Back To Index Xena Warrior Princess: Season 3
 Barnes & Noble This enormously popular fantasy series really hit its stride in the third season (1997-98) with a string of neatly written, emotion-packed episodes in which the bond between Xena (Lucy Lawless) and her companion, Gabrielle (Renée OConnor), was stretched almost to the breaking point. "The Furies" gets the third year off to a rousing start, with Xenas recurring adversary, the god Ares (Kevin Smith), arranging for her to be driven insane. Later, episodes such as "King of Assassins," a showcase for the secondary character Joxer (Ted Raimi), retained the lighthearted aspect that initially endeared Xena to fans. So, too, does "Been There, Done That" -- the shows well-received version of Groundhog Day. Still, it is the seven-installment arc that has Gabrielle on an emotional roller coaster that largely distinguishes this season from earlier ones. Over the course of this extended story line, Gabrielle gives birth to a baby girl, the "Daughter of Darkness," whom Xena sees as a child of disaster. The relationship between the two women is edgy during this period, but eventually it strengthens as a result of the tests they face together. Season 3 also contains one of the shows most popular episodes, "The Bitter Suite," in which star Lawless shows off her sensational singing voice. Although the action content is not neglected, the ’97-98 shows are more noteworthy for their development of the leading characters, and many Xena devotees believe this group represents the high point of the series. Ed HulseCustomer ReviewsWrite your own online review >Number Of Reviews: 15 Average Rating: Showing 1-5 NextNidah, a fan of Xena, January 29, 2005 Season 3Show was a favorite and the weapons looked cool especially Xenas circle Chakram throwing sharp knife looking weapon.Bronwyn, A reviewer, March 1, 2004 Season 3 rocks !Best Bonus of any dvd out there - commentary on each disk - Entertainment Value was Excellent - The best part of the movie was the commentary plus 8 minute reviews on every episode by cast and crew - great idea - Fabulous price - would pay $100 or more - Season One didnt have commentary but I understand it was recorded by the actors, producers and directors - I hope they can offer the Season One commentary on a future set - I cant wait for season 4 to come outdirrtycruz, A reviewer, February 27, 2004 The Wonders of Season 3 DVDPassion, jealousy, love, hatred, strengths, weaknesses, persistence, devotion, understanding, joy, sadness, longing, innocence, and betrayal… these are some words that describe the characters and the events that took place in this not-to-be-missed season 3 of Xena. In this season of “Xena: Warrior Princess” the audience journeys with the heroic adventures of Xena and her trusted friend, Gabrielle, as they battle the forces of evil and triumphed with their strength, understanding, and love for each other. The betrayal of the two heroines presented conflict in their relationship, but they were able to work through their differences and join force to battle and defeat gods and demigods to protect the innocent and fight for peace in ancient Greece. This season also revealed the mystery of Gabrielle’s unborn child, which brought an answer to the viewers’ question and concern. Simply put, these classic and adventurous 22 episodes of the third season certainly satisfied all Xena fans worldwide! Starting out this season with “The Furies”, the viewers examine Xena’s paternity and issue concerns and questions. We also see Xena’s comedic side as she is driven crazy by the Furies and acts most unbecoming of her. She has great comedic timing, which we can appreciate in further episodes such as “Warrior…Priestess…Tramp” in which Lucy plays three different look-alike characters. Included in this season was also “The Bitter Suite”, which is a musical journey that explores the pain and healing after the death of Xena’s son and her betrayal by Gabrielle. I truly enjoyed this episode because of its uniqueness and that it showcases Lucy amazing singing voice. I also enjoyed “The Debt” and “The Debt II” because of its complex, yet collective fighting sequence. As for the dramatic season finale episodes “Sacrifice” and “Sacrifice II”, I was overwhelmed with excitement and thrill. The end brings to a tragic end with the death of Gabrielle, but the viewer has to wonder whether this was the end of her character or not. Once again, we are kept on the edge of our seats wanting even more! The season three DVD of Xena has been claimed as the most exclusive yet and loaded with bonus features. It includes interviews with the Actresses/Actors, Producers, Editors, Writers, and Set Designers: Donald Duncan, Robert Gillies, Lucy Lawless, Hudson Leick, Renee OConnor, Ted Raimi; Oley Sassone, Steven L. Sears, R.J. Stewart, and Alexandra Tydings. I love this feature simply because it was very informative and even funny, at times. It is very interesting to see the actors talk about their roles and the storylines. Also, the various producers and directors comments give excellent and insightful background on what were the intentions behind an episode, the complexities and challenges involved in getting it done, and their perception on whether or not the attempted vision was successful or not. This excellent DVD box set even includes never before seen footage of deleted, alternate, and recently discovered scenes! These features are also the most enjoyable and most watched for any fans of a show. They present several perspectives of how the story could have developed and they intrigue the viewers. Similarly, the blooper reels are hilarious and so worth watching. They show the “human side” of these “supernatural” actors/actresses and I love it so much. Another feature that is worth mentioning is the photo gallery, which shows a beautiful retrospective of the characters of Xena. Overall, season three was probably the most controversial year of the show, especially for fans of sidekick Gabrielle. Gradually through seven loosely-related episodes: “The Deliverer”, “Gabrielle’s Hope”, “Maternal Instincts”, and a pair of two-parters, “The Debt” and “Sacrifice”, the writers of the show put this character through just about every form of extreme pain imaginable. It was physical, emotional, mental, and moral anguish. The character was fully developed and came full circle, just like the season itself – birth to death. However, as fans, we know there will always be tomorrow and the future looks bright for our most beloved characters.A reviewer, a longtime Xena fan from Brooklyn, February 19, 2004 CONTROVERSY AND QUALITYSeason Three, a third of which was devoted to the controversial Rift episodes, may have caused the most debate in fan circles. For some(like myself), these were the shows that turned mere fans into serious nutballs. Visually, the jewels of this set have to be the two-part The Debt and the musical Bitter Suite-- both directed by Oley Sassone. As for writing, it was the freelancers who shone this season: Hilary Bader providing what might be the funniest comedy, Been There, Done That, as well as one of the best clip shows, Forget Me Not; Gene ONeill & Noreen Tobin giving us One Against An Army--the post-Rift reaffirmation of Xena & Gabrielles friendship. Fine acting by the two leads: Renee OConnors Gabrielle grows up the hard way, emerging-- quite movingly-- towards seasons end as an equal to her hero; Lucy Lawless gets to show off her versatility, while Xena moves through some truly humbling & tragic experiences. Amid fine performances by the regular guest stars, Kevin Smith gave some of his best performances as Ares, notably in The Furies and Forget Me Not. Sadly, there was no guest apperance of Salmoneus this season. Aside from the bonus material-- and theres an abundance-- one advantage of an entire season on DVD, is not having to wait an entire week to see the second part of the various paired episodes. So theyd better hurry with the Season Four set (subtle spoiler for the Season Three finale)...Max (deacon1@ntlworld.com), A reviewer, February 16, 2004 Easily the best Xena collection available!During the third season, Xena became a lot darker and is remembered as one of the best seasons because of it. Heart-wrenching moments such as Gabrielles rape, the death of xenas beloved son Solon and the infamous Gab-drag sequence are all factors in the popularity of the season. This boxset puts together the entirity of the season with a plethora of special features including video commentaries with the stars; Lucy Lawless, Reneé oconnor and Hudson Leick to name but a few; featurettes on the gripping season finale Sacrifice, Photo Galleries, a poignant tribute to the late Kevin Smith who portrayed the war god Ares are but some of the huge multitude of features, previously unavailable. Whether you are a hardcore Xena fan or simply a casual viewer, this set is an essential part of any collection. Beautifully displayed and brimming with special features this is easily the best collection of Xena episodes ever!Also Recommended: Xena:Warrior princess-season 1 complete boxset Xena:Warrior Princess-season 2 complete boxset Interested in the song lyrics? - Check out themostlyrics.com! Looking For A DVD? - Check out dvd-a-rama.com! |
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