5-12 God Fearing Child

First air date was Jan 31, 2000.

The episode starts out with the Fates tending to the Big Ball of Destiny (which no longer
is a loom). They tell Zeus the birth of Xena's baby will end the Olympic gods. Zeus doesn't believe
them, but Hera says he once told her all things must end, so why not them?

Gabrielle and Xena are breaking camp when Xena tells Gabrielle to feel her baby kick.
Gabrielle says she had a dream that they both were giving birth to Xena's baby. Xena says she'd
gladly share the labor pains. And she says the baby is going to change both their lives. Hercules
comes up and congratulates Xena. He hugs both of them.

They both see six men behind them and know they are about to fight. The three of them
have a big fight and defeat the armor-clad warriors. Xena puts the Pinch on one and she and
Hercules both ask who sent them. Hercules' guy answers it was Zeus, and Xena's child must die.

Gabrielle asks Xena why Zeus would want to hurt her child. One of the warriors gets back
up and Xena kills him with her Chakram. Hercules tells her they are the Proxidicae, and if you kill
one, the rest get stronger. The three of them run away rather than fight again.

Gabrielle asks Xena what she is going to do. She plans on getting the Helmet of
Invisibility from Hades to hide from Zeus. But Hercules tells her if her child is born in the
underworld, it will be stillborn. She still plans on going. Hercules tells her he is going to talk
to Zeus to find out what is going on. And he would die before he let anyone hurt her child.

Xena and Gabrielle go to the lake that goes to Tartarus (Lake Alcyonian from "Mortal
Beloved"?). Xena has doubts about raising her child. Gabrielle tells her they both will dedicate
their lives to protect the baby. They go to Tartarus.

Hercules goes to Mt Olympus and confronts Zeus and Hera. Zeus says the baby is an
abomination and was sired by a force more destructive than Hercules can imagine. Hercules doesn't
believe them. Zeus says that since Hercules had the blood of a god in him, he could die also. He
says he'll take his chances. Zeus hints he will kill Hercules if he has to. After he leaves, Hera
again says maybe it is their time to go.

Xena and Gabrielle land in Tartarus and more Proxidicae are around so they have to hide
from them.

Zeus appears in either a temple of Ares, or in Ares' Hall on Mt Olympus, and he wants
Ares to keep Hercules busy while he, Zeus, kills Xena and her baby. Ares isn't happy with that
since he cares for Xena. He tells Zeus he will go along with it if he can kill Hercules. Zeus
reluctantly agrees.

Hercules is in some woods and Ares appears and tries to kill Hercules with a fireball.
Hercules dives out of the way. Then Hera appears, but instead of trying to help Ares kill Hercules,
she hits Ares with her fireball, knocking him out. Hera tells Hercules she knows why he is in the
forest of the Titans.

Gabrielle and Xena are walking by the tormented souls who are wrapped up in cocoons. Xena
says they are doomed to spend eternity watching the lives they left behind. Then she sees herself
and Solan. She turns around and sees Solan in a cocoon. She uses her Chakram to free him. She can't
understand why he isn't in the Elysian fields. He says he wanted to be there so he wouldn't forget
about her. She says after they get the helmet she's taking him back to the Elysian fields.

Hercules doesn't believe Hera wants to help him and humanity. She says something about
him saving her grandson, and she knows what he's looking for.

Xena, Gabrielle and Solan are trying to get to Hades' throne room without being caught.
Solan thinks Xena doesn't want him anymore because she has a new baby. She says he changed her life
and she'll never forget him.

They get to the throne room but both are suspicious because it was too easy. Hades tells
them they are going to spend eternity there. Then he tells them if Xena surrenders, he'll take
Solan to the Elysian fields. He says he can't allow the Olympian order to die and tells the
Proxidicae to attack. During the fight, Gabrielle runs over and put on the Helmet of Invisibility.
She beats up some of the Proxidicae, then knocks Hades down so Xena and Solan can escape.

Hera and Hercules talk about Zeus killing Cronos with a dagger made from Cronos' rib.
She says she hopes the remains of Cronos will scare Zeus away. And that she finally realizes that
humanity was the only creation she is proud of.

Zeus finds the unconscious Ares and brings him to. He chastises Ares for failing to stop
Hercules. Ares tells him Hera is helping Hercules. Zeus says he has no choice but to rid the world
of Xena and Hercules.

Hera makes an invisible mountain appear to Hercules, which is where the tomb of Cronos
is. Hera knows Zeus will be coming when he realizes she is helping Hercules.

Ares finds Xena and Solan in Tartarus. He wants to help her out but she doesn't believe
he'd chance dying with the rest of the gods. He hints that he'd give up his godhood for her. She
dares him to say he loves her, but he can't do it until she and Solan are out of sight and hearing.

Xena and Solan arrive at the entrance to the Elysian fields, and Gabrielle takes off the
helmet. Hades appears and calls out Xena. Xena tells Solan to follow them and put on the helmet
when she tells him to. He whispers to her if the baby is a girl, she should name her Eve. They run
out to fight the Proxidicae guarding the entrance.

During the fight, Xena starts having labor pains. Hades throws a fireball at her but she
deflects it back to him with her Chakram and knocks him out. Solan has made it into the Elysian
fields. Gabrielle supports Xena and tells her they have to go home. They exit a cave and stop under
a tree while Xena goes into labor.

Hercules breaks a hole in the top of Cronos' tomb and drops down inside and gets one of his ribs.
Zeus appears. Hera hits him with a fireball and tells Hercules to make sure Xena is safe.

Xena is in labor.

Zeus gets up, and while kissing Hera, they spin into the air and she disappears.

One of the Fates says Xena's baby is coming. Another says that unless Zeus prevents its arrival,
the Greek gods are doomed.

Hercules finds Gabrielle and Xena and tells them Zeus is his problem. Xena tells Gabrielle to go so
she won't be caught in the crossfire if Zeus gets past Hercules. Gabrielle refuses to leave.

While Xena gives birth. Hercules and Zeus are fighting. Hercules throws stone pillars at him and
tries hitting him, while Zeus throws lighting bolts. Hercules is knocked out and Zeus walks up to
Xena and is about to hit her with a lighting bolt when Hercules tackles him and stabs him in the
heart with the rib.

Xena gives birth to a girl.

As Zeus is dying, he tells Hercules he never disappointed him. Clouds roll in, there is unrest in
Tartarus. Then the sun comes out, and Hercules is still alive, as are the other gods.

Xena tells Gabrielle that the baby's name is Eve, at Solan's suggestion.

Hercules motions to Gabrielle to go with him so Xena can have some time alone with Eve. While
looking at Eve, Xena tells Solan the three of them are going to be together forever and ever.

........

A good episode. Or maybe after so many crappy ones, this one is only mediocre and just
seems good by comparison. But I think I'll stay with "good."

As usual, a few things that didn't make sense, or the continuity wasn't there -

When Xena went to Tartarus in "Mortal Beloved" she had to ride on the River Styx piloted
by Charon. This time they dropped down from a hole in the ceiling. And they also had to swim back
up from the bottom of Lake Alcyonian. This time they just came out of a cave.

It was good to see Hercules. SOOOO glad he didn't bring Iolaus with him !!!

A different Zeus, a different Hades, and a different Solan.

Speaking of which, why did Solan have to whisper into Xena's ear about naming her baby
Eve? And where did he come up with THAT name anyway? And why didn't he have an alternative name if
the baby was a boy?

Some good fight scenes. In the interview clip, Lucy said she thought she had her baby
about a month before, and it was probably too soon to jumping off boxes. (Actually, Julius was
born Oct 16 1999, so she had him just before "Animal Attraction", eight episodes ago, aired on Oct
18th.)

How many times did Xena head-butt those guys wearing steel helmets? Not even Xena's head
can be THAT hard !!

The rib of Cronos, Hind's blood, Zeus' kiss, and possibly Xena's Chakram can kill a god.
Anything else?

Liked Zeus' lighting bolts - a nice change from the common, everyday fireballs. Don't the
gods have any other weapons?

Never noticed it until Xena took off her coat to give birth - Lucy's breasts were about
twice the size they were before she got pregnant/started nursing.

The look on Xena's face as she was looking down at Eve is the look only a new mother has.
(Did you notice that when Gabrielle and Hercules walked away Xena only had eyes for Eve?)

In the interview, Renee said she was worried about the cold weather since the baby was
naked. And the baby was really a male (notice Xena's hand and arm covering his privates?), and he
was covered with cream cheese and jam to make it look like he was just born.

There is nothing in Greek mythology called the Proxidicae.

Still don't care for Ares' short hair. The director, Phil Sgriccia, said that Charles
Keating's (Zeus) long hair and beard were real.

Ares doesn't have his powers while in Hades' kingdom? Why not? Also, he said Hades was
his brother. Actually, Hades is his uncle.

Felt kind of bad for Ares, not being able to tell Xena he loves her until she's too far
away and can't hear him. (Been there, done that, so I can sympathize.)

The labor and birth scene with Xena and Gabrielle was very good. Xena told Gabrielle to
leave, and to be quiet, but was holding onto her to get through the birthing pains. Renee surmised
Lucy was recalling her birth of Julius for some of the scene. Lucy said the real birth had a bit
more to it. (DUH!)

Someone reviewing the episode in Whoosh noted that Hercules never even once said
Gabrielle's name.

The more I write about his episode, the more I realize how good it was (even with the
bloopers and mistakes). Everyone did a good job, most of the scenes were well done, and nothing
really sucked.

And easy 9 out of 10.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

5-12 God Fearing Child . 9

5-11 Punch Lines .... 8

5-10 Lyre, Lyre, Hearts . 8

5-09 Seeds Of Faith .. 9

5-08 Little Problems .. 6

5-07 Back In The Bottle . 6

5-06 Purity ...... 7.5

5-05 Them Bones .... 8.5

5-04 Animal Attraction ... 6.5

5-03 Succession ....... 7

5-02 Chakram ..... 8.5

5-01 Fallen Angel ..... 8.5

Average ......... 7.7