Xena: Season 3, Episode 11: "Maternal Instincts"

"Maternal Instincts"

Oooooooooh SHIT. GOD. K, first of all:

1) There's a reason we needed those three comedies back to back. It wasn't just because of the heavy subject matter at the start of the season. It was also because of this episode.
2) I'm not going to say that Xena's singing made me cry. I will say though that I got teary-eyed while she was singing.
3) I watched "The Bitter Suite" right after this, because, well, it's Valentine's Day and I just couldn't help myself.

SPOILERS: My reviews are full of them! I'll try to note when I'm about to spoil the series by posting [SERIES SPOILER] before said item and [END SPOILER] after. Please don't read the review, unless you've seen the episode under discussion or don't care if I spoil it.

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Xena: Season 3, Episode 10: "The Quill Is Mightier..."

"The Quill Is Mightier..."

Man, three comedies in a row! Frankly, we needed them, didn't we? Question. What does it take to make up for Xena's absence in an episode?

1. Ares
2. Aphrodite
3. Joxer
4. Minya
5. Magic
6. Money and beer falling from the sky
7. Three naked Gabrielles  

Whatever, it totally worked. I frickin' love this episode! As soon as it started, I kicked myself for not remembering what it was about. It's practically spelled out. Also, fyi, this director-writer duo also did "Been There, Done That."

SPOILERS: My reviews are full of them! I'll try to note when I'm about to spoil the series by posting [SERIES SPOILER] before said item and [END SPOILER] after. Please don't read the review, unless you've seen the episode under discussion or don't care if I spoil it.

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Just Checkin' In

This is an update on my life. Please feel free to skip it.

The play is over.

It was a success. To my surprise, I received a glowing write-up from The New York Theater Review. My part was small, but this lady loved the shit out of me. I wouldn't advertise it on here right now, if I were using my real name instead of Wanda Tate.

I just filed my taxes.

And I owe a total of $510.00 (god damn it). The good news: I filed for free through OnLine Taxes or OLT.com.

There's a tub of Brownies to my right.

I purchased them today at the store. They're almost gone and not very good.

Yesterday, my boss begged me to come back to work and succeeded.

I'm sad, because I fear I won't have time for Xena, just when I was getting going again. However, with the pay offered and sushi dinner used to coerce me, I couldn't turn it down. I restart Monday.

I'm addicted to comic books.

Perhaps I've mentioned this before, or you should've seen it coming when you saw my Strangers in Paradise post. I've since expanded my graphic explorations to cover several writers, artists, heroes and publishers. I'm mostly focused on supporting female-lead comic books, but I'll read anything, if it's good. So far, my pull list is 18-deep. Here's what I'm currently following:

1. Ghost, Volume 4 (Dark Horse)
2. Batgirl, Volume 4 (DC)
3. Batwoman (DC)
4. Legends of Red Sonja (Dynamite)
5. Red Sonja, Volume 5 (Dynamite)
6. Maxx Maxximized (IDW Publishing)
7. Lazarus (Image)
8. Pretty Deadly (Image)
9. Revival (Image)
10. Rocket Girl (Image)
11. Afterlife with Archie (Independent)
12. Rachel Rising (Independent)
13. Black Widow, Volume 5 (Marvel)
14. Captain Marvel, Volume 6 (Marvel)
15. Hawkeye, Volume 4 (Marvel)
16. Ms. Marvel, Volume 3 (Marvel)
17. She-Hulk, Volume 3 (Marvel)
18. X-Men, Volume 4 (Marvel)

 Comics I'm reading that have ended:

1. Birds of Prey, Volume 1 (DC)
2. Gotham Central (DC)
3. Secret Six, Volumes 2 and 3 (DC)
4. Echo by Terry Moore (Independent)
5. Strangers in Paradise (Independent)
6. Fearless Defenders (Marvel)
7. Journey Into Mystery, featuring Sif (Marvel)
8. Manhunter, Volume 3 (Marvel)
9. Ms. Marvel, Volume 2 (Marvel)
10. Red She-Hulk (Marvel)
11. Witching Hour (Vertigo)

I think that's all of them. If you wanna talk about any of these, I'M DOWN. I love comic books. So much.

The brownies are all gone.

Because I ate them all. I'm not ashamed.

My good friend Jolisa just broke up with her boyfriend.

I feel so bad for her. That shit sucks. There's a small possibility she'll move in with me, if her life implodes.

Yes, I've been fucking around on Tinder. 

So sue me. If you see a hot chick cuddling with a sleeping kitten, that's me.  

I'm all caught up on Girls. 

I can't say I love this show, but I love watching it for a few reasons. 

1. Lena Dunham is so young and totally succeeding with this show.
2. It's filmed and takes place in New York City.
3. I love Adam. 
4. I love the music choices.
5. Lena's life sort of parallels my own, so I hang on everything she says. 

I have panic disorder.

And am slowly looking forward to CBT therapy as soon as my benefits are restored through work. Have you ever had a panic attack before? I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

I just mailed my rent check.

For February. I'd say it's really fucking late. Trying not to think about it. 

I just paid my bills.

And will have no money, until I get my first paycheck from work, yet I need money for subway rides to get there. I'm happy though. 

A "catastrophic nor'easter" is blowing into NYC as I type.

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!...We may get up to 14" of snow. This is on top of all of the other mounds of black and brown snow that have turned to ice, because it's snowed and snowed and snowed all winter here and the temperature hasn't risen above 32 degrees since November, so the snow can't melt. Also, even weirder, the city is running dangerously low on salt, so it's awfully slippery. People have been eating it right and left. I fear I'm next.

In the past week, I've eaten two pounds of bacon.

I earned it.

The construction next door is muffled.

But far from finished. I'm to the point now, where I can sleep through it and seldom require earplugs. I still plan to move in June, mainly because my sunlight is gone. I'll probably stay in NYC, though I'm considering California. It's just getting too expensive to live here these days.

My face is peeling.

And my fingernails and other parts of my skin are dyed black from all the makeup involved with my costume from the play. Also, another side effect of the production, I've maintained a myriad of bruises in unusual places, such as the top of my right foot and on my chest.

Yes, I'm following Bridgegate.

I watch Rachel, so I know all about it. I'm one who hopes Chris Christie is telling the truth in not knowing about the lane closures or the Hoboken/Sandy incident. I'm pretty liberal, but I liked him. Crossing my fingers, though it doesn't look good.

I can't think of anything else.

Yeah, I think I'm done. Now I gotta rework the calendar. Talk to you soon.

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Xena: Season 3, Episode 09: "Warrior...Priestess...Tramp"

"Warrior...Priestess...Tramp"

Two look-alike episodes back-to-back?? Thank you, Jesus!!

SPOILERS: My reviews are full of them! I'll try to note when I'm about to spoil the series by posting [SERIES SPOILER] before said item and [END SPOILER] after. Please don't read the review, unless you've seen the episode under discussion or don't care if I spoil it.

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Xena: Season 3, Episode 08: "The King of Assassins"

"The King of Assassins"

OK, I don’t remember this episode. Like AT ALL. As in, I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen it before. If I wasn’t 99% certain I have seen it, I’d say it was new to me. I’m almost wondering if I somehow missed it during the 2009 viewing. Otherwise, “King of Assassins” is just what the doctor ordered. Sure it starts out slow, but it gains momentum in the tail.

SPOILERS: My reviews are full of them! I'll try to note when I'm about to spoil the series by posting [SERIES SPOILER] before said item and [END SPOILER] after. Please don't read the review, unless you've seen the episode under discussion or don't care if I spoil it.

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Xena: Season 3, Episode 07: "The Debt II"

"The Debt II"

Great part two. Loved the shit out of it.

SPOILERS: My reviews are full of them! I'll try to note when I'm about to spoil the series by posting [SERIES SPOILER] before said item and [END SPOILER] after. Please don't read the review, unless you've seen the episode under discussion or don't care if I spoil it.

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Xena: Season 3, Episode 06: "The Debt"

"The Debt"

Holy shit. Yeah, this is the good stuff right here. These two eps are epic. E-P-I-C Eps. I mean, Xena and Gabrielle are fucking each other over right and left. Furthermore, I remember this episode being ballsy, but I don't recall it being this ballsy.

Technical note: I watched "The Debt" and "The Debt II" in one sitting and posted both reviews to this blog at the same time. 

SPOILERS: My reviews are full of them! I'll try to note when I'm about to spoil the series by posting [SERIES SPOILER] before said item and [END SPOILER] after. Please don't read the review, unless you've seen the episode under discussion or don't care if I spoil it.

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Xena: Season 3, Episode 05: "Gabrielle's Hope"

"Gabrielle's Hope"

What a beautiful fuckin’ episode. GEEZus, it's so good... Hmm, it’s really good, and I can definitely say this is the second time in my life I've ever seen it, so it was like the first time.

This episode marks one point of many where the series takes a turn onto a new level of serious that can't be found in the 1st and 2nd seasons. Also, it’s tentatively the first time Xena and Gabrielle oppose each other. Suddenly... there’s a rift.

Let's start with the end. I love the final scenes of this episode. Holy shit, I was so into it. The writing is perfect.

G: "Xena, this is madness."
X: "Get away from that rock, Gabrielle."
G: "I can't believe you're doing this."
X: "Move."
G: "No."
X: “Now!"

This is the best scene in all history. I love Xena’s remorseful expression, for it's true: if Hope had been behind that rock, Xena would have killed her, and that's why she looked so sad telling Gabrielle to move. Hope's murder would have ended their relationship, Xena knew, but she would do it to save Gabrielle, herself, and all of mankind. She was going to kill a baby, her best friend’s baby. It was also Gabrielle’s test for Xena, to see if Xena would actually commit such a crime. This is some twisted, intense, fucked up shit right here. I love it so.

I have a minor squabble with the actual pregnancy. Aside from the improbability of a baby growing that fast without producing stretch marks, Gabrielle’s instant bond with the baby (which came about 10 minutes after she found out there even was a baby, mind you) has always bewildered me. That is all.

In addition to being dope, this episode features two events for the second time. 

1) A hardcore reference to The Sword in the Stone, where again, Xena easily pulls the sword out of the stone, admires it and puts it back. Name the ep where it happens the first time, because I can't remember which one it is. 

2) We see a baby floating down the river! This also happens in Season 1, Episode 4, coincidentally titled "Cradle of Hope." 

In summary, Xena tries to kill Gabrielle’s baby and Gabrielle lies to Xena. Shit, man. And they’re both right! It’s gloooorious.

Kinda lovin' R.J. Stewart right now. Good writer.

SPOILERS: My reviews are full of them! I'll try to note when I'm about to spoil the series by posting [SERIES SPOILER] before said item and [END SPOILER] after. Please don't read the review, unless you've seen the episode under discussion or don't care if I spoil it.

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