Episode: Past
Imperfect (S-4, E-9)
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.
Past Imperfect
Is
there subtext in this ep? Little - very little. Was it still a
good ep? Sure. Not great mind you (G) but good.
When
we open this ep, we see Xena finally discussing the death
vision with Gabrielle. Gabby just brushes it off - she just
doesn't share Xena's acceptance that their destiny hangs on
the cross. For someone who claims to be an oracle and having
the 'gift of prophecy', I'm surprised by Gabrielle's reaction.
I think it comes out of a fear that Xena maybe correct in her
assumption.
Gabby
says they must hurry to warn a city of an attack. When they
get to the city the fire bombs begin to fall. While Xena
rescues a small girl she gets a good whack to the head and she
remembers how this happened in Corneth when she attack.
Later
at the hospital Xena is talking with the commander who has
never been in battle (go figure) and Xena is now in command of
the city troops. While she's talking with Gabrielle she
remembers how she poisoned Corneth's grain. Xena's female
slave (I know there's an alt story somewhere in there just
dying to get out (G)) gave her ideas on how to take Corneth.
Xena dismisses the slaves ideas, except for the grain. Back in
the present time Xena realize that the recent illness in the
city is because the grain is poisoned. She also realizes that
this person who's attacking the city is using all her old
tactics and she tries to think of how she can defeat
'herself'.
Xena
learns of dam that goes to the city. At the river, she
remembers capturing some Corneth soldiers and some centaurs.
Borias sets the centaurs free, asking for a peace treaty. As
for the soldiers, Xena decides to send a message to Corneth by
killing the prisoners and floating them down river. Borias
doesn't seem too pleased with Xena's tactics and his woman's
obsession STILL with Alti and her promises to make her the
destroyer of nations. Xena wants to take on the centaurs so
they are clear to take Athens without any problems. Borias
says leave them be.
Back
at the present day, Xena and the city soldiers go to burst the
dam. A solider makes a comment about how amazing Xena is and
Gabby give him a 'hands-off' kinda look or it could be a look
of 'in your dreams solider boy'(G). Anyway, the advancing army
attacks them and they fight them off. Xena looks up and sees a
snow covered mountain and freezes up. Gabby beats up the bad
guys and asks Xena if she's alright. She says yes and they
leave going back to the city. At some point, Xena remembers
how she had the centaurs captured who arrived with Borias to
talk peace. Xena orders their death and Borias declares war on
Xena, freeing the centaurs and leaving with them.
Inside
the city (present day - well not PRESENT DAY but you get the
point (G)) Xena says that she wants Gabby to leave because of
the vision. Gabby once more tells Xena to shove it - she's
staying and if that's her future so be it. Gabby's a little
more defiant than usually. It takes Xena saying her name twice
to get her to turn around and talk to her. Gabby says, more or
less, that the vision is starting to cripple Xena and she's
gotta get a grip. At this point I can't wait to see the ep
where Gabby cuts her hair.
Xena
didn't mention the short hair and I'm sure she's gonna wig out
(pun intended (G)) when she sees that Gabby shed her
strawberry-blonde locks.
But
back to the story. . .
Xena
remembers that they tried to tunnel into the Corneth years
before and she finds that they are doing the same. She gets
hit by a poison dart and she starts to remember Solan's birth.
As the centaurs attack Xena's army, Xena goes into labor and
Borias sneaks into the tent to see her. He says he's taking
her and Solan so they could be together and start over.
As
he gets the horse ready to take Xena away the slave comes out
and stabs Borias in the leg, saying he can't take Xena because
Xena has so much she could still teach her in the art of war.
Daphine, Dalphine, ohhh I don't know his name - the bad guy
from Orphan of War who wants that stupid stone so he can be an
evil centaur - any way, that guy is called by the slave to
stop Borias from 'killing Xena'. Good ole Dap' puts up a good
fight and while he's beating the stuffing out of Borias, Xena
is inside a tent having Solan.
Dap
does kill Borias as Xena is leaving with the baby. The slave
helps Xena to a wagon and Xena watches as Borias reaches for
both of them - I think he says the name Solan but due to a bad
dish feed that's debatable (G). He dies in the dirt and Xena
watches him as she rides away.
In
the present day, Xena meets the 'man' who's trying to take the
city. It's actually the slave woman from years ago who helped
her with labor, giving her a special herb to ease the pain.
Thing is she also told Xena the antidote years before as well
and Xena took it before she went to see the opposing army's
digging process. In other words she tricks the female warrior
into thinking she's been drugged. They fight and Gabby (with
the city's army following) arrive from the other end of the
tunnel to join the battle. The 'warrior slave' has plans to
collapse the city wall and tries to use it.
It
doesn't work the way she planned and she may or may not have
been buried by the rockslide that followed.
At
a campfire, Xena and Gabby discuss the vision again. This time
Gabby is less critical of Xena's concern and curls up next to
her, putting her arm around her (ahhhh...). Xena then tells
the story of how she went to the centaurs and gave Solan to
them. While Xena cries silent tears, Gabby runs her fingers
through Xena's hair and rests her head against Xena's. We then
fade to black.
Not
a great ep like I said but a good one. Not much subtext just a
few of those touchy, feely moments many subtexters love. I'm
still waiting to see what Xena says about the hair cut though.
. .some bard's gonna have Tartarus to pay (G). . .
CN
Winters
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