Before streaming, we had syndication, when a production company would sell shows to help fill airtime on channels. It was considered the ultimate goal for every series because syndication rights could go for millions of dollars.
Two of the greatest shows that went directly to the syndicated model were Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, starring Kevin Sorbo, and its spinoff, Xena: Warrior Princess. Starring Lucy Lawless, Xena embraced its campy aesthetic and was a wild ride every year. One of its best episodes, considered nearly perfect by most fans, has Xena facing off against the entire Persian army in a retelling of the story of the Spartans’ final stand.
Lucy Lawless as Xena in “One Against An Army.”
Zack Snyder’s 300 is a great movie that remains the ideal highlight reel of his blend of cinematography, slow-motion, and exaggerated storytelling, but Xena: Warrior Prince‘s “One Against An Army,” in Season 3 Episode 13, tops it. The story, first aired in 1998, succeeds by keeping the scale small while the stakes are life and death.
The relationship between Xena and her sidekick, Gabrielle (Renee O’Connor), drives most of the series, but it’s here that Xena is willing to sacrifice Greece to keep Gabrielle safe. Gabrielle says her life is worth the greater good, causing them to butt heads as a poisoned arrow is slowly killing the Amazon’s friend, while the Persian army is slowly approaching.
Lucy Lawless as Xena and Renee O’Connor as Gabrielle in Xena: Warrior Princess’s “One Against An Army.”
Gabrielle wins, and the two get ready to make their stand in the village of Tripolis, having fed a Persian spy misinformation claiming the Thermopylae Pass has been blocked by a rockslide. That information diverts the army to right where she wants them.
After stowing Gabrielle out of the way, Xena stands tall against the oncoming army, and what happens next might be the greatest seven-minute segment of the entire series. The show is called Xena: Warrior Princess, not Xena: Let’s Talk Things Out, and in “One Against An Army,” they show what the character can do when she cuts loose.
Xena turns to face a soldier who drops from the ceiling in “One Against An Army.”
As the bodies pile up around her, Xena starts to slow down, and in a rarity for the series, she’s shown taking at least two brutal blows that leave her with obvious cuts and wounds. But she doesn’t stop, not even when a very large soldier drops through the ceiling and tries to get her from behind, thanks to Gabrielle’s abilities as an Oracle (often mentioned, rarely used). It’s cheesy action, but in the heat of the moment, after the buildup of concern for her friend over the last 30 minutes, it’s incredible.
“One Against An Army” was a fan choice to be part of the Xena: Warrior Princess 10 Anniversary DVD Collection, one of only 17 episodes chosen. The episode contains everything you need to know about Xena, her relationship with Gabrielle, mixed feelings about Grecian authority, standing up for what’s morally right even if it could cost her everything, and of course, Lucy Lawless bringing a level of acting and emotion to the role proved no one else could, and no one else ever should, even attempt to play Xena.
Xena battles an army in Xena: Warrior Princess’s “One Against An Army.”
300 brings the battle to life as part of a massive blockbuster spectacle that still stands out due to its live-action comic book aesthetic, but for Xena: Warrior Princess to condense the story into one episode, and get across the desperation and determination of the legendary hero to never give up on the shoestring budget Sam Raimi was operating on in New Zealand, is impressive. It’s no wonder that 24 years after the series came to a controversial end, it’s still fondly remembered, and helped turn Lucy Lawless into a genre legend.
After years of not being available on streaming, Xena: Warrior Princess is now free to watch for members on Amazon Prime Video.
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