Recap / Xena S 03 E 12 The Bitter Suite

Written by Chris Manheim and Steven L Sears

Directed by Oley Sassone

The bitter conflict between Xena and Gabrielle reaches a crescendo in this musical episode, set in the dreamworld of Illusia.

Tropes

• Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole: Gabrielle refers to the Elysian Fields as a place that only heroes go to when they die. This is a reference to the Greek myths, but it's incompatible with this franchise, where it had long been established and shown that all good souls go to the Elysian Fields and that that's a commonly held belief among people in-universe.
• Art Shift: In Illusia.
• Big Damn Heroes: Joxer (carrying Gabrielle) avoids being killed by Xena's chakram because Ephiny struck her arm.
• The Corruptor: Ares. Only this time Xena is vulnerable enough for him to succeed.
• Face–Heel Turn: Xena briefly goes back to her evil ways.
• Grief Song: Xena goes to the mountains to sing in mourning. It's different from her usual grief song.
• Hoist Hero over Head: Xena had Gabrielle over her head and had every intention to toss her off a cliff and into the sea. Luckily, Gabrielle wakes up in time to get out of the hold.
• Interplay of Sex and Violence: Ares's "melt into me" song is all about how erotic and seductive war and conquest can be.
• Manipulative Bastard: Ares tries to get Xena to turn evil again by talking about how Gabrielle betrayed her and how sweet revenge is.
• Maybe Magic, Maybe Mundane: Was the Callisto that appeared to Gabrielle in the hut really her or just a delusion?
• Musical Episode
• The Power of Hate: The entirety of "Hate Is The Star" is built on this trope.
  And its power will strangle your love and your joy.
  And its hunger consumes, for it lives to destroy!
• The Power of Love: The reprise of "Hearts Are Hurting" builds to this.
• Tarot Motifs: As soon as they enter Illusia, all of the characters appear as figures from the tarot.
  • Callisto Appears as the fool the as Justice.
    • She summons The Wheel of Fortune during "This is Illusia" song.
  • Joxer appears as The Hanged Man then as The Hermit.
  • Ares appears as The Emperor
  • Gabrielle's sister Lila appears a The Hierophant
  • Ming T'ien appears as Judgement and The Devil
  • Solon appears as The Magician
  • Xena is first dresses as The High Priestess then as The Chariot and then briefly as Death.
  • Gabrielle dresses as The Empress then The World. Her Naked in the river is meant to represent The Star.
  • Xena and Gabrielle celebrating on the beach represents The Sun.
• What a Drag: This episode features the infamous "Gab Drag" in which Xena lashes a rope around Gabrielle's ankles and drags her to the coastline behind her horse.

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Disclaimer: The musical genre was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. In fact, the Producers sincerely hope you were A-MUSE-D by this episode.