2-09 A Solstice Carol

First air date Dec 9, 1996.

This episode starts with King Silvus sentencing an old couple to
ten years aat hard labor for tax evasion. And adds twelve moths for
celebrating the Winter Solstice. He then asks his scribe, Senticles, if he
has prepared the eviction lists for the day. When Senticles protests that
it's the Sol-then changes it to being too late in the day, Silvus threatens
him.

Xena and Gabrielle are walking though a market place. Gabrielle is
telling Xena no peeking at what the other is buying as a solstice present.
Xena is less than enthused. Then a young boy steals Xena' Chakram and runs
off with it. Xena and Gabrielle split up, but meet at the same place when
they've caught up to the boy.

When they go into the building the boy entered, which is an
orphanage, they see a large tree decorate with ribbons and such and the
Chakram is atop the tree with as an ornament.

Suddenly, Senticles and some soldiers bust in and tell the woman
in charge of the orphanage that they have until midnight to pay 1000 dinars
in taxes or face eviction. Then one of the guards says they all should be
arrested for celebrating the solstice. Xena back flips to the top of the
tree to get her Chakram, then throws it around the room, ricocheting off the
walls, ribbons streaming behind it, and the guards are wrapped up with the
ribbons.

Gabrielle asks Senticles how he could work for a man like the
king. He says he was a toy maker, but had to find work somewhere when his
job was outlawed.

Gabrielle recognizes his name and tells him about a toy lamb she
had as a child. He says the king's wife dieing 30 years ago is what caused
him to be so mean.

Gabrielle tells the children a story without a happy ending, and
wants Xena to help her change King Silvus.

Xena gives Gabrielle 35 dinars to buy disguises for their plan,
but instead she buys a donkey that is headed for the tannery.

Xena goes to see Silvus while he is sleeping, and tells him he
should ease up on his people and let them celebrate Solstice, He says no and
calls for the guards. Xena swings out of the window on a rope and crashes
into a room on the next floor down. It had a dead, decorated tree with
presents under it, and a painting of the king and his wife, Inalia, on the
wall.

Xena sees Senticles changing the wording of the sentences of those
in prison and she talks him into helping her.

Gabrielle is telling the children a story about why the Solstice
is celebrated. And three of them make wishes.

Gabrielle tells Xena about the donkey, but Xena says she found all
they need in the castle.

Xena disguises herself a Clothos - the Fate of the Past and goes
back to the king's bedchamber and wakes him up. She leads him down into room
with the tree, and Gabrielle is suspended by a rope dressed as Inalia. She
tells him to change from his narrow, greedy ways before it's too late. Xena
gives him wine spiked with a sleeping herb and takes him back to his bed.

Gabrielle goes to find Senticles and sees all the toys he had
made. They put them in a large canvas bag and she disguises him with a beard
so the soldiers won't recognize him.

Xena next dresses up like Lachesis, the Fate of the present. She
makes the king dress as a peasant and takes him to the orphanage. The kid
who stole Xena's Chakram tells Silvus, not recognizing him, what a terrible
king he is. As they are leaving the soldiers come to serve the eviction
notice. The king faints and Xena puts him in a dark place. She realizes the
woman of the orphanage is Inalia and tells her to watch over him.

Gabrielle and Senticles have to come down the chimney to get past
the guards. he is wearing a red suit.

The soldiers come in and Xena, Gabrielle, Senticles and some of
the kids use the toys to fight off the soldiers.

Silvus wakes up and sees Inalia is wearing a hood covering most of
her face and he thinks she is Atropos, the Fate of the future, there to show
him his dark, lonely future. He swears he will change.

He goes out to where everyone is fighting. He and Xena and
Gabrielle and Senticles grab either stuffed animals or pillows and begin
fighting the soldiers, who finally run off.

Inalia comes out and Silvus realizes who she is and asks her
forgiveness for closing his heart to her and his people. She does.

Xena and Gabrielle are leaving and come across a man and his wife
heading west. She is carrying a baby. Gabrielle gives them the donkey so she
won't have to walk.

Xena gives Gabrielle a solstice present. It is the lamb she had as
a child. Gabrielle tells Xena she didn't get her a gift, and Xena tells her
SHE is a gift.

''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''

Okay, this is the sentimental, holiday episode. But I have to say
I wasn't that crazy about it.

It had all the elements - the Christmas tree, Santa Claus coming down the
chimney with the bag of goodies, the Christmas carol, the original Scrooge,
the 'ghosts' of Xmas past, present, and future, and the couple with the
child riding the donkey.

I guess maybe I have a touch of Scrooge in me, but the only things I really
liked were:

Gabrielle enticing the soldiers while gyrating with the hoola hoop.

Xena's voice as Lachesis, deep and throaty.

While Gabrielle is pounding two soldiers on their helmets with bells, she
plays 'Jingle Bells', and looks surprised.

And, of course, Xena telling her, "You are a gift to me."

Things to pick at-

When Gabrielle as let down outside the castle after portraying Inalia, she
still had to rope tied to her, as did the donkey, but they just walked away
like they weren't tied.

No real explanation why Inalia left Silvus. There was a tree decorated, and
presents under it, but she just left and for 30 years suffered with the rest
of his people.

Nothing else in particular, but I'm just not much for Xmas stories. I avoid
them completely this time of year.

But in all fairness to the rating, I didn't dislike it this time as much as
I did the first two or three times I saw it.

I would give it a 5, but in the Winter Solstice spirit, I'll bump it up to a
6 out of 10.