From: daviderl31@yahoo.com   
      
   "Ted Nolan "  wrote in message news:g0g15mFa33iU1@mid.individual.net...   
      
   In article , David  wrote:   
   >1.10 Hooves and Harlots   
   >   
   >First air date –  Nov 20, 1995   
   >   
   >            Well, it's obvious that this is another episode that was shown   
   >out of order since Gabrielle is back to wearing her old peasant rags. And,   
   >as we are to see later on, the blue necklace thingy she was wearing last   
   >time, was part of her Amazon ensemble from this ep.   
   >   
   >        This one starts out with Gabrielle admiring her new walking stick,   
   >and all its functions, including, ". . . And you can kill nasty little   
   >critters if you wanna lie down."   
   >   
   >      Xena and Gabrielle are walking through Amazon hunting territory, and   
   >are confronted by a band of them. Xena knows the Amazon sign for peace, so   
   >it is decided they should be taken to Queen Melosa. Along the way Gabrielle   
   >is talking to Terreis, one of the Amazons, and Queen Melosa's sister.   
   >   
   >     They are attacked by a hail of arrows. The Amazons take to the trees   
   >using some kind of hoisting system. But Terreis is shot and falls from the   
   >tree, and Gabrielle falls over her to protect her. In the meantime, Xena is   
   >deflecting the arrows with her sword.   
   >   
   >        Just before she dies, Terreis begs Gabrielle to take her Rite of   
   >Caste. Gabrielle agrees even though she doesn't know what it is.   
   >   
   >    We see Amazons dancing around as they prepare to have Terreis cremated.   
   >   
   >    Melosa says they are about to go to war with the centaurs, and one of   
   >them, Phantes, is captured and accused of killing Terreis. He is to die at   
   >noon the next day.   
   >   
   >    Xena talks to him, and doesn't believe he is the murderer. She goes to   
   >see her old enemy, Tyldus, the centaur leader and Phantes' father.   
   >   
   >    And while she does that, Gabrielle is dressed in Amazon clothes for her   
   >rite of Cast ceremony. Ephiny, one of the chief Amazons, comes to get   
   >Gabrielle, with the classic exchange--   
   >    Ephiny:  “Come. Now.”   
   >    Gabrielle:  “I’m sorry, you  *must* have me mistaken for a   
   pet.”   
   >    Ephiny:  “Would you come with me?”   
   >    Gabrielle:  “That’s better.”   
   >   
   >    Gabrielle chooses her Amazon weapon, the fighting staff. And we see   
   >Gabrielle trying to learn to use it, including hitting herself in the head   
   >twice. But when she tells Ephiny it's fun when it's working [right], Ephiny   
   >shows her how deadly the staff can be, which sobers Gabrielle right up.   
   >   
   >    Xena talks to Tyldus and tells him not to attack until she can prove   
   >that Phantes is innocent, but Tyldus says he will attack if his son dies.   
   >   
   >    Phantes almost escapes but Ephiny stops him. And they have a short   
   >conversation, which makes both of them realize the other might not be so   
   >bad.   
   >   
   >    Xena is investigating, up in the trees when, for some reason, Ephiny   
   >tries to kill Xena. They fight, with Xena getting the upper hand. But when   
   >one of Krykus' (a warlord who wants the Amazons and centaurs to kill each   
   >other off so he can have their land) men tries to kill Ephiny, Xena saves   
   >both her life and his.   
   >   
   >    The next day we join Gabrielle and her induction celebration. The   
   >Amazons dance and after some protests, Gabrielle joins them and really gets   
   >into it – very cute, very energetic.   
   >   
   >    But then it gets serious when Melosa informs Gabrielle that she much   
   >execute Phantes with Terreis' sword. Gabrielle tries but hesitates so long   
   >that Xena and Ephiny are able to get there in time to explain that it was   
   >one of Krykus' men who  killed Terreis. Also, Xena is surprised, and maybe   
   >not so pleased, to find out that Gabrielle is now an Amazon princess. The   
   >proof of his innocence  is a ball of horse droppings, which Gabrielle   
   >holds,   
   >then hurriedly drops.   
   >   
   >    But Melosa isn't convinced, so at Ephiny's urging, Gabrielle challenges   
   >Melosa to a fight to the death, with Xena as her champion. Xena chooses the   
   >Cho-boes – twin batons about three feet long. Xena wins, but doesn't   
   kill   
   >Melosa, telling her she needs her help.   
   >   
   >    The centaurs arrive to fight, but Xena surrenders, telling Tyldus,   
   >"You've got no enemies here," and the Amazons throw down their weapons.   
   >Phantes is freed, and after Xena proves it was Arben who killed Terreis,   
   >the   
   >Amazons, in chariots pulled by centaurs, attack Krykus' army. And Gabrielle   
   >acquits herself  quite handily with the Amazon fighting staff. She even   
   >helped out Ephiny who was in some serious trouble.   
   >   
   >    The centaurs and Amazons win, and Melosa doesn't kill Krykus, but tells   
   >him he must stand trial for his crimes against the Amazons and centaurs.   
   >   
   >    Xena and Tyldus are now friends, as are the Amazons and centaurs.   
   >   
   >    Ephiny give Gabrielle her mother's fighting staff. Then Xena and   
   >Gabrielle  leave. And Gabrielle swears to Xena that there will have no more   
   >secrets, everything Gabrielle knows, Xena will know. Of course, Xena   
   >doesn't   
   >make the same pledge.   
   >   
   >    The ep ends with Gabrielle saying that Xena is a warrior princess and   
   >she is an Amazon princess and what a great story all of this will be.   
   >   
   >    I realize that this is mostly a recap, but that's because I really   
   > can't   
   >find much to complain about.  There were a few small things – like the   
   >cheesy centaur effects, or where will Krykus find an impartial jury?   
   >   
   >    Once again, I really liked Gabrielle in this episode. More and more   
   >she's proving herself (to me anyway) that, even though she is still the   
   >comic relief sometimes, her stories and her actions and reactions are   
   >entertaining and something to look forward to.   
   >   
   >          Obviously, the 'Hooves" of the title are the centaurs. And the   
   >"Harlots" are the Amazons, but other than to have a catchy title, calling   
   >them harlots is rather insulting  if you ask me.   
   >   
   >     I can't help but wonder why this was aired after 'Death in Chains."   
   >Surely TPTB didn't think that the viewers wouldn't notice.   
   >   
      
   My guess is the Centaur effects took longer in post-production than   
   they expected.   
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