Fantasy: How would you do a reunion show?

[stepper]

I’ve always thought they could do a reunion Xena show. But since Xena is supposed to stay dead, how to do it? The last show had Gabby on a ship talking to Xena and heading for, I think it was Egypt. Where ever it was, I don’t see why they couldn’t simply have Gabby manipulate an Egyptian God or Goddess into bring Xena back, so long as she didn’t return to Japan. What are your ideas? How would you bring back Xena for a reunion show?

[Mini Mia]

I heard comments on the "Director's Cut" of the 2-hour season finale that Rob had planned on doing 3 TV movies. He most likely intended on bringing Xena back to life in the first one.

After years of the courts playing, "Who's got the rights," Rob was finally given permission to make a movie. He is holding out for more money in order to create the best movie he feels the fans deserve. Sounds to me like they didn't give him much money to work with, and he doesn't want to film a movie that's half-a$$ed. Personally, I loved the show as it was, so a 'straight to DVD' movie made on a budget would be okay with me. And with Katherine Fugate writing it, it's bound to be good.

[stepper]

I always had a feeling that they had left the door open to bring Xena back. I just wish that they had gotten around to it.

[Mini Mia]

Yeah, I fear that by the time they get all their 'ducks in a row', they'll have to hire a new cast and start at the beginning.

[stepper]

I can't imagine a new cast would work. I'd be interested in a show or movie, but not if Lucy and Renee aren't the lead characters. It's going to be hard enough without Kevin Smith, unless they go a different direction and ignore *all* the old supporting characters. I'd like to revisit some of them though.

[Mini Mia]

Well, most of the characters are old or dead. That 25 year sleep did away with most of them. And there were a lot of eps that didn't include Ares, so they can leave him completely out of the script.

[magnus greel]

Reviving Xena (literally) has to be difficult. I mean, it can't be a ten second, contrived half-explanation. She shouldn't completely come back, or the finale is cheapened. Some middle ground between life and death?

I'm fine with it not being quite as "active". Lucy's starting middle-age (hardly "old"), and a story about Xena entering middle-age really dealing with it, could be fascinating.

Then again, when Xena (and Lucy) had to be less active in the fifth season, the results weren't so good....

[stepper]

Hi Magnus! I agree that bringing Xena back shouldn't be something like Dallas where an entire season was only a dream and never happened, but I'm not sure how they'd work out a middle ground either. Personally, I think I'd prefer back all the way. On the other hand, half way back may leave her with abilities that she didn't have before which would make her even more formidable. I hadn't really considered age to be a factor, at least not yet. If they can make "Hobbits" look like they're half the size of "normal" people, then they can make Xena and Gabby seem as active as ever. I'm not expecting them to do flips between horses, but she's not Xena if she's not kicking butt.

[magnus greel]

Hi Stepper... I'd feel cheated if they didn't deal with them getting older. I'd love for the rest of my life to see periodic TV movies, say, showing Xena and Gab a bit older, then a bit older than that, acquiring more complicated perspectives, and still needing to protect themselves and others physically, but gradually being less able to do so. I'd like the drama aspect emphasized rather than the action aspect.

[stepper]

Mar 5, 2009 1:43:35 GMT -6 magnus greel said:

I'd feel cheated if they didn't deal with them getting older. ... I'd love for the rest of my life to see periodic TV movies, say, showing Xena and Gab a bit older, then a bit older than that, acquiring more complicated perspectives, and still needing to protect themselves and others physically, but gradually being less able to do so. I'd like the drama aspect emphasized rather than the action aspect.

Old age and treachery will overcome youth and skill every time! I understand your concept, but they can only be a little age impaired losing too much of the audience. You have to consider what a larger viewing audience would be expecting if you want the show to be successful so there will be more than one.

[magnus greel]

If the budget was lower, they wouldn't have to care too much about pleasing vast numbers of people-- it might be economical to do them for a (still sizeable) core audience.

[stepper]

I'm not sure what consitutes a lower budget, but would that really do? Granted, we're not talking about spending my money, but half class is tantamount to no class. It's akin to sports play offs. Go big or stay home. Sadly, I'm afraid it's just a dream.
What would you do for a premise? Do you start with something new, or do you go for all the people who liked the show in the first place and try to answer some of the lingering questions? Like, how could they both have descendents since Xena is supposedly deceased?

[Mini Mia]

Like, how could they both have descendents since Xena is supposedly deceased?

Eve?

[stepper]

Okay, so it's not going to happen. I'm still harboring that one iota of hope that we’ll be blessed with a follow up. They brought back Maverick years later, they can bring back Gabby and Xena too.

[vickiej]

With the exception of Xena, leave dead everyone who died or got killed off. Maybe some appear in flashbacks or as spirits- Joxer, Callisto.

[stepper]

I'd agree with that vickiej. (Welcome to Whoosh BTW.) I have to admit I'd like having the "old" Callisto back, but they could come up with a suitable protagonist to make the show interesting.