five thousand shades of blue
Monday, June 25, 2001
Spoilers for the Xena Series Finale.
You have been warned.
Instead of talking about how much I hated the ending, how it went against the everything the show was about (I'd think that Xena's seven or so years of crusading for good would be enough proof of redemption, wouldn't you?), I'm going to write how I think the ending should have gone.
As the sun dipped ever nearer to the horizon, Gabrielle leaned closer into Xena, feeling the pit of her stomach plummet as she realized this sunset would be her last with her best friend. She found it so hard to believe that in exchange for those forty thousand souls to be released, that Xena would have to stay dead to keep them redeemed.
Gabrielle had been moments from releasing her ashes into the Fountain of Strength, when Xena held her hands to prevent her. I have to die, she'd said, to keep those souls free. As much as it hurts to leave you, I must do this.
Tears filled Gabrielle's eyes as the last bit of the sun fell behind the mountain. This was it. She memorized the sensation of leaning against Xena, expecting it to disappear into smoke at any moment.
In an instant, though, the sky was filled with a blinding light, and they both raised their hands to shield their eyes.
you have redeemed yourself, said a booming voice. your willingness to sacrifice yourself for the souls of the murdered has proven to us you are worthy of forgiveness. you shall be restored.
The light faded, returning the pair to evening dusk, and they looked at one another. The sun had set, and yet, here was Xena, full flesh and blood. She had not in fact shimmered away into nothingness with the sun. Gabrielle cried and threw her arms around Xena, holding on to her like she might not ever let go.
Okay, not my best work, but you get the idea. The suspense of not knowing if she would really die was enough. They didn't need to actually DO IT.
We had a chuckle when we realized that Gabrielle's next stop after Xena's death was the land of the Pharoahs. The Nile. A river in Egypt? Or denial? The ghost of Xena, and only Gabrielle can see her. Ha, ha.
is
this just not enough…?
