Directed by Charles Siebert
Written by Peter Allan Fields
Ares sets a trap for Xena aimed at returning her to her former life as a ruthless warrior.
Tropes:
- Deal with the Devil: Ares offers to get Xena out of the situation he created—promising her anything she wants in exchange for her loyalty and return to evil.
- Exact Words: Xena tells Ares she'll need a new army if she goes back to him. She gets him to agree to anyone of her choosing should the court find her guilty.
- Frame-Up: Ares murders a group of innocent men and leaves Xena to be blamed by the locals.
- Friendship Moment: Despite being told to run, Gabrielle stays to help Xena against the mob. When it's all over, Xena says that means a lot.
- Graceful Loser: Ares takes his loss very well and praises Xena on her manipulation.
- Loophole Abuse: When she is found guilty, Xena tells Ares who she wants her new army to be: the men he murdered at the start of the episode. Their appearance and speaking of how Xena tried to help them gets her exonerated.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Benitar is the only villager that wants to give Xena a fair trial, and he insists the others not succumb to savagery.
- Visionary Villain: Ares doesn't intend for Xena to be some mere warlord. He wants her to be the architect of a new world.
- We Will Meet Again: "Until next time, Xena. Until next time."
