara's powers. At that
moment Gabby hears swans and faster than Xena can throw her
chakram, Najara offers her arm to Gabby and says 'Lets go get
a closer look'. Horse scared Gabby wastes no time hoping up
behind Najara, holding her tight around the waist. Najara
orders her troops ahead and then asks Xena if she'd like to
join them - JOIN "THEM"! Now right about now I'm
thinking, Xena. . . SAY SOMETHING!!!!!SHE'S STEALING YOUR
BARD!!!!!AND RIGHT OUT FROM UNDER YOU!!!!!!(vbg) . But what
does Xena say, "No. I'm not into bird watching."
ARRGGHHH!!!!! Round five - Najara.
Oh no not bird
watching. But Xena is into 'bard watching' because she follows
and lurks in the shadows like a stalker. As we see Najara and
Gabby, strolling by the shore I really FELT for Xena. She was
watching her bard go and she didn't think there was anything
she could do about it ~sniffle~.
Anyway, while
walking along the beach (hand in hand - okay they didn't walk
hand in hand but they could have with all the looks and gentle
caresses so far. What's the difference?) Najara and the bard
talk about the hospice and they have this exchange:
N - "Why don't
you do that. . .I don't mind if you start without me."
G - "If I did
that then Xena and I have to go our separate ways. She's not
the hospice type."
N - "Yes. I
see. . .She's on a different path. Perhaps you need to commit
totally to your life with Xena. (CN comment**Be still my
beating heart. Did she just mention marriage? A bonding? Oh
myyyyy goddddddssss!!(LOL)Now back to our dialog). You two do
a lot of good."
G - "Yeah we
do."
Gabby then asks if
the killing bothers Najara because she would never get used to
it. Najara says Gabby needs to find the 'light' because then
she would understand and have a sense of purpose. Gabby
confesses teary eyed that she needs something. The two find
the swans and the shot goes back to Xena. Like I said Xena is
angst but the upcoming shot is great. First you see Xena on
the brink of tears and then they go to a setting sun shot.
Very symbolic if you ask me. And nicely done.(VBG) Round six -
Najara (Xena is really getting her butt kicked (G)).
Later that night at
the campfire Xena said she's going to go up to the 'head
slavers' lair while Najara and her crew free the camp of
slaves. Gabby wants to go with Xena but Xena says there will
be people at the camp who will need her and she can do more
good. Gabby asks if she's sure and Xena says yes but you know
something is up.
We now see Najara
praying to the jinn and Xena comes up. Xena suggests that
Najara start her hospice in the camp they are about to free.
Najara can sense why - Xena is going to leave Gabby. Here's
their exchange:
N - ". . .You
want a place to leave Gabrielle."
X - "She'll
die if she stays with me. You said it would take something
drastic to change our destinies. Maybe this is it."
N - "As soon
as she realizes you've left her you know she'll follow
you."
X - "I see
such joy in her eyes when she talks to you about your mission.
She's been looking for meaning. . .I think you can give it to
her. . .It hasn't always been good for her being with me. . .I
seem to hurt her."
N - "I know
she forgives you. . .I promise I'll do everything I can to
justify your trust."
X - "You
better. . ."
We've just
witnessed the changing of the 'bard' (or should I say
warrior(VBG))
Xena goes back to
the camp and finds Gabby sleeping. She whispers good bye and
leaves on Argo. Round seven - Najara.
Najara frees the
camp as Xena goes to take out the lead slaver. Najara gives
her little 'light' speech again and puts her arm around Gabby.
I noticed at this point how much she likes to touch the bard.
She can't keep her arms off the bard (like I blame her(G)).
Gabby tells Najara that she wants to become part of 'the
light' too.
Xena finds the
slaver who thinks she's Najara. He tells Xena to go ahead and
kill him; that he isn't going to wait three days for her to
kill him when he doesn't reform or when she thinks he isn't
being faithful to 'the light'. With this knowledge Xena races
back to the bard. The bard, however has just taken the 'light'
oath and when Xena does show up she finds them singing songs
in the tavern.
Xena confronts
Najara and Gabby comes to Najara's defense. Najara says she
doesn't kill anyone - she liberates their souls and sends them
to the light. Watch Gabby's expression drop with the look of
'Oh Sh*t! What have I gotten into this time!' That's my Gabby
- always getting into trouble (vbg).
Xena tells
Gabrielle to come along. But as Gabby tries to leave Najara
puts her arm out, stopping Gabby. Najara says that Gabby now
belongs to the light (ie - HER!) and she's her
'responsibility' (vbg). She tells Xena that she hurts
Gabrielle and should basically go away. Check out how ROC
played her reaction. She looks hurt by the fact Najara
mentioned her pain to Xena. Gabby begs Najara not to battle
Xena but both women draw their swords and Gabby, wisely, steps
back. She knows she's first prize in this 'fishing derby' and
watches the battle.
Xena does well. She
knocks Najara into a table but Xena turns her back. Big
mistake because Najara jumps back up and proceeds to open a
can of whup a** on Xena, beating her with a stick. Once Xena
is unconscious, Najara gets her sword and proclaims that she's
sending Xena to the light.
Gabby, in 'old
Gabby' fashion (G) rushes over and flings her body over Xena's.
G - "You'll
have to kill us both."
N - "You don't
understand Gabrielle. . .That darkness inside her will destroy
you one day."
G - "Put the
sword down. . .Najara, you and I, we'll walk outta here
together."
N - "You're
just saying that to protect her."
G - "Xena's
darkside frightens me. . . I need to move on but I could never
live with someone who killed her. . .There would be no going
back from that."
Najara takes a
moment to decide but she leaves with Gabrielle. Round eight -
without a doubt, Najara.
Later we see Xena
struggle to her feet. She goes to the bar and asks for water.
When she swooshes it around she spits out a molar. "I got
my butt whipped didn't I?" she asks a little girl atop
the bar. The little three year old nods and says 'Ahhh Haaa'.
Xena can't help but laugh even in her beat up condition. At
the bar she says she this of Najara: "She's a tough girl
but she's got a weakness. . .(the camera shows Xena looking at
her beat up reflection) . . .it's the same one that I
have." Ohhhh boyyyyy!!!! Xena admits that Gabby's her
weakness - as if we didn't know. It's still nice to hear
though.(vbg).
Back at the 'house
of love' which is a cave, Najara walks in cheery and happy but
Gabby isn't too pleased with Najara's approach to life. Najara
uses the argument that Xena kills people. "Why is she
better than me?" Gee. Is Najara already feeling the sting
of competing with a past love (LOL)?
She hears a noise
outside and goes to investigate. Xena sneaks in and devises a
trap to get Najara. I won't tell you about the exchange
between Xena and Gabby but let me say that it was quite
humorous - old funny, not the new bathroom humor that people
seem to despise.
When Najara returns
we see Gabby strung up by a burning rope over a canyon in the
cave. Gabby warns Najara that Xena has 'snapped'. Najara and
Xena have this exchange:
N - "You
expect me to believe you're going to let her die?"
X - ". . .I
just asked her to come with me and you know what she said. .
.She said she'd rather stay here and try to reform you. . .But
if I can't have her, nobody's gonna have her. . ." (I
swear I read that very line in an alt fan fic story someplace
(G)).
N - (who's all red
under the collar since Xena can't take no for an answer yells)
"I knew you were no good for her!"
Xena battles Najara
again and Xena taunts Najara with all the insecurities she has
traveling with the bard - how she worries about Gabby, how
seeing Gabby die would kill her, how Gabby's presence has
Najara's focus off. (Like I said this ep is a subtexters dream
come true. . .almost. . .I kiss at the end would have been
nice (G)).
Of course Gabby
helps Xena's efforts by yelling to Najara for help and to
hurry.
Xena's plan works
and she pushes Najara to the canyon. But Najara manages to
snag the edge. It's there that Najara sees Gabrielle is safe
and standing on a blank across the pit. Xena walks over slowly
and starts to step on her fingers with a wicked look on her
face. Xena's pissed now - this woman betrayed her trust, stole
her bard and made her lose one of her best chewing teeth (VBG).
But Gabby saves a second woman that day when she asks Xena to
stop.
And the TKO (thanks
to Gabby who could have let Xena kill Najara) goes to Xena.
Reigning Champion of Queen Gabrielle!!!!!!
However Najara does
get a final blow in as Xena 'leaves the ring'(VBG). When they
are leaving Xena asks if Najara told Gabrielle about her
'death vision' . Najara says: "No, that would hurt her.
And I don't ever want to do that. . .That's your job."
Ouuuchhh! That
hurt! Probably worse than the tooth too.
Xena simple walks
away and Najara, with her insight, says "I forgive you
Gabrielle."
I think this is
Xena's new villian for many reasons. TPTB said the new villain
would be female, she wouldn't be totally bad and will haunt
Xena for different reasons. I really think this is the one -
besides the guy that played the slavers leader was none other
than Callisto's former henchman Theodorus. Not THE Theodorus
mind you - he's dead. It's the same actor. I think that's a
clue however it could just be a coincidence. . . .Nahhhh (G).
. .Najara's our new 'bad girl' on the block - - I can feel it
(VBG). And I think she poses more of a threat than Calli ever
did because Najara doesn't necessarily hate Xena - she just
loves the bard (vbg) and the bard for the most of this ep was
quite taken with Najara. I look forward to seeing what they do
with this character in coming eps.
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