Xena & Hercules Articles Archive

Are They or Aren't They

Robert Tapert discusses the subtext.

One of the most hotly-contested topics of Xena-related conversation is the relationship between the Warrior Princess and her companion, Gabrielle. Although the show's writers have always teased viewers with the sexual subtext, Tapert has been careful not to deal with the topic in any definitive way

"I don't know where you would go," he elaborates. "Once you do the episode where they start making out, and you consummate their sexual relationship, I don't where you could go with that storyline under the guise of an action show. Are we afraid to say that they're lesbians? Well, Xena has certainly had an endless string of male lovers."

The executive producer is quick to quash rumours that the episode "Kindred Spirits" originally dealt with the Xena-Gabrielle relationship in a more definitive fashion before being heavily rewritten. "Not really," he declares. "There was never that. Because it was an episode without a fight until the very end, it was meant to be more of a relationship episode, just because we had to shoot a five-day episode. But it did go through an endless amount of changes.

"As far as the definite on their relationship, if you ask me, all of season four was one giant confirmation of them as soul mates, whatever the hell that's worth. And all that happened was the ratings continued to drip along as the entire syndicated market did.

"The people I deal with at the studio have an expression which they call the 'Ellen effect'," he explains. "You get a curiosity and then after that, you see people turn off the show in droves. They come in, they see the show, they're with it for a while, and then they bail on you and they don't think they ever have to go back to it.

"We had a famous episode a long time ago, The Quest, which was our highest-rated episode, and after that we started to go downhill, and then there was A Doy in the Life, which was the girls in the hot tub together playing hide the soap. After that, our executives put a great deal of pressure on us to stop, to not go down that road because it could only lead to ruin."

Renee O'Connor offers her take on that all-important subject: the show's subtext.

"It's funny, because we're talking about six years [since the original concept]. It was very early on in the show that I think we added remarks for titillation. But the most important aspect of the show is that Xena has a best friend - who happens to be a woman - who she relies on more than any other person in the world, and they have a loving friendship. To me, that's more important than whether or not they are hav- ing sex. I mean, that's what it's all about It cuts through all the prejudices; these peo- pie would do anything for each other.

"I'm sure all the rest is just speculation and sort of exciting to think about but I don't think we need to address it It ruins the show if we say yea or nay. Also, that's what's exciting about it as well: everyone can watch the show and see an aspect of themselves in the characters. If we were to say, "Yes there is subtext", or "No there isn't", it might alienate people, and that just seems unfair.

"A lot of people can't handle the fact that there might be a relationship there that they can't identify with or personalise, so it's best to just let everyone see what they want It's about love... and that's universal."

Adventures In the Fantasy Trade Official Xena Magazine September 2000, Joe Nazzaro, p. 14-19.