Story by Robert Tapert
Written by RJ Stewart
Directed by Michael Hurst
When Gabrielle finds out that a warlord killed her parents and kidnapped her nephew, she seeks vengeance against that man.
Tropes
- Assassination Attempt: Garbrielle's dance is a ruse so that she can throw a dagger at whoever she thinks is Gurkhan. Luckily, Xena stops her and takes the fall.
- Batman Gambit: Xena wins over the affections of Gurkhan and demands Sarah's head on a platter, getting a reaction out of the person they were looking for.
- Broken Tears: Sarah initially rejects Gabrielle's plea to come with her. Eventually the poor girl breaks down in tears and hugs her aunt.
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Enforced Method Acting: The acting felt so real that Lucy Lawless was spasming by the time she was hung in chains. - Gorn: Xena is beaten bloody by Gurkhan's forces to the point that she's barely recognizable. It was so bad that several countries banned the episode.
- Green Around the Gills: Gabrielle's seasickness returns in this episode. Incidentally, the show forgot that she found a way to alleviate the pain herself years ago.
- Hidden Villain: Gurkhan goes all out in making sure as few people know of his identity as possible. When Xena was sold to him at the highest bidder, she's taken by an associate instead. None of the wives are allowed to talk about him to each other. The only way to look at his face is when he has his personal time with them.
- If You Kill Him, You Will Be Just Like Him!: Stated by Xena and Eve to Gabrielle on her drive for revenge. Later when she has the chance to kill Gurkhan, she utters this before sparring his life.
- The Infiltration: Xena disguises herself as a slave girl in order to find Sarah as well as the identity of Gurkhan. Gabrielle later does the same thin.
- Polyamory: Gurkhan has many wives at his disposal.
- Revenge: Gabrielle is fueled with revenge for the death of her parents and brother in-law.
- Top Wife: The blonde one is by far the ruthless of them all and is the only one who is allowed to see his face in the presence of the other wives. It's later revealed to be the very women Xena and Gabrielle were after.
