Directed by Michael Levine
Teleplay by Steven L Sears
While Xena's body is being prepared to be buried by Gabrielle, her spirit takes over Autolycus' body in an effort to bring herself back to the living.
Tropes
- Amazon Brigade: The Amazons make an appearance in this episode.
- Big Damn Heroes: During The Teaser.Thug: [to Gabrielle] You just made an enemy.
Iolaus: [popping up behind him] What a coincidence. So have you. - Cold-Blooded Torture: Velasca inflicts some on Autolycus both to learn how to get to the hidden ambrosia and because she's a sadist. Auto doesn't break (suffering a broken arm and several bruises in the process), but she finds the Dagger of Helios on his person and puts the pieces together, anyway.
- Due to the Dead: After catching up with Gabrielle, Ephiny and the assembled Amazons place their swords on Xena's coffin as a sign of respect. They later want to burn the body as part of their funerary ritual, as they consider Xena an Amazon in all but name.
- Friendship Moment:
- Iolaus consoles Gabrielle and gives her some advice about dealing with loss.
- Ephiny tries to help Gabrielle deal with letting go.
- Xena thanks Autolycus for all this and says he's always someone she can trust.
- Hidden Heart of Gold:
- While bidding farewell to Autolycus.Autolycus: I let you experience what it's like to be Autolycus. You were in there. You were controlling my bodily functions. That's not something I do for everyone.
Xena: No, you don't often let people see who you really are, either. I was in there. I know. Despite all your bluster and bravado, Autolycus, you're a nice person. I knew I could trust you. I always will.
Autolycus: Yes, well, yes, there you have it. Thank you. - Gabrielle reflects on being possessed by Xena, saying she actually felt warm, friendly, and loving. Xena points out this was during a fight, but Gabrielle says she felt protected instead of savage.
- While bidding farewell to Autolycus.
- Immortality Inducer: The Ambrosia is capable of turning anyone into a god. It is also needed by Xena to be brought back to life.
- Improvised Lockpick: Autolycus gets one from Solari's bra pin after a delicate pull.
- Killed Offscreen: The former Queen Melosa. She had only made one appearance on the show.
- Last Request: Gabrielle had initially intended to honor Xena's request to be buried next to Lyceus, though she's talked into letting the Amazons put the body on the pyre.
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Les Yay: The most prominent example so far, as Gabrielle imagines Xena kissing her on the lips. In Real Life, she was kissing Autolycus instead.Autolycus: Well, I... hope you two worked things out.
Gabrielle: We did. Thank you. I mean that. - Never Got to Say Goodbye: Part of Gabrielle struggling over letting go is that Xena died when so much was left unsaid.Iolaus: We always think we have plenty of time. We know people are gonna leave us, but we never face up to it. What would you have told her?
Gabrielle: I would have told her how empty my life was before she came, and all the lessons I learned, and that I love her.
Iolaus: Gabrielle, you just told her. - People Puppets: Xena's spirit does this to Autolycus and later Gabrielle.
- Pit Trap: Xena-possessed Gabrielle and Velasca fight over one, with the former pushing the later into it.
- Required Spinoff Crossover: Iolaus makes a brief appearance in The Teaser and the start of the first act before leaving to inform Hercules of what has happened.
- Sadist: Velasca describes herself as such, while torturing Autolycus.Velasca: I like pain. I like what it does to people, and I like what it makes people do.
- Succession Crisis: Gabrielle has the right of cast to rule over the Amazons against Velasca's wishes.
- Tyrant Takes the Helm: Velasca took over after challenging previous ruler Melosa to the death. She wants to go to war against the centaurs while under a peace treaty.
