To celebrate the beloved show’s 30th birthday, here’s how it’s impacted my life
BY GINA BEVAN, IMAGE BY SYNDICATION
Over the past few months, while the world continues to be a depressing place, I’ve found total escapism in a show from my childhood: Xena: Warrior Princess. Apt, as the show celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
The series originally aired from 1995 to 2001, and as a 33-year-old, I can safely say I grew up with Xena and Gabrielle. In a world where I felt like an outsider and craved adventure, and while my friends played with make-up and I played with plastic swords, Xena, alongside Calamity Jane, was my hero. As a badass woman who could fight, she showed that there’s not one way of being a woman. But there’s another layer I couldn’t articulate then: it wasn’t just gender. It was sexuality.
Rewatching Xena as an adult has brought a deep, unexpected sense of joy to my queer older self. My mum and I used to play Xena together, although I had to be Gabrielle – my mum was 100% main character energy.
My mum died before I came out. But revisiting Xena now has made me feel more connected to something we shared.
If my mum adored Xena – a queer-coded character – then I like to think she’d have celebrated me, too. In a strange, comforting way, seeing queerness in the show that shaped my childhood feels like a warm hug from her. Like her saying, everything is okay. But even if my mum wasn’t initially accepting, I think watching Xena would have helped her understand.
Because, at its core, Xena shows the beauty of queer wlw love. Xena is a fierce protector, yet utterly vulnerable with the woman she loves. In addition, their relationship escapes patriarchal narratives that pit women against each other. In season three, episode 18, Fins, Femmes & Gems, for example, the goddess Aphrodite casts a spell that leaves the trio (Joxer joins in for this adventure) to obsess over whatever’s on their mind. For Gabrielle, she becomes the ultimate narcissist because she fears she’s just a sidekick. On learning this, Xena promises Gabrielle that she’ll make sure she doesn’t feel that way again. (This is a particularly queer episode. Remember when Gabrielle is talking about her one true love, and Xena leans in, only for Gabrielle to be referring to herself?)
Our ultimate comfort shows like Xena aren’t just entertainment – they’re central for escapism and sense of self, especially for queer women with a distinct lack of representation. They fuel our imagination and future possibilities. Quite literally, in my case, as it was only through my love of the show that I chose to study ancient history at university (thankfully, this risky decision-making process paid off!).
So, yes, I have now gone Xena mad, and I may or may not have just bought two Xena and Gabrielle Funkos that sit firmly on my desk. Now the duo can help me fight my daily work battles.
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