Callisto (episode)

From Legendary Journeys

Callisto

Series	Xena: Warrior Princess
Season	1
Original Airdate	May 12 1996
Episode Order	22nd in Series, 22nd in Season
Date	Year 0
Written by	R.J. Stewart
Director	T.J. Scott

Xena is once again reminded of the sins of her past when a malicious female warrior, whose family was killed by Xena's former army, exacts her revenge on the Warrior Princess by impersonating her.

Contents 1 Summary 1.1 Disclaimer 2 Background Information 3 Links and References 3.1 Guest Stars 3.2 References 3.2.1 People 3.2.2 Gods 3.2.3 Places 3.2.4 Other

[edit] Summary

Callisto, a ruthless woman warrior leading a band of cutthroats on a bloody rampage, tells a terrified village survivor to spread news of the devastation and identifies herself as Xena. The real Xena learns of this cruel charade from Melas, a griefstricken young man who has lost his two-year-old son to the murderers and vows revenge on the warrior princess. Determined to stop the destruction, Xena and Gabrielle set out to find the imposter. They sense this imposter was the one responsible for nearly killing Xena with a poison dart.

After foiling an assassination attempt by Melas, Xena comes upon Callisto and her warriors, who are in the process of sacking another village. Xena lets loose with her chakram and to her amazement, it is caught by Callisto. Drawing their swords, the two charge each other on horseback and a fierce battle ensues which proves them to be almost evenly matched. But Callisto manages to escape with Xena's chakram, asking the warrior princess before she flees if she remembers Cirra -- a village Xena conquered in her dark past.

After the fight, Xena puts her "touch" on the throat of Callisto's warrior Theodorus, forcing him to reveal Callisto's intentions. He tells her that Callisto's family died in Cirra when Xena and her army laid waste to the village, and that the woman warrior is determined to exact her revenge. He also reveals that Callisto plans to murder the Oracle of Delphi the following day and blame it on Xena.

Meanwhile, Callisto is visited in her stronghold by a weasly little man named Joxer, who is desperate to become one of her warriors. She tells him he must prove himself by bringing her Gabrielle, which he attempts repeatedly, but to no avail. The next day, Xena, Gabrielle and Melas -- who now knows that Xena did not murder his son -- go to the temple at Delphi. Xena spots and charges Callisto in the crowd just as she hurls Xena's chakram towards the Oracle. The warrior princess manages to thwart the assassination attempt and jumps on her horse to pursue the fleeing Callisto. Xena gives chase over the hills and valleys, finally managing to take Callisto prisoner.

Meanwhile, Melas, consumed with grief and hatred, organizes a lynch mob bent on revenge. When Xena returns with her captive and refuses to give her up to Melas and the crowd, they set fire to the jail. In the confusion, Callisto escapes and takes Gabrielle hostage. Xena follows and when she reaches Callisto's stronghold, she finds Gabrielle suspended from a rope over a huge vat of wood.

After igniting both the rope and the wood with a torch, Callisto draws Xena into battle and a furious fight-chase on ladders begins. Eventually, Xena gets the upper hand and catches Gabrielle just as the rope gives way. She then saves Callisto from falling into the burning pyre, though the embittered warrior tells Xena that she hates her for doing so.

In the end, Callisto is put in leg irons by a posse of citizens from Delphi, and Melas -- now aware of the near-tragic consequences of his blind hatred -- promises that she will get a fair trial for her crimes.

[edit] Disclaimer

Joxers nose was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. However, his crossbow was severely damaged.

[edit] Background Information

• Shooting Dates: February 5, 1996 through February 16th, 1996 (9 day shoot).
• This episode introduces two characters who will become essential to the Xenaverse going forward: Callisto and Joxer.
• This episode scored 5.1 million viewers on its original airing.
• Although revealing that it was Callisto that fired the poisoned dart at Xena in the previous episode, 'The Greater Good', this one was actually filmed before it.
• The 2nd unit crew spent a record-making nine days working on the Xena/Callisto ladder battle.
• Robert Tapert, mentioned at 1998 Burbank II Con that didn't take he credit for Callisto. R.J. Stewart created the character and he knew how they wanted her character to be like.
• The original draft of the episode included Xena and Gabrielle entering a village, and meeting Akteon, who apparently knew of Xena from her past, and who doesn't know Xena is reformed, this was something that occured in The Path Not Taken, where Xena pretends to be evil Xena, but by the time they got to this episode, the writers felt it long enough that people probaly know by now she is reformed.
• In the original script, Joxer actually does shot an arrow at Gabrielle with his crossbow, at Gabrielle in the Delphi alleyway, she however ducks them and defends herself.
• Deleted Scene: An extended Gabrielle/Joxer scene was cut from the aired version. It occurs while the two are tied up in Callisto's camp, where the two comment on the hero in both of them.  
• Chakram Count : 4

1) To take out three of Callisto's soldiers.
2) Callisto throws it into a watermelon.
3) Callisto throws it to try and kill the Oracle.

4) Xena throws it to cut the rope to free Gabrielle.

[edit] Links and References

[edit] Guest Stars

Hudson Leick as Callisto
Ted Raimi  as Joxer
David Te Rare as Theodorus

Ian Hughes as Melas

[edit] References

[edit] People

Oracle

[edit] Gods

[edit] Places

Stonehenge, Delphi

[edit] Other

Previous episode: The Greater Good

Episodes of Xena: Warrior Princess

Next episode: Death Mask