5-18 Antony and Cleopatra

First airing was Apr 17, 2000.

The episode starts with an Egyptian handmaiden pouring milk into a large bath. Cleopatra enters,
drops her robe and steps down into the bath. Two men come in and tell her that Marc Antony and
Brutus both want her navy. She writes a message to her admiral and the men leave. Someone brings
Cleopatra a scroll from Rome. She opens it, and she is bitten by an asp. She writes a note, hands
it to Shiana, her main maiden, and tells her to get it to Xena. Then she dies.

Xena and Gabrielle are now in Egypt. Gabrielle says it's too bad Eve is in Alexandria with Cyrene
because she'd love the view. Xena says she owes Cleopatra.

Marc Antony and a commander discuss taking over Rome. They are interrupted by a "gift" from
Cleopatra, a rolled-up carpet. Antony unrolls the carpet, and a naked Xena in gold chains says she
is Cleopatra, queen of Egypt, and slave of Rome. She kisses Antony, and slips a key into his mouth.
He unlocks her chains and then gives her a blanket, worried if he can trust her. Xena/Cleopatra
invites him to her palace.

Brutus appears at the palace, demanding to see Cleopatra. Gabrielle comes out dressed as an
Egyptian. Brutus recognizes her. He can't believe she is alive and survived the crucifixion. He
tries to see Cleopatra, but Xena is back in her leathers and she tells Brutus he can't see
Cleopatra right now. Brutus says he is glad she and Gabrielle are okay.

Xena/Cleo is in the milk bath. She introduces Gabrielle to Antony as "Aris, my companion". She
invites Antony to join her, but he declines.

Someone in a hooded robe sneaks into Xena/Cleo's bedroom. Xena/Cleo is awake and grabs him. He
says he isn't an assassin. Fire bombs are tossed into the room. The guy nearly burns up but
Xena/Cleo saves him. He says he is Octavius, adopted son of Julius Caesar. Antony arrives and
starts to kill him, but Xena/Cleo tells her guards to take him away.

Gabrielle asks Xena what her plan is. She wants to know if she is going to flirt Antony to death.

Xena/Cleo and Antony are eating grapes and strawberries dipped in honey while exchanging sultry
looks, and they finally kiss. Gabrielle watches, looking a bit jealous. She finally marches over
and tells Xena/Cleo she has a meeting with her advisors, to which X/C replies, "Ah, my advisors.
Yes, they're such busybodies."

Xena and Gabrielle discuss Xena's feelings for Antony. Xena says she has no real feelings for him.
Xena receives a flower from Antony, and an invitation to join him under the pyramids. Xena says she
has him right where she wants him.

Xena goes to meet Antony. Xena/Cleo asks him why he came to Egypt -- for her navy? Antony says he
doesn't want her navy, he wants her love. They kiss. They are interrupted by attacking guys with
swords. Antony fights while Xena/Cleo knocks out one guy. Xena/Cleo tells Antony not to kill a
survivor. She tells him to go to Brutus and tell him that she and Antony are alive and well and
together.

Gabrielle goes to Octavius, who is in the dungeon. He wants to correct Julius Caesar's errors and
bring peace - the Pax Romana.

Gabrielle comes in to see Xena. Xena says Gabrielle is right, she has a soft spot for bad
boys. Xena wonders if Antony and Octavius can work together. Xena/Cleo and Antony talk about how he
will kill all of Brutus' men, even the common soldiers. Antony says Octavius cannot be allowed to
live. Xena/Cleo tells Antony to take her navy. She says, "I know that you love me." She tells
Antony that Brutus is sailing down the Nile and if he fights him there, her navy will back him up
and they will crush Brutus together.

Brutus gets a call to go see Cleopatra. Brutus sees that Xena is playing Cleopatra. Xena accuses
Brutus of killing Cleopatra and he doesn't deny it. Xena/Cleo tells Brutus that she knows Antony
will betray her. She tells him to go down the Nile and attack Antony and her navy will back him up.
Gabrielle says she will go with Brutus when he says he doesn't trust Xena.

Antony and Xena/Cleo are on his ship boat, waiting for Brutus. Gabrielle and Brutus talk. Gabrielle
asks how many people have to die for the good of Rome.

Shiana is on the Egyptian fleet with Octavius. The plan is for the Egyptian navy to crush both
Antony and Brutus, giving Octavius the rule. He says it is his destiny to rule Rome.

Xena/Cleo makes the signal as Brutus' ship prepares to ram Antony's. The ships collide and men
fight. The Egyptians attack both fleets. Brutus realizes he has been betrayed and goes after
Gabrielle. They fight, but he gets the better of her, bloodying her mouth and knocking her down,
then kicking her. He starts to stab her but she grabs a sword and the tip of it slices his throat.
As he lies there dying and looking upside down, he sees Xena/Cleo, and screams out her name. Antony
realizes she isn't Cleopatra. Antony says he trusted her and loved her. They fight, and stop a few
times. But ultimately Xena stabs Antony. He says "I did love you" as he dies. Xena looks
heartbroken as it starts to rain.

Octavius tells Xena Rome owes her a debt of gratitude. She tells him it owes her nothing. She
tells him to put the well being of the people ahead of his own, as Cleopatra did for her people.

Xena walks off and Gabrielle follows. They stand together and look at the sky and the pyramids.

......

I think this is the steamiest, most not-so-subtle passionate episode, ever!

Xena in gold chains. Her seduction of Antony. Gabrielle's obvious jealousy of Antony.

It's a good thing Xena can read hieroglyphics (and Greek and Latin and Chinese).

Nothing subtle about Gabrielle's jealousy. But is it because she's afraid Xena won't follow through
with her plan? Or because she wants Xena for herself?

I think this is the first time Gabrielle has been beaten up so badly (although Tara did a pretty
good job of it in 'Forgiven'). Can't blame the girl for slicing Brutus' throat like she did (with
pure rage on her face!)

The woman who played Cleopatra was gorgeous. Too bad she didn't last too long. Nice butt, too.

At first I wasn't too sure what Shiana's motives were until she told Octavius she promised she'd
bring Cleopatra's murderer to justice.

Not sure if Brutus was really happy Xena and Gabrielle survived the crucifixion.

The audio/video commentary for this episode was with Michael Hurst (director), Lucy, Rene