You’re reading this? Why? The image above wasn’t enough to make you go straight to the Gallery? The image is a link to the Gallery (as is that). I even put an extra link right under the image to make it very clear and to save you scrolling down through the text to find it!
Still reading? Really? So I have to write some more text? Damn!
I’ve spent quite a lot of time thinking about how to write this, trying to decide on the angle to take. I think I need to be upfront about it. Rack up the words then cleave my way through. Lifting the tone and separating out the tit-for-tat stuff before going for bust.
No! I can’t do it any more! Cleavage!
There, I said it. This episode is all about cleavage. I don’t know how. Or why. It just is. The production crew clearly understand their target market and hit them with both barrels in this episode. Sorry, I just can’t help it. You can roll your eyes all you want, just look at the screencaps and see for yourself. Yes, I’ve been a little selective but I didn’t have to work too hard at it. It was a tough job but someone had to do it! Whatever, Kathryn looks great.
For those that manage to drag their gaze a little northwards there are some great KM smiles, and some pained and angry faces during the fight sequences.
Anyway, for those that are still reading: to bustiness… I mean, business.
This is Crusader, episode 8 from season 4 of the TV show Xena: Warrior Princess. The first of two episodes that Kathryn appeared in.
When I first realised that Kathryn had starred in Xena: Warrior Princess, having seen a number of episodes already but somehow not the best two, I assumed that she’d be playing a sister of Gabrielle, as played by Renée O’Connor. I think the two women have a similar look, so it made sense to me. I could not have been more wrong. And if this is the result of my wrongness then I don’t want to be right again.
Kathryn plays Najara, a crusader (hence the episode title) not unlike Xena. She’s got the sword, the outfit and the horse to prove it. However, Najara has a band of followers and not just one assistant like Xena: the lovely Gabby.
It looks like Kathryn had a lot of fun making this. The character has different sides (the caring missionary and the warrior) and there’s the fight scenes, some involving swords, and horse riding. I know that a stunt-double must have been heavily involved but I’ve tried make sure the screencaps only include the real Kathryn. The hair is short, though it is covered up by the domed hat with flappy ear things for most of the episode. And as for the rest of the outfit! I think I’ve made clear it is quite something to behold! It must have taken quite some effort to design and make. I can only applaud everyone responsible. Bravo! Cold Case production crew take note 😉 Philadelphia would be crime free with “Lillara” patrolling the streets on horse back.
I’m not very familiar with the “Xenaverse” but I gather that Najara is seen as very significant by many fans. She may not be the strongest or the most fearsome foe Xena ever faced but she was, apparently, amongst a small number that came close to defeating her. This was mostly achieved by nearly stealing Gabrielle away from the Warrior Princess. This was not done by force, oh no, but through showing the blonde sidekick another way of succeeding. A way of spiritual enlightenment and helping others.
Xena, having seen glimpses of a possible future, knows that by keeping Gabby with her she puts her in danger. As much as she doesn’t want them to part ways she recognises that it is probably for the best that they do. Gabrielle is taken with Najara’s peaceful methods and wants to take on less bruising battles.
Luckily for Xena, and the continued pairing of our heroic twosome (I mean Xena and Gabrielle! It’s not all about that!), Najara is crazy. A religious zealot of the worst kind. She is not averse to using lethal force to achieve her ends. But is that enough to dissuade sweet Gabby from joining Najara’s group, which is basically a cult?
Would Xena really put Gabby at risk to stop Najara?
Screencaps and a video clip can be found in the Gallery.
You read all the way to the bottom? You’re weird! 😉
Part 2, coming soon, sees Najara returning in The Convert.
You’re so damn good!!!
I know that episode: After finding out that Kathryn played in it I was quite lucky to find out when it was aired on TV. For sure, I didn’t miss that episode!
Xena was incredibly lucky that I wasn’t in Gabrielle’s place!
I think that if you or I were in Gabby’s place the show would have been very different
The odd thing is that I’d seen quite a few, probably close to all, episodes of Xena but I hadn’t seen the 2 that KM’s in.
I love the pic where KM is in action mode! Awesome! 😛