>>> "David E. Milligan"
bellsouth.net> wrote in message
>>> news:WJNOj.33632$%%15.32566@bignews7.bellsouth.net...>>>> 5-15 Married With Fishsticks
>>>>
>>>> First airing was Feb. 21, 2000.
>>> [snip]
>>>> For a straight Xena episode, a generous 5.
>>>>
>>>> For a kind of humorous and
>>>> pass-the-time-episode-that-doesn't-make-me-feel-like-I-actually-wasted-an-hour episode, a 7.
>>>> So, an average 6 out of 10.
>>>
>>> I liked this one, on first viewing and every
>>> viewing thereafter. (I'm one of the very
>>> few who can say that.) Why? I dunno. I
>>> can barely figure out why I like one drama
>>> over another, much less a comedy.
>>>
>>> Normally I strongly dislike underwater-themed,
>>> fishy shows. Most slapstick doesn't do much
>>> for me. And a Xena-light episode - argh. But
>>> still...
>>>
>>> Ah, the subtext: Joxer/Hagar as a stand-in for
>>> Xena, at first manipulating Gabrielle/Crustacea
>>> for his own purposes, later learning her value
>>> and becoming a decent human in the process.
>>> (One could argue Xena never manipulated
>>> Gabrielle, but in early episodes there wasn't
>>> the respect we saw in later episodes.)
>>>
>>> Renee' and Ted stretching their comedic wings.
>>> Not many opportunities in XWP for that. And
>>> both did a grand job, individually and while
>>> interacting with each other.
>>>
>>> Discord and 'Dite were pitch perfect in their
>>> ditziness (sp?? ). Even the stupid cake
>>> scene worked for me.
>>>
>>> *The* moment, during the wedding, when
>>> Gab/Crus starts to remember Xena and
>>> her life with Xena (maintext, not subtext) -
>>> chilling in a good way, as those moments
>>> always are. Can't remember how many times
>>> I re-ran that scene.
>>>
>>> And at the end, Gab has learned how to be
>>> a mom. Cool.
>>>
>>> What's not to like?
>>>
>>> I give it a 7.
>>>
>>> Gail
>>> Warrior Gardener
>>>
>>
>> I really don't remember my reaction when I first saw it, or the second time, or possibly
>> a third time. It seems like there was a time I kind of liked it, maybe when I watched it when I
>> first got the DVDs. I'm not sure if I would rate as the very worst one (not sure what it would
>> be. For a long long time I hated 'A Good Day', but now not so much; still don't like 'The
>> Furies'.) but it's pretty close to the bottom.
>> But it's hard to compare the serious eps with the humorous ones. As far as a strictly
>> comedy ep, it wasn't THAT bad, but compared to something like 'When Fates Collide', or any of
>> the Callisto episodes, well down she goes.
>> Except for the insults, which were pretty good, I had a hard time listening to Crabella
>> and Sturgina's accents.
>> David
>
> You make a good point. I suspect I have a
> sliding standard when it comes to XWP eps.
> Since they tend to go all over the map (dead
> serious drama, slapstick comedy, & everything
> in between), I suppose I learned to take each ep
> as it came. And I really don't compare the nutsy
> comedies (however good they may be) with the
> dead serious dramas (e.g., Maternal Instincts -
> talk about depressing...). And the magnificent
> The Debts, One Against An Army, When Fates
> Collide are in a class all by themselves. As
> The Bitter Suite is in a class all by itself.
>
> (And thanks for reminding me of Crabella
> & Sturgina's accents ... they'll be ringing in
> my ears all day long, like a bad song!)
>
> Gail
> Xenite
As another example
-- The Furies. It started out as a comedy, with Xena acting out the 3
Stooges and her arm flailing away. Then it went darker when she was going to kill Cyrene. It was so
uneven - back and forth between comedy and drama! If it had been one or the other, I think would
have liked it more (I am leaning toward the darker side).
David
