Welcome to my Xena: Warrior Princess shrine!
Xena was my first ever special interest, which I lived and breathed from the first time I stumbled upon a rerun at age 8 up until I was about 18 or 19. I would watch reruns nearly every day, knew every trivia fact, and my bedroom walls were covered with Xena posters. I could never explain when anyone asked why I was so obsessed with it, though I realize now it was probably the big, strong woman in leather *swoon*
Xena was first introduced on Hercules: The Legendary Journeys as a badie... as in she was a bloodthirsty warlord who, along with her army, slaughtered thousands. But when her army turned on her, she teamed up with Hercules who helped her see the error of her ways. She vowed to travel the Earth, helping to protect the innocent to make amends for her past. That's it, that's the show.
"I have many skills" - Xena's catchphrase
This is Gabrielle. When she first met Xena, she was living with her parents in a small village and betrothed to a man she didn't love. Wanting more from life, she ran away with Xena to seek adventure and see the world. She evolved a lot during the series- from a peasant girl to a bard, an Amazon, a warrior, and more. But her most notable role was, of course, as Xena's soulmate.
"Xena and I are meant to be together. We didn't make it that way, it just is." - Gabrielle
While Xena and Gabrielle's relationship remained mostly subtext while the show was airing due to censorship rules at the time, it still became an important part of queer history. Many people who worked on the show have said that the subtext was intentional, and that if the show had been made in modern times it would have been canonically queer. If only... sigh
Xena had a huge following with wlw viewers, and the online fandom spaces they created became havens for young lgbtq fans, my baby self included. I don't think I could have come to terms with my own sexuality as early as I did if not for the support of these communities and the women who ran them.
"Joxer the Mighty,
he's very tidy.
Everyone admires him.
He's so handsome, it's a sin.
With Gabby as his sidekick
Fighting with her little stick
Righting wrongs and singing songs.
Being mighty all day long.
He's Joxer! He's Joxer the Mighty!"
- Joxer, probably