TV Review Xena Warrior Princess Season Four Paradise Found

TV REVIEW XENA WARRIOR PRINCESS SEASON 4 PARADISE FOUND

A warm up exercise episode for the looming India arc. On route for India, in search of enlightenment, and with Xena eager to draw Gabrielle away from the death by crucifixion prophesies that haunt her, the ladies shelter from a storm in a cave, where Gabrielle falls down a deep shaft in the rocks. Xena throws herself in after her, even though the drop should kill the pair of them.

They find themselves in a cheerful, happy valley, with singing birds, lovely gardens and statues, mostly of people. Xena compares the land to the land of Illusia, and they meet a half crazed soldier who tells them the whole realm belongs to a man called Aiden (played by Jeremy Roberts)

Aiden proves to be a smooth talking guru who starts to teach Gabrielle deep meditation techniques. Xena declines to join in and mistrusts Aiden, quite rightly as it turns out.  However, in not succumbing to his mediation techniques, she begins to lose her mind, and starts finding it difficult to tell the real from the illusion. Her descent into craziness is the strongest and funniest element of the story.

Xena discovers from the lost soldier that Aiden’s techniques actually turn people into statues, and this is already beginning for Gabrielle. Xena turns on Aiden and the whole veil of illusion vanishes. The ladies, and the soldier, never left the cave. His legions are however long since gone.

The soldier’s resistance seems unlikely; given the super-human struggle Xena faces herself in resisting the lure of Aiden’s traps. Aiden is a well-presented character though and Xena’s attack on the cute wildlife of his realm is a terrific touch.

Arthur Chappell