Directed by Charles Siebert
Written by Adam Armus and Nora Kay Foster
In an attempt to win Xena back to lead his army, Ares masterminds a plot involving Xena's estranged father Atrius.
This episode contains examples of:
- Asskicking Leads to Leadership: Xena displays a devastating beatdown of Kirilus in order to convince his army to join her in battle.
- Cruel Mercy: When Kirilus gets defeated by Xena, Ares appears to tell him what a chump and then just leaves him there. Evidently, he feels that leaving the guy alive to his humiliation is more satisfying than killing him outright.
- Go Through Me: Gabrielle draws a line in the sand between Xena and the villagers she wants to slaughter. The fact that Gabrielle hit her on the back is what gets Xena back to her senses.
- Luke, I Am Your Father: Atrius appears and tells Xena that he is her father. Subverted Trope. It's actually Ares in disguise.
- Rape, Pillage, and Burn: Xena commands her army to capture everyone in the village where Atrius was tied up.
- Slasher Smile: Xena has one one her face when she was at the cusp of completing the Face–Heel Turn.
- Toxic Friend Influence: Atrius' actions begin to influence Xena back to her warlord ways. This is actually all part of Ares' plan.
- You Are What You Hate: Gabrielle accuses Xena of becoming a warlord again, the very thing Xena saved Gabrielle from when they first met.
