30 Years of Xena: Warrior Princess

 

Today marks 30 years since the premiere of 'Xena: Warrior Princess' on September 4, 1995. Originally starting as a spin-off of 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys', it eventually surpassed it in both ratings and popularity, with several characters that originated in Hercules, like Bruce Campbell's Autolycus, also eventually becoming primarily associated with Xena in the long run.

The show was shamelessly and unapologetically campy to its core, but beyond Xena's cheesiness and genuine heartfelt moments, it also managed to be groundbreaking on several levels. It was a primarily female-led action series, which, despite the existence of characters like Ellen Ripley, Princess Leia, and Sarah Connor, was an extreme rarity at the time. Beyond that, Xena started as a villain who changed her ways, she was physically strong and athletic, she was messy and flawed, and her primary motivation was redemption, not revenge.

Xena featured a noticeably diverse cast for its time and famously challenged gender norms and stereotypes, while also exploring LGBTQIA+ themes, often pushing beyond whatever limits the mainstream television rules of the ’90s imposed. It even touched upon themes of gender identity and nonconformity, with episodes like the standout “Here She Comes... Miss Amphipolis,” which featured the late Karen Dior as Miss Artiphys, a character who may not have been explicitly referred to as trans at the time, but who was also never ridiculed or made the butt of the joke after explaining to Xena the decision to take part in a beauty pageant presenting as a woman, with the quote:

“You really don’t get it, do you? I guess being born a woman you wouldn’t. This is a chance to use a part of me most people usually laugh at, or worse. A part I usually have to hide. Only here that part works for me, you see?”

The episode not only showed Xena, a woman who, overall, did not fit traditional feminine tropes, befriending and accepting someone different who was exploring a feminine identity, and celebrating her victory when Miss Artiphys is crowned winner of the pageant at the end, but it also made a clear statement against the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS at the time by featuring an on-screen kiss between Lucy Lawless and Karen Dior, who was diagnosed with HIV and was a prominent AIDS activist.

The relationship between Xena and Gabrielle, even though it was never explicitly confirmed as an actual romance beyond the show's famous subtext, was a complex and evolving connection, with the bond and affection between the two characters being undeniable, pushing the boundaries in regards to queer representation. As their connection evolved, it became clear how the two balanced and inspired each other, with Gabrielle challenging Xena's darkness, acting as her moral compass.

Xena started as a heavily-guarded, hardened warrior who had no intention of letting anyone in, but Gabrielle's influence eventually broke through her walls and got to her. That fundamentally changed Xena as the series progressed, as we get to see her softer, more vulnerable side due to Gabrielle's influence. Despite whatever limitations the network restrictions in the ’90s inflicted on the writing of these characters, this was a story of two women who genuinely loved and significantly affected each other, and to the audience that was unmissable.

In a time of ancient gods, warlords, and kings... but also a time when homophobic jokes and sexist stereotypes and tropes were widespread and all over mainstream media, Xena came and changed the world of television forever, paving the way for future action heroines, providing inspiration for female characters decades later, and earning her status as a timeless cult icon, fair and square.