If Bo is a descendant of Xena, then Jane Rizzoli must be her reincarnation...

I've started watching Rizzoli & Isles and I am loving every moments of this show. I previously came to a conclusion that Bo is a descendant of Xena, because they both have similar themes and people around them. But then after watching Rizzoli & Isles, I'm starting to think, "wait, if Bo is the descendant of Xena... that makes Jane... her reincarnation?" The similarity between Xena, the Warrior Princess and Detective Jane Rizzoli is kinda so similar that I can only conclude that Jane Rizzoli is either her reincarnation or Jane has Xena's spirit trapped in her body (think Xena, Season 2, Episode 10, The Xena Scrolls)

Let's start with the basic...

Both Xena and Jane Rizzoli are tall... as in 5'10" tall and capable of handling weapons.

Both have long dark hair.
vs

Both have a loyal companion (the smarter one)

Gabrielle, Bard of Poteidaia
vs

Dr. Maura Isles, the Medical Examiner
Hey, did you notice that they're blonds?

Both have men in their lives that well, they are just there...
Xena has Joxer and Autolycus...
Ok, if you want to bring up the subject of love interest instead then you get
Marcus
Julius Caesar

And who can forget the God of War himself, Ares?

and Gabrielle had
Perdicus who is... dead...

Now Jane has
Agent Dean, who has been called back to Washington.
Or the army guy, Casey... still stuck on the other side of the world.

and Maura had

Ian who is actually wanted by Interpol

Oh and please don't forget this guy... the creepy, psycho Dennis who, thankfully, is dead.

So, that's pretty convincing evidence that the men aren't meant to be. Girls, you've got each other. It's better that way.

Both of them have 2 brothers...
Xena's got
Toris
and Lyceus

Jane's got
Frankie
and Tommy

Now, let's not forget that they're protective of each other...


Oh yes, when you threaten their friend, you will feel the wrath!

Am I missing anything else?

Is Bo (Lost Girl) a descendant of Xena: Warrior Princess?

I started watching the show because the darn commercial teaser of Anna Silk as Bo holding a cool weapon caught my eyes...



Now that season 2 has completed... I am more and more convinced that Bo is probably a descendant of Xena.

Shall we begin?

1. Long black hair

vs


CHECKED.

2. Loyal Side-kick/Best Friend


vs


CHECKED.

3. Awesome Fighting Skills - has an arsenal of weapons at her disposal


Her trusty chakram and that's just one of her many skills... don't forget her sword, whip, staff, bow and arrow, and whatever she can grab to use as weapons (including fish and frying pan).
vs

And that's only a SELECTED few... she has a katana hidden in her room somewhere...

CHECKED.

4. One bad boy who just never let go...


The God of War... he'll do whatever it takes to have Xena by his side again.

vs

Ryan Lambert, the Dark Fae... almost got Bo to marry him... also known as Loki, the trickster god.

CHECKED.

5. A Dark Past


The Evil Xena, also known as the Destroyer of Nation. Now she fights for good and tries to atone for her past.

vs

I know she's not evil but she has the potential to turn into Super Succubus (and be evil). But she's fighting the urge to fight for what is right.

Need I say more?

What do you think?

Hercules and Xena - The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus

That's a mouthful title, isn't it?

So where do I begin? First... THIS because it's easier for you to click on IMDB's webpage and read about it.

Then watch this:


Earlier this year I lost 300GB of stuff on my hard drive. I still haven't been able to access it without paying way too much money for those data recovery service. In the past few days (or week), I have been redownloading everything that I had... or at least, that I can remember. I had photos, movies, musics, ebooks, comics and tv shows. This was not a part of the lost data. However, I'd figure it is better to have a digital copy then to go and dig out my VHS tape. Yes, you read that right... VHS tape!

This movie was released in 1997 (and I was still in high school) and I remember seeing the VHS being sold in my weekly flyer at a store called "Bi-Way." It is an early 90s version of an upscale dollar store, sorta speak. And this VHS was advertised for $14.99CAD and I think I cut the ad down and saved it in some box somewhere in my house.

Being a fan of Hercules and Xena TV Show, I really wanted this. It was direct to home video. I may eventually go and find the DVD copy (for the extras) but the downloaded version will have to do.

If you recall the year 1997, Power Rangers was in its 3rd spin-off as "Power Rangers Turbo." Fox Kids was literally at its height. You have cartoons like Spiderman, X-Men, and there were some Batman cartoon. So, it was some good times.

When I popped in the VHS into the VCR (google them if you have no clue what a VHS and VCR is), I was very confused! And almost 15 years later, I am still confused. Watch the trailer again...

What I found really strange was the quality of the animation. It was done in a very 1950s era cartoon like Bugs Bunny or even 1960s Spiderman. I am not sure if they wanted to keep the budget low or done in an artistic way. Some of the scene's background are a very nice looking painting...

Another thing about the animation is... all the character's were left handed. I can never figure out if this was because the animators (all Koreans as seen at the end credits) were drawing a mirror image of themselves or they were all left handed. Some scenes were showing them as right handed but it was only 10% and it is these minor things that bugs me.

Now that I rewatched again, boy did the script not live up to its live action show. There were no depth. It seems to be one of those "ok, height of the TV shows... let's milk it for what it's worth." There were some humours in the animation but it certainly missed the "Oomph" of the TV show.

The highlight, of course, is hearing Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Lucy Lawless (Xena), Michael Hurst (Iolaus), Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle), and the late Kevin Smith (Ares) reprise the role for the animation. Also as a treat, fans of the show get to hear Lucy Lawless sing! (It's about half way through the movie)

As a fan of the show, I still love it even with the cheese factor to the max. Although, I am really not sure where the VHS is...

There are other Hercules and Xena related media out there. However, I have actually been disappointed with most of them.

Hercules: The Legendary Journey comics released by Topps
Xena: Warrior Princess comics released by three different companies: Topps, Dark Horse and Dynamite
A Hercules: The Legendary Journey Game Boy Color game...
A very poor Xena: Warrior Princess Game Boy Color game
A Hercules: The Legendary Journey N64 game
A Xena: Warrior Princess: The Talisman of Fate N64 game that is a fighting game
A pretty decent Xena: Warrior Princess Playstation (PS1) game
A horrifically TERRIBLE Xena: Warrior Princess Playstation 2 game that's only available in UK PAL (and I downloaded this... it's VERY boring. I'm not even sure if it's worth buying for collection)

Some fans are still waiting for this Xena movie... I think most fans would be happy if they made a game with the show's writer and gave the game a God of War like treatment. I will post my idea in another post...

Sins of the Past

The first episode of Xena... I absolutely love this episode and can't really find a flaw in it.

Love the opening scene. It opens with a distinctive instrument. I think it's a double reed shawm, it is loud and sharp sound. As Xena rides, we get flashback episodes from Hercules. It worked nicely. I guess the producers assumed you had already seen the "Xena Trilogy" in the first season of Hercules so, not much is said until Xena hears a sound from a burnt house in which a kid comes out and ask for food. The kid explains that his parents were killed by Xena who "came out of the sky in a chariot."

Here's the first scene, I don't really get. Xena, feeling somewhat responsible, just tosses down a wrapped item. The kid opens the item to find a piece of bread (or cheese, some half circle) and smiles back as Xena rides away. Problem: the way the kid is smiling seems odd, it wasn't a "thank you" smile but more of the "oh yes, i tricked you, haha" smile.

Xena had already decided to give up fighting and began burying her equipment. My problem here is, does that white undergarment REALLY fit underneath that leather? I think not! Anyway, while in this "goodbye, warrior princess" look she hears sounds and "hides" behind the bush. We are finally introduced to the character Gabrielle. She decided to risk her life so the others could be free. Of course, Xena comes in a save the day and the first time we hear the infamous battle cry.

Skipping ahead...

Next scene that I enjoy is the cyclop scene with Xena and then a later with Gabrielle. I love how they used 2 different angles on the shot. The cyclop standing close to the camera while Xena/Gabrielle are standing far away. By the way, did anyone notice how Xena called her horse a boy as she went over the bridge?

The scene between Xena and her mother is very touching. You see the hate and the love at the same time. Xena tried to explain Draco is going attack the village but no one would listen and a mob is gathered.

Best line of the episode?

"What? Is one woman too much for you? Let me even the odds, one UNarmed woman might be more to your taste."

As Xena is about to be stoned by her people, Gabrielle arrives. I love how she use false logic to convince the villages.

"Let's say you're right and she's Draco buddy, let's even make her his girlfriend. You think Draco is bad news now? What would happen if he hears you knocked off his woman? Boy, it gives me the creeps to even think about it."

In the next scene, we see Xena visiting her dead brother. What I do find odd is Gabrielle following Xena INTO the catacomb/chamber. Seriously, it's a private moment and Gabrielle just decided that she can just come in. But of course...

Xena: It's hard to be alone
Gabrielle: You're not alone.

My favourite scene of the episode is probably the ladder fight between Draco and Xena. Awesome soundtrack, awesome fighting choreograph aaaannnd fighting on heads... and happy ending.

Campfire secene at the end was a nice touch.

Xena: It's not easy proving you're a different person.

The episode ends on a positive note:

Xena: You know where I'm headed, there'll be trouble.
Gabrielle: I know.
Xena: So why would you want to go into that with me?
Gabrielle: That's what friends do, they stand by each other when there's trouble.
Xena: Alright, friend.

I've watched this episode so many times and still love it. I'm not sure how else the episodes can be done differently...

TV show 15 years later

it's funny watching dvds and look at shows from 15 years ago and see what's changed and what hasn't changed.

A few months ago, I watched through Season 1 - 3 (missing season 4 dvd) of Lois and Clark: New Adventures of Superman. The way they did the show in 1993 and it still look modern in 2010. That's pretty amazing.

But my favourite show on the 90s are Hercules: The Legendary Journey and Xena: Warrior Princess. Can't explain why but I can watch these shows over and over again. I had other shows I loved watching in the 90s like Star Trek: Voyager (how can you not love Kate Mulgrew??) and The New Adventure of Sinbad (but a bit of a tacky version of Hercules and Xena) but there was something about Hercules and Xena that captured my imagination. It could be because it was set in ancient Greece or it could be the story or it could be the relationship of the characters of the show. Who knows?

But I decided to dig the DVDs out and start watching them again from season 1... so, I might write episode reviews from 15 years later. lol A different perspective and maybe catch something I didn't notice before...