4-16 The Way

First air date was Feb 22, 1999.
The episode starts out with Gabrielle taking about loving rivers. Xena mentions dams and Gabrielle
asks why she shoots her down while she's doing her philosophical thing. She says she's been on a
spiritual quest and why doesn't Xena ask the questions. Xena says she's been thinking about
reincarnation since they came to India. Gabrielle suggests that maybe being a warrior isn't the
right karma for Xena. Xena is back in her armor and Gabrielle is still in the India clothes, and
barefooted. (I noticed later in the episode, she was running and it seemed like she wasn't running
as hard as if she's had boots on.)

Suddenly Xena jabs the long stick she's been carrying into the river and brings out a big fish.

When she throws it down on the ground, it turns into a demon with a scary mask on. She asks why
it's been following them . He / It says to stop them from finding the Avatar. He / It throws some
bugs down on the ground and they turn into more like him. Xena and Gabrielle fight. Xena is cut on
the shoulder. When the demons are thrown down hard enough, they convulse and disappear.

When asked after the fight who sent them he says it was Indrajit, the prince of demons and he
disappears.

Gabrielle explains that an avatar is a deity in human form destined to save humanity. Xena says she
never should have been wounded -- she lost her focus after finding out she's supposed to be a some
kind of saint in her next life. She's worried that she might mess up her karma. But a warrior can't
ask those questions in the heat of battle. If the kill is there, you have to take it, otherwise she
can't be a warrior anymore.

They go into a village and the Avatar is there. It's Eli. He reluctantly heals a sick girl, then
leaves. Xena Gabrielle chase after him. He says the people look to him for salvation. And he knows
the truth - THE Truth. Xena tells him Indrajit is coming after him. They want to travel with him,
but he says no, he's going home. They insist.

They are asleep and an ape-looking man covered with hair wakes up Eli looking at him. Xena attacks
but is held fast by her arms. The ape man is Hanuman. He says he only wanted to look at the
avatar. He says Indrajit is coming and wants to help. He says they should take Eli to the great
temple to ask for Krishna's help.

On the trail they suspect the Indrajit's demons are around. Gabrielle and Eli hide and Hanuman and
Xena jump up into a tree.

Hanuman tells Xena centuries ago he helped Rama kill Indrajit's father. And only Indrajit can kill
him.

Gabrielle asks Eli what The Truth is. He says It's reverence for life. And the cycle of violence
can only be stopped by nonviolence.

Xena asks Hanuman how he knows what was the right way for him. He says his way isn't her way. They
see Indrajit on a flying carpet and they may have time to get to the temple.

Approaching the temple Eli is mobbed by adorers and Gabrielle pulls him away. They go into the
temple while Xena tries to get the people to disperse before Indrajit comes.

Inside the temple Gabrielle asks Hanuman if the statue of a man playing a flute is Krishna, he says
yes. He knows Eli's words troubled Gabrielle.

Outside, Indrajit flies in on his carpet. Eli runs out to help and is grabbed up by Indrajit and
forced into the carpet. He sees Gabrielle and goes after her. Xena tries to save her but just
missies and Indrajit flies off with both of them. Hanuman says he is taking them to the demon land
of Lanka. Xena want to go immediately but Hanuman tells Xena she needs to pray to Krishna to get
him to help her.

Gabrielle and Eli are locked in a room. Gabrielle tries to open the door but can't, and Eli won't
help her. Gabrielle says Indrajit is an evil man. Eli say she's only the incarnation of evil. He
says if he stays faithful to his way he can defeat him. They pray.

Hanuman tells Xena how to pray to Krishna.

A wall opens and Indrajit rides in on a throne. He wants to be a friend and ally of Eli but Eli
refuses. Gabrielle is still praying. Indrajit wonders if Eli can stay true to his way while
watching Gabrielle being tortured.

Krishna appears to Xena. She asks for his help. He says she must embrace the Way. Xena tells him
she's not like Gabrielle or Eli or Lao Ma. He tells her way is the Way of the Warrior. And if she
needs his help to call him. Xena and Hanuman leave.

Gabrielle sees Xena badly beaten and in chains. She grabs her staff to stop a demon from stabbing
Xena. But it is Indrajit and grabs her by the neck. He says he won't kill Gabrielle if Eli joins.
Him Eli refuses. Indrajit is choking Gabrielle when Xena's Chakram cuts his hand off.

He convulses. Then grows a new hand and four more arms. He throws six axes at her but she hides
behind a shield. They fight. He stabs Xena through the hand and pins it to the wall behind her. He
then cuts off both of her arms. She calls for Krishna and grows six arms. The fight some more. Xena
manages to cut his head off and she is back with two good arms.

Later, Gabrielle tells Eli she failed her first test. He says following the way of love is hard and
she will fail more than once. But not to give up hope. He says he's going home to spread the word
to his people.

Gabrielle is looking at a river, then throws her staff into it.. Xena asks if her way is the Way of
Love. Gabrielle says yes and that Xena's is the Way of the Warrior. Xena says she should travel
with Eli, but Gabrielle says she and Xena will stay together. Xena says they are going in opposite
directions in life. Gabrielle says like all rivers running to the sea, they will end up in the same
place.

.........

Another episode with things I liked and things I didn't.

So just why didn't Indrajit want Xena to find Eli?

Loved the line, "When the kill is there, you have to take it." And I liked Xena questioning her
path in life. Something we've rarely seen, if ever.

It seemed kind of odd that Eli trying to get away from Xena and Gabrielle, yet he says over his
shoulder, 'Hello old friends, you're a sight for sore eyes."

Got a bit of a chuckle when Eli was in the carpet and Indrajit had to push him back down.

When Indrajit reached down to grab Gabrielle, why didn't Xena throw her Chakram? So many times I've
seen where she should have used it but didn't!

Can't recall seeing Xena so badly beaten, even if it was only Indrajit fooling Gabrielle.

Xena lying there with no arms was just plain creepy (I understand that part was cut out when the
episode aired in Canada).

The fight with twelve arms wasn't one of my favorite scenes. I thought it was kind of --- dumb.

Not too much else to say about this one. Still don't like the body paint on Gabrielle's hips and
belly, or upper chest. But other than that, she was really gorgeous. I'm starting to get used to
the short hair.

Didn't really dislike it, but not that much to like, either.

A 7 out of 10.

++++++++++++++++++

4-16 The Way ----------------------------- 7

4-15 Between the Lines ------------------- 8.5

4-14 Devi ------------------------------------ 7

4-13 Paradise Found ---------------------- 8.5

4-12 If the Shoe Fits ---------------------- 6.5

4-11 Daughter of Pomira ----------------- 7

4-10 Key to the Kingdom ---------------- 7.5

4-09 Past Imperfect ----------------------- 8.5

4-08 Crusader ------------------------------ 8

4-07 Locked Up and Tied Down ------- 8

4-06 A Tale of Two Muses -------------- 7.5

4-05 A Good Day ------------------------- 7

4-04 In Sickness and in Hell ------------ 8

4-03 A Family Affair --------------------- 7

4-02 Adventures in the Sin Trade II -- 9

40-1 Adventures in the Sin Trade I ---- 8

Average Rating ---------------------------- 7.7