Story by RJ Stewart and Ropert Tapert
Teleplay by RJ Stewart
Directed by Oley Sassone
Xena is betrayed when she journeys to the Kingdom of Chin to settle a debt from her dark past.
Tropes
- Failed a Spot Check: Averted. The usually oblivious Gabrielle manages to spot someone hidden in the trees for once.Gabrielle: There's somebody in the shadows by the poplar tree.Xena: [looking proud of Gabrielle] I know.
- Homoerotic Subtext: When Xena thought Lao Ma was trying to draw Borias away from her, she responds by sticking a knife into a plate of meat.Xena: That's my piece of meat you're reaching forLao Ma: You're wrong. I don't eat meat.
- Hunting the Most Dangerous Game: Ming Tzu sets Xena up to be hunted as punishment for kidnapping his son.
- In a Single Bound: Xena jumps from the bottom of a moat to the second floor of a building.
- Lured into a Trap: Instead of the Green Dragon, Xena finds Gabrielle in the bed who confessed she had already told the authorities of the assassination.
- Multi-Part Episode
- Positive Friend Influence: Xena revealed to Gabrielle that the reason she tried to kill Lao Ma was not because she was jealous, but because she recognized her ability to change Borias to a good person.
- Pressure Point: Xena uses The Pinch on a guard in the flashback... only this time she has no intention of undoing it, leaving him to die.
- Psychic Powers: Lao Ma can send people flying with this. Xena learned this the hard way when she tried to kill her.
- Stealth Expert: Xena proved to be one when she managed to enter the kingdom undetected.
- Whole Episode Flashback: Much of the episode is a continuation of the previous flashback episode.
