By Jonathan Klotz
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On the top of 90s syndication, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess dominated the airwaves, proving that there was a large want for campy, gentle exhibits that didn’t take themselves severely. Each exhibits would adapt motion pictures, different exhibits, and legends all through their runs, however none have been as enjoyable as Xena Season 3, Episode 2 “Been There, Carried out That.” It’s a time loop episode, it’s additionally Romeo and Juliethowever extra importantly, Xena murders Joxer, and it’s performed for laughs.
One other Time Loop Episode
“Been There, Carried out That” begins off as another episode, with Xena (Lucy Lawless), Gabrielle (Renee O’Conner), and Joxer (Ted Raimi) heading into city when a struggle breaks out between feuding households. Joxer is tragically killed within the scuffle and honored with a warrior’s funeral that night time as Xena and Gabrielle consolation one another. Then the day begins over once more, and rapidly, Xena realizes she’s the one one conscious that they’re reliving the identical day again and again and time and again.
Over the following few loops, Xena tries to forestall as many deaths as she will by getting Joxer out of the struggle, however then her horse finally ends up being burned alive. Stopping an elder of 1 household from being run over by a wagon causes Gabrielle to be killed within the ensuing melee. Pissed off, Xena kills Joxer along with her chakram the following morning, and whereas Gabrielle is screaming, she rolls over and goes again to mattress. She’ll rise, however she refuses to shine.
Nobody performs aggravated fairly like Lucy Lawless. “Been There, Carried out That” lets her painting a grumpy, annoyed Xena who can’t assist making an attempt to do the suitable factor, even when it by no means fairly works out. Lastly, she discovers the supply of the time loop and spends a whole day doing nothing however measuring each angle, nook, and cranny of the village whereas the large brawl goes on round her. With the best chakram throw of her life, Xena breaks the loop, and actually, it’s a bit shocking she solely murdered Joxer as soon as.
Two Overdone Tropes In One Episode
If a present is on the air lengthy sufficient, it’s going to have a time loop episode. Stargate SG-1 did it (“Window of Alternative”), Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology had one (“Trigger and Impact”), and after the success of Glad Demise Day, Fringe of Tomorrowand Palm Springswe’re due for one more Groundhog Day film any day now. When “Been There, Carried out That” aired in 1997, the trope wasn’t as well-worn as it’s in the present day, nevertheless it was already so cliche that the writing crew knew precisely what the viewers anticipated the second the loop started.
Including the Romeo and Juliet plot to a time loop combines two overdone tales into one overstuffed episode that, in opposition to the chances, works. Adapting Shakespeare’s tragic love story of two youngsters who find yourself inflicting widespread homicide and mayhem is one other plot that each present has executed, together with the Tremendous Mario Bros. Tremendous Present and each single procedural you’ll be able to consider. Xena’s encounter with the story places extra of the deal with the feuding household a part of the story and fewer on the star-crossed lovers, however her response, a annoyed sigh, matches how most viewers react to one more retelling.
Xena: Warrior Princess is crammed with references to different motion pictures, exhibits, and tales, together with a whole episode that adapts Footloose. Listen, and also you’ll catch pictures lifted straight from John Wayne motion pictures, strains from Dumb & Dumberand, because it’s a Sam Raimi manufacturing, there are various Evil Useless allusions. 30 years later, the tacky sequence that gave us an motion icon remains to be as well-liked as ever, and it’s largely due to episodes like “Been There, Carried out That” that aren’t afraid to wink on the viewers, throw out any expectations this might be a severe story, and lets viewers sit again, chill out, and have senseless enjoyable.