Written by Adam Armus and Nora Kay Foster
Directed by Bruce Campbell
When Joxer's twin brother Jett plans to assassinate Cleopatra with the help of Autolycus, Gabrielle uses as many Xena-like tactics as possible to try to stop the murder.
Tropes
- Asshole Victim: Autolycus and Jett start out attempting to steal a sword. The owner discovers what they're doing, so Jett kills him immediately. He reasons that no one will care since the guy was a warlord.
- Bad "Bad Acting": When called upon to impersonate each other, neither Joxer nor Jett are very good at it.
- Captured on Purpose: Subverted. After a failed attempt to sneak into the palace window, Gabrielle suggests that their backup plan is to get imprisoned by the guards. Joxer realizes how stupid this plan is, until it's revealed that they're already surrounded.
- Double Entendre: "I have been grabbed more times than the Golden Fleece!"
- Cleopatra's conversation with Autolycus in the hot tub is comprised almost exclusively of these.
Cleopatra: I'll let you know as soon as you make a firm offer. Are you firm yet, Autolycus?
Autolycus: I don't know. I haven't seen your bottom line.
Cleopatra: Let's put this deal to bed, shall we?
Autolycus: Ooh, love to! - Dumbass Has a Point: Joxer observes that, for all his talk of getting a reward, Autolycus really continues to participate in all this because he has a good heart.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Jett's a murderer and a bully, but he loves his brother.
- Everybody Has Standards: Autolycus had no problem working with Jett until he found out he's actually a killer."I don't do murder."
- Hero of Another Story: Xena is off pursuing a warlord for most of the episode.
- Hypocritical Heartwarming: "Nobody hurts my brother, except me."
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Autolycus fills this role as usual, but this time he gets to call out Gabrielle for using the trope name verbatim.
- Late-Arrival Spoiler: Cleopatra being Jett's target was, at the time, played as a surprise saved for halfway through the episode.
- Mistaken for Romance: Pontius repeatedly assumes that "Jett" must have picked up Gabrielle in an inn somewhere. "She's certainly not here to think."
- The Mole: Pontius (Cleopatra's chief of security) is actually loyal to her brother, Ptolemy, and hired Jett to kill her.
- Nothing Personal: Jett doesn't begrudge Joxer for being caught and sent to prison. He even looks forward to seeing their father.
- Parental Favoritism: According to Joxer, Jett is favored by both parents.
- Pressure Point: Gabrielle tries to do 'The Pinch' on a guard. It goes as well as you'd expect:Gabrielle: I've just cut off the flow of blood to your limbs.
Guard: [waves his hands]
Gabrielle: The numbness is setting in.
Guard: Nope! I seem to be fine. Don't do that. - Screw This, I'm Outta Here: Autolycus after seeing what Jett's really like. Gabrielle has to guilt him into helping out.
- Straight Man: Gabrielle to Autolycus and Joxer.
- Throw the Dog a Bone: Gabrielle insists on trying things like Xena would, ignoring suggestions to just warn Cleopatra about Jett. However, Xena says that's actually what she would've done and asks Gabrielle why she didn't. Autolycus (who had been complaining about Gabrielle's Xena plans) then steps in to help her save face in front of Xena."Ah, now, Xena, that's easy for you to say. You weren't there. Gabrielle's plan kept Jett off-balance long enough to find a man on the inside, right?"
- The Unfavorite: Joxer to his family.Joxer: My whole life's been, "Jett stole some horses. Jett torched a village. Jett killed the neighbors." My parents were so proud.
Autolycus: Whoa, back up. They were proud of the black sheep of the family?
Joxer: No, I'm the black sheep. My father's a warlord. My mother's a warlord's wife. My whole family's like that. - Unwanted Assistance: Joxer is this for Autolycus.Autolycus: Why exactly is he here?
Gabrielle: He knows Jett.
Autolycus: No, in a grander sense. Why is he here? - Wedgie When Joxer steps forward to stop Jett from continuing the assassination, Jett isn't impressed. When Joxer is seen next, he is found by Autolycus with hanging by his underwear on the wall.
- What Would X Do?: When trapped in a prison, Gabrielle thinks of what Xena would do to get out. Her next thought is to use a wooden wheel like Xena's chakram. The wheel only managed to bounce back and knock herself out.
