Post by Mini Mia on Jan 8, 2020 16:56:11 GMT -6
ÜberIndex Categories:
PROTO-ÜBER:
Proto-Über is for the most part Janice and Melinda stories such as those pioneered by Bat Morda. Many of these cross-over into CANON ÜBER and CLASSIC ÜBER moments, but rarely at the same time.
CLASSIC ÜBER:
Classic Über is inspired by the implications offered by the episodes DREAMWORKER, REMEMBER NOTHING, and THE XENA SCROLLS and developed by XENA fan fiction authors independent of XWP canon (i.e., anything appearing in the TV show). Della Street's "Towards the Sunset" is a classic example of Classic Über.
CANON ÜBER:
Canon Über is inspired by the aftermath of THE XENA SCROLLS, BETWEEN THE LINES, and DEJA VU ALLOVER AGAIN . Some of these stories cross-over into PROTO-ÜBER.
FAUX ÜBER:
Also known as NEAR ÜBER (just think near beer), Faux Über stories are Überlike (explore similar ideas) but do so by having the actual Xena and/or Gabrielle character in a different time and/or place. Many of these stories have Xena or Gabrielle as immortals, body possessors, or time-travellers. The future body possession has canon recognition through the episodes THE XENA SCROLLS and BETWEEN THE LINES. Some could argue, as well, that BETWEEN THE LINES was just a time traveling body possession and is a Faux Über and not a real Über at all, and that Canon Über only exists in Proto-Über and in DEJA VU ALL OVER AGAIN. However, that is a very conservative position and definitely a minority one as well.
MISSING LINK ÜBER:
In the case of Bongo Bear's "The Hitch Hiker", the modern day ÜberXena (Alex) and ÜberGabrielle (Gwen) share possession of their bodies with the spirits of the original Xena and Gabrielle. This plot device follows the Proto-Über canon set in THE XENA SCROLLS and BETWEEN THE LINES and places it dangerously close to Faux Über. Yet Alex and Gwen have reasons of their own to be attracted to each other, thus following the soul mate concept inherent to Classic Über. This example of Classic Über with Faux Über aspects which also relate to Proto-Über ideas and by definition touch usually upon Canon Über concepts as well, Bongo Bear's "The Hitch Hiker", presents a transition from pure Proto/Canon Überness to Classic Überness best described as a MISSING LINK ÜBER. Also striking about "The Hitch Hiker" was not only did it create the missing link between Janice and Mel Proto-Übers to Classical Über, but it also was the first contemporary setting for a completed Über.
POST-ÜBER:
These are stories which were originally Übers, but have been sanitized in order to exploit the archetypes in the work, thus allowing the stories to be reborn as non-derivative works. Examples of this are Missy Good's "Tropical Storm" and B.L. Miller's "Accidental Love".
ÜBERESQUE:
These are stories which originate outside XENA fandom but have some archetypal resonance with the concept of ÜberXena. Examples are the films "Aliens: Resurrection", "Thelma and Louise", "Batman and Robin".