Season 1, episode 19
In Altared States, Xena and Gabrielle agree to hide a 12-year-old boy who has run away from home after learning from his mother that he was to be sacrificed.
The Warrior Princess is teaching Gabrielle to fish when they see a young boy being chased by a group of men. In an attempt to save him Xena pulls him into the water but he can’t hold his breath. One of the men grabs him from the water so Xena proceeds to beat him up.
We learn that the boy’s name is Ikus (David de Lautour) and his brother Mael ( Karl Urban) is taking him to their father Anteus (David Ackroyd) to be sacrificed to the ‘one true god’.
When Xena goes to speak with Anteus to plead for the boy’s life we find out that Anteus hears a voice that commands him to sacrifice his youngest son. Later on, we find out that Mael is behind the voice of ‘god’. He wanted his father to kill Ikus because Anteus had chosen the younger son to be his successor.
This was an enjoyable episode. I loved it just to see Xena beat off men with fish. Gabrielle high on henbane was a treat. I’m not sure that telling Xena that she is beautiful whilst under the influence of drugs qualifies as a subtext moment but I’ll take my subtext where I can find it.
Mayal: “I don’t know who or what you are, but this business is none of yours.”
Xena: “My name is Xena, and the way I see it half a dozen men going after one small defenceless boy kind of makes it my business. Call it my maternal instincts.”
Little did we know. A bit of foreshadowing for a future season.
Karl Urban played Mayal in this episode. He goes on to play other roles in Xena and Hercules so joins the Hall of Recycled Actors gallery.
Disclaimer: ” No Unabating or Severely Punishing Deities were harmed during the production of this motion picture.”
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