From: daviderl31@yahoo.com   
      
        2-09 A Solstice Carol   
      
   First air date Dec 9, 1996.   
      
   This episode starts with King Silvus sentencing an old couple to ten years   
   hard labor for tax evasion. And adds twelve moths for celebrating the Winter   
   Solstice. He then asks  his scribe, Senticles, if he has prepared the   
   eviction lists for the day. When Senticles protests that it's the Sol—then   
   changes it to being too late in the day, Silvus threatens him.   
      
       Xena and Gabrielle are walking though a market place. Gabrielle is   
   telling Xena no peeking at what the other is buying as a solstice present.   
   Xena is less than enthused. Then a young boy steals Xena' Chakram and runs   
   off with it. Xena and Gabrielle split up, but meet at the same place when   
   they've caught up to the boy.   
      
       When they go into the building the boy entered, which is an orphanage,   
   they see a large tree decorate with ribbons and such and the Chakram is atop   
   the tree with as an ornament.   
      
       Suddenly, Senticles and some soldiers bust in and tell the woman in   
   charge of the orphanage that they have until midnight to pay 1000 dinars in   
   taxes or face eviction. Then one of the guards says they all should be   
   arrested for celebrating the solstice. Xena back flips to the top of the   
   tree to get her Chakram, then throws it around the room, ricocheting off the   
   walls, ribbons streaming behind it, and the guards are wrapped up with the   
   ribbons.   
      
       Gabrielle asks Senticles how he could work for a man like the king. He   
   says he was a toy maker, but had to find work somewhere when his job was   
   outlawed.   
      
       Gabrielle recognizes his name and tells him about a toy lamb she had as   
   a child. He says the king's wife dying 30 years ago is what caused him to be   
   so mean.   
      
       Gabrielle tells the children a story without a happy ending but wants   
   Xena to help her change King Silvus.   
      
       Xena gives Gabrielle 35 dinars to buy disguises for their plan, but   
   instead she buys a donkey that is headed for the tannery.   
      
       Xena goes to see Silvus while he is sleeping, and tells him he should   
   ease up on his people and let them celebrate Solstice, He says no and calls   
   for the guards. Xena swings out of the window on a rope and crashes into a   
   room on the next floor down. It has a dead, decorated tree with presents   
   under it, and a painting of the king and his wife, Inalia, on the wall.   
      
       Xena sees Senticles changing the wording of the sentences of those in   
   prison and she talks him into helping her.   
      
       Gabrielle is telling the children a story about why the Solstice is   
   celebrated. And three of them make wishes.   
      
       Gabrielle tells Xena about the donkey, but Xena says she found all they   
   need in the castle.   
      
       Xena disguises herself a Clothos – the Fate of the Past and goes back to   
   the king's bedchamber and wakes him up. She leads him down into room with   
   the tree, and Gabrielle is suspended by a rope dressed as Inalia. She tells   
   him to change from his narrow, greedy ways before it's too late. Xena gives   
   him wine spiked with a sleeping herb and takes him back to his bed.   
      
       Gabrielle goes to find Senticles and sees all the toys he had made. They   
   put them in a large canvas bag and she disguises with a beard so the   
   soldiers won't recognize him.   
      
       Xena next dresses up like Lachesis, the Fate of the present. She makes   
   him dress as a peasant and takes him to the orphanage.  The kid who stole   
   Xena's Chakram tells Silvus, not recognizing him, what a terrible king he   
   is. As they are leaving the soldiers come to serve the eviction notice. The   
   king faints and Xena puts him in a dark place. She realizes the woman of the   
   orphanage is Inalia and tells her to watch over him.   
      
       Gabrielle and Senticles have to come down the chimney to get past the   
   guards.   
      
       The soldiers come in and Xena, Gabrielle, Senticles and some of the kids   
   use the toys to fight off the soldiers.   
      
       Silvus wakes up and sees Inalia is wearing a hood covering most of her   
   face and he thinks she is Atropos, the Fate of the future, there to show him   
   is dark, lonely future. He swears he will change.   
      
       He goes out to where everyone is fighting. He and Xena and Gabrielle and   
   Senticles grab either stuffed animals or pillows and begin fighting the   
   soldiers, who finally run off.   
      
       Inalia comes out and Silvus realizes who she is and asks her forgiveness   
   for closing his heart to her and his people. She does.   
      
       Xena and Gabrielle are leaving and come across a man and his wife   
   heading west. She is carrying a baby. Gabrielle gives them the donkey so she   
   won't have to walk.   
      
       Xena gives Gabrielle a solstice present. It is the lamb she had as a   
   child. Gabrielle tells Xena she didn't get her a gift, and Xena tells her   
   SHE is a gift.   
      
   ''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''   
      
       Okay, this is supposed to be the sentimental, holiday episode. But I   
   have to say I wasn't that crazy about it.   
      
   It had all the elements – the Christmas tree, Santa Claus coming down the   
   chimney with the bag of goodies, the Christmas carol, the original Scrooge,   
   the 'ghosts' of Xmas past, present, and future, and the couple with the   
   child riding the donkey.   
      
   I guess maybe I have a touch of Scrooge in me, but the only things I really   
   liked were:   
      
   Gabrielle enticing the soldiers while gyrating with the hula hoop.   
      
   Xena's voice as Lachesis, deep and throaty.   
      
   While Gabrielle is pounding two soldiers on their helmets with bells, she   
   plays 'Jingle Bells', and looks surprised.   
      
   And, of course, Xena telling her, "You are a gift to me."   
      
   Things to pick at—   
      
   When Gabrielle as let down outside the castle after portraying Inalia, she   
   still had to rope tied to her, as did the donkey, but they just walked away   
   like they weren't tied.   
      
   No real explanation why Inalia left Silvus. There was a tree decorated, and   
   presents under it, but she just left and for 30 years suffered with the rest   
   of his people.   
      
   Nothing else in particular, but I'm just not much for Xmas stories. I avoid   
   them completely this time of year.   
      
   But in all fairness to the rating, I didn't dislike it this time as much as   
   I did the first two or three times I saw it.   
      
   I would give it a 5, but in the Winter Solstice spirit, I'll bump it up to a   
   6 out of 10.   
      
   David   
      
               From what I remember, the Solstice was celebrated by   
   superstitious people because it is when the sun begins it journey going   
   higher into the sky  toward the summer solstice rather than continuing  to   
   sink lower and lower until it is gone forever.   
      
      
   [continued in next message]   
      
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    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)