Overexposure?

[vickiej]

I have been watching Xena on DVD with a friend who was not too familiar with the show.
She brought up something, raised a criticism, that I had never thought about.
She said she thought that sometimes the characters showed too much skin, that it was like the producers of the show wanted to appeal to the same type of audience-male audience- that watched shows like Baywatch and Charlies Angels because of the amount of female flesh exposed.
Like the Amazons- no argument there that they showed a lot, especially when dancing. And that sometimes in fight scenes when Xena's skirt got flipped up she exposed some cheek below her tights. Though sometimes they were more of bike short length-it varied.
Now we all know that sex appeal is a big part of the entertainment industry. But I never thought there was gratuitous exposure on Xena, not even the hot tub scenes. Very sensual yes,but by no stretch of the imagination anywhere near pornographic. Haven't viewed those with my friend yet, I wonder what her reaction will be.
Now personally I am a rather conservative dresser when it comes to appearing in public. Like, I only wear my more revealing bikinis at home or a friend's private pool . But thats my choice-if people are comfortable with displaying their bodies, fine.
And certainly Lucy and Renee and Hudson and others are very beautiful. In fact, one of my favorite eps is Miss Amphipolis where Lucy appears in her white bikini like outfit- and best of all was the ending of that ep!
Others have any thoughts?

[Mini Mia]

I don't think Lucy had any undies on at one point in the show:

mikes-images.com/eps/hscma/pages/hscma2_5_mq_108sd.htm

[stepper]

Interesting question - there was a running joke about the shrinking costume Gabrielle wore. In one show Gabby and Joxer talked about it momentairily. I wonder what your friend will think when Old Ares had a Farm comes up where all three are in bed together.

Was there gratuitous skin in the show? Well, maybe some. After all, they didn't HAVE to do Sisters Are Doin' It for Themselves in a steambath. But, there wasn't so much that I’d say it distracted from the X:WP series. The show was fun and entertaining with a good mix of drama and comedy.

[Phalon]

But I never thought there was gratuitous exposure on Xena, not even the hot tub scenes.

Certainly not gratuitous, or even what I would consider overexposure. But yeah, sex appeal sells, and the costumes on Xena, I'm sure, had something to do bringing in viewers and keeping up the ratings. There was probably a segment of the audience that the show would have lost if the clothing was baggy and the armor more bulky.

I do however feel that the clothing often did not fit the situation (this is meant in jest, but it actually did make me scratch my head a few times). I mean they weren't superheros that wear uniforms; they were supposed to be real people who would probably dress for the occasion...at least on occasion. An example would be during The Ring Trilogy. Here we've got a wintry scene with a bunch of Norseman dressed in furs, and our heroines show up in basically their normal everyday attire, not appearing to be freezing their butts off at all. I honestly don't remember if Xena was wearing a coat, but Gabs had a duster; it was open, and flopping around in the breeze, exposing those famous Abs of Gabs, but at least she had a coat.

I want that coat still.

[vickiej]

Not sure about that image Mini-Mia. There could have been a thong on under that outfit.
Its like in The Debt I when Xena is covered in grease paint, looks like she is nude but more likely a skintight body suit.
I do not consider it to be gratuious if the clothing or lack of it fits the situation. Like the nude scene in the Legacy when they are washing off after being covered by a sandstorm. They obviously needed a bath then!
And certainly nothing like the chain armor bikini of a certain redhaired swordswoman from the comics. Thats Red Sonja for non comics fan. I certainly think Marvel came up with that ridiculous costume to appeal to its male adolescent fans.
Actually, I wonder how much a strong woman like Xena appealed to a certain male element, the one that watched Baywatch for the swimsuits .
And some costumes simply fit the character- like Aphrodite's .
True about Gabrielle's costume shrinking over the seasons- as well as growing blonder.