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Review for "Small Sacrifices" (XWPVS 8.6)
by: David J. Duncan
"Small Sacrifices" brings the series back to familiar surroundings as Xena and Gabrielle continue their trip home. As with the other episodes in Season 8 thus far, the clash of cultures is noticeable. However, longtime Xenites are familiar with Roman/Celtic skirmishes from "The Deliverer" and indeed, this installment follows that one. (In fact, one should see it again before reading this story.) While not the issue that it was across the sea, the communication references are enlightening and amusing as well.
The teaser starts with Xena and Gabrielle emerging onto the scene. Apparently they had successfully navigated the Underground passage as they surfaced in Britannia. (That would have made a great story in itself!) After meeting Jules and Ceanard, two Celts, they discover that the Romans are at work there. After fighting off a Roman attack, the warriors ride to the top of a crest and glance at the scene beneath them. Hearing the Celts' story sets up the "Deliverer" theme nicely. (I liked the discussion over how to ride double too.)
Act I serves to further orient us to the scene. After surveying the battlefield, Xena and Gabrielle meet Ivonne, Boudicea's daughter, in a nearby village. It is there that they receive the entire story of the Roman incursions and first hear of the "Roman witch" (Ethne). Afterwards, Xena and Gabrielle discuss the costs of conquest, reaching very deep insights into the Roman military psyche in the process. Later, Ivonne tells them more of the account, linking Ethne to the Circle of Giants and Dahak's temple. As a result, the warrior companions decide to find the witch.
Act II introduces the Roman players in this drama and advances the plot. The reader meets Paulinus, Decianus, Titus and Ethne at this point. Xena's trip to the Roman camp gets her, Gabrielle and Ivonne into contact with Titus. (Another interesting play on communication here.) He reveals that Ethne is behind the whole affair, setting the witch in her role as the 'power behind the throne'. Afterwards, Xena and Gabrielle lay a trap at a barn for a Roman sortie. Predictably, the soldiers fall for it. (Again, love Xena's correcting the leader on Latin manners. : ) With Xena laying a distraction, the scene is ready for some action.
Act III pushes things further along, splitting the action between scenes in the Roman camp and with Xena and Gabrielle. After the Roman tribunal executes a native sympathizing officer, Decianus and Ethne discuss their plans. Early the next morning, he forces her to give vision to Paulinus. (The tension between Paulinus and Ethne starts brewing at this point and will boil over in the next episode.) Meantime, Xena and Gabrielle stalk the Romans, watching their every move. (Having Ethne hear her name being said was an interesting touch.) At the scene's end, Ethne announces that Xena and Gabrielle are there, setting up the battle between them and her. (At this point, the reader has to wonder if this priestess is Alti reincarnated or not. She is very similar and knows the two warriors' capabilities.)
Act IV starts the main fighting, building drama toward the end. The Romans and Iceni finally face off in a major battle. As they do so, several smaller events happen. Ethne sees Xena and Gabrielle but Paulinus keeps her from going after them. Xena tries to kill Ethne but Paulinus deflects the chakram toss with his sword. (That's interesting how he would know how to time the sword thrust unless it was dumb luck. Only Ares, Hercules and Callisto have managed that trick as far as I know.) Ivonne kills Decianus, leaving the field clear for Paulinus and Ethne to lead the Roman side. After the battle, Paulinus arranges for the boat carrying Ivonne and her troops to explode at sea, further cutting the Britannic ties to the resistance effort. And having the episode end with Xena and Gabrielle being chased along the cliffs guarantees that readers will be back to see what happens next.
This episode offers the first half of the story in a nice fashion for the reader. It brings Xena and Gabrielle back into the main Xenaverse and gets them back into contact with the Romans. The ghosts of Caesar, Boudicea and Dahak tie this tale back to previous seasons. The question of Ethne's true identity and nature intrigues the audience as does her connections to the Romans. Having read this one, fans will want to read the conclusion, "Queen Maeve's Grave".
Thanks for the great read!
Review: Episode 8.6 - Small Sacrifices
by: 41 Cyg
In the forum comments on this episode, the author, Karen Lines, said the production had been rushed because of a hole in the schedule, and it shows. Several scenes in Small Sacrifices were also seen or rehashed in the next
episode, Queen Maeve's Grave, with the treatment in the latter much better than that in the former. Also Small Sacrifices seems more somber than Queen Maeve's Grave (despite the title) and I do tend to lower my ratings
because of that (I like happy endings.). Anyway, I give this episode a 7.6 (out of 10).
COMMENTS:
General: I was expecting an underworld episode before our heroes got back to their usual haunts (Being living beings, the underworld would be an unusual haunt.). Maybe Xena and Gabrielle could have found Joxer and brought a message back to Meg.
Teaser: The illustrations (Xena + Gabrielle coming out of the pond and later the pair on horseback) are excellent!
Gina (I think. I'm still not certain on which style goes with which artist.) has captured the pond beautifully
and almost perfectly. If this were a photo, I would be trying to figure out where I'd seen the place. I think fall scenes are her forte.
Act II: When Paulinus mentions how long he hasn't been sleeping well, it should be since the Kalends (or Calends) of September, not Kalend (By the way, the Kalends of September is September 1st, so he's had the problem for 2 1/2 months.).
Weather - I live in western Oregon where the climate is very similar to Britannia (Or at least the British Isles. Many English plants flourish untended here.), and while mid-fall is cold and wet, snow is very unusual below 3000-4000 feet (1100-1500 meters) before December. Also, with the wet weather, dirt roads can quickly become quagmires, which would effectively halt a legion's travels.
(After the posting of the original version of these comments in the forum, Karen informed me that the
mid-November snow was present in her ancient source, Suetonius' De Vita Caesarum (Lives of the Caesars, commonly known as the Twelve Caesars). Suetonius is one of the best sources of first century Roman history, although, as the Encyclopedia Britannica says, he was `free with scandalous gossip' (Picture Kitty Kelly in a toga and you'll have the right idea.). Maybe it was a cold winter or the legion camp was in a higher area.
Freezing weather could have solidified the mud, too, or maybe it was an unseasonably dry fall, so the legion, if properly provisioned, could still move around.)
Act III: I usually don't mention typos (We all make them.), but it is unusual that the wounded are placed on palettes (artist's paint boards). Some more appropriate accommodations must have been found later, since Gabrielle does rest on a pallet (a small or poor bed). At least they weren't on palates. That would have been a lot messier!
From scene 26: Quote
"He (Decianus) places two firm hands on each of her shoulders."
Where did Decianus get four hands?
Act IV:
In scene 51, where Paulinus and Ethne are at the legion camp, Decianus is suddenly resurrected from the dead and returns from the tavern to say `Let's go.' I think Karen meant Paulinus.
When the ship captain speaks to the guard, a better excuse than a dream is that he must set sail with the tide (which is probably true no matter what)(or is he feeling guilty or trying to warn his passengers in some way?).
Additional comment:
In the discussion on the forum (Click on forum at the top of this page and go to the episode 8.6 area in the VS Episode Discussion category to see the whole thing.) Karen mentioned that, instead of being executed, Postumous was given the opportunity to `fall on his sword' when accused of dereliction of duty.
MacavityCat, who is basically in charge of this website, decided to change it. I'm not sure that was a good idea.
Honorable suicide was an integral part of the upper class Roman character and would fit the characters shown very well.
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