Written by Steven L Sears
Directed by Garth Maxwell
Xena and Gabrielle rush to rescue the captured Amazons from Pompey's army. Gabrielle's newfound philosophy of pacifism draws friction from some of her peers.
Tropes
- Bittersweet Ending: The tribe is safe and Pompey is dead, but Xena and Gabrielle mourn Ephiny's passing.
- Burn Baby Burn: Caesar burns the peace treaty in a fire, not satisfied with merely keeping the Amazons at bay.
- Dropped a Bridge on Her: Averted. Ephiny is quickly killed during The Teaser, but it's during a fair fight and she goes down saving Amarice's life. Much of the episode also deals with the fallout of her death and the impact it's had on the characters.
- Enemy Mine: With Brutus as part of the deal for a peace treaty with the Amazons.
- Good Is Not Soft: Gabrielle proves to Brutus just because she is no longer a fighter doesn't mean she should be taken lightly.
- It's All My Fault: Amarice blames herself for Ephiny's death.
- Killed Offscreen: Solari (an Amazon that appeared a couple times in Season 2) is found dead by Ephiny.
- Off with His Head!: Xena ends Pompey's life this way.
- Real Life Writes the Plot: According to Steve Sears, Ephiny living or dying could've gone either way, but Danielle Cormack was ready to move on and thus (in Sears's own words) made the decision easier.
- Tagalong Kid: Amarice ends up leaving the Amazon tribe to join Xena and Gabrielle.
- Villain Respect: Brutus commends Ephiny as one of the best fighters he ever encountered.
- What a Drag: Xena to Brutus, similarly to what she did to Gabrielle in an earlier episode
- What Happened to the Mouse?:
- Despite Caesar's rejection of the Amazon's peace treaty, the tribe is never seen again.
- Ephiny's son, Xenan, is not seen or referenced, though what became of him will ultimately be addressed in Season 6.
