The Prodigal
Gabrielle faces the bandits on her own, after finding answers at home
Overview
Series	Xena: Warrior Princess
Season	1
Antagonist	Damon
Setting	Greece Potedia
Production
Original Air-Date	March 4th, 1996
Written By	John T. Kretchmer
Directed By	Chris Manheim
Episode Chronology
Order in Series	018
Order in Season	18
Previous Episode	The Royal Couple of Thieves
Next Episode	Altared States
Title Image

After freezing up in a fight, Gabrielle returns home for some answers. But, she must save her villiage when she learns that it is under attack by a warlord and his army.

Contents 1 Summary 1.1 Disclaimer 2 Background Information 2.1 Behind the Scenes 2.2 Key Events 2.3 Goofs 2.4 Trivia 3 Links and References 3.1 Guest Stars 3.2 References 3.2.1 People 3.2.2 Places 3.2.3 Other 4 Season Navigation

SummaryEdit

When Gabrielle and Xena are ambushed by a group of armed highwaymen, Gabrielle becomes paralyzed with fear and is almost killed before Xena can intervene. Thoroughly shaken by her failure to act, she decides to leave Xena and return home to try to sort out her feelings. On the way to Poteidaia, she learns that Damon, a ruthless brigand who demands periodic tribute, is headed for her village with his band of thieves, and races to warn the citizens. Upon her arrival, however, her younger sister Lila gives her an oddly restrained welcome. Gabrielle soon discovers that the villagers have placed all their hopes for survival on Meleager the Might, a famous warrior they've summoned for help, who unfortunately arrives in town dead drunk.

The following day, a severely hungover Meleager checks to make sure that the villagers have the money they've promised him, and sends them off to collect whatever weapons they have. By the time Damon's scouts Athol and Derq arrive, Meleager is drunk once again, but Gabrielle and Lila are able to prop him up in the tavern doorway long enough to intimidate the two thugs and send them running. Meanwhile, news of Meleager's arrival in Poteidaia reaches Damon, who is determined to collect the fifty thousand dinars being offered by the warlord Cassius for the warrior's capture.

Gabrielle finally impresses upon Meleager the gravity of the situation and together, they plan a defense of the village, unaware that Damon's men are spying on them. As they split up, Gabrielle and Lila begin to talk about the distance which has grown between them. After Lila admits she was hurt and jealous when Gabrielle left home to join up with Xena, the sisters are able to become close once more. When the two go looking for Meleager, Gabrielle realizes he's been captured and races off after him. Bound in chains at Damon's camp, Meleager refuses Damon's offer to join forces with him just as Gabrielle is brought in and dumped at Damon's feet. The two prisoners are thrown into a guarded tent, but manage to escape and make their way back to the village. There they set a series of traps for Damon and his men, and plan for the impending attack. Led by Pharis, the villagers publicly cheer Meleager for his strength and bravery.

At dawn, Damon's men begin to approach the village, but when Gabrielle goes to get Meleager, she is shocked to find he has disappeared with the strongbox containing the villagers' money. When everyone starts to panic, Lila convinces them that Gabrielle is a true warrior in her own right, and can lead them against Damon. When the ruthless gang arrives, the traps which have been set work brilliantly and the outlaws begin to retreat. But when Damon orders his men to take the village or die, they regroup to charge again. As the second attack begins, however, Meleager suddenly appears, armed with a rack of deadly Spartan javelins which he has bought with the villagers' money. Like a human Gatling gun, he hurls the javelins, skewering two or three thugs at a time until all have fallen.

When a desperate Damon grabs Gabrielle and Lila as human shields and places a knife at Gabrielle's throat, she tricks him and manages to escape with her sister. Meleager steps forward and the battle between the two fierce warriors is on! With Gabrielle shouting words of encouragement, Meleager recovers his confidence totally, and defeats the brigand. In the end, Gabrielle, her own confidence restored, bids farewell to her sister and rejoins Xena on her journeys.

DisclaimerEdit

Meleager the Mighty, the generally Tipsy and Carousing warrior-For-Hire, was not harmed during the production of this motion picture.

Background InformationEdit

Behind the ScenesEdit

• This is the second "Xena-Lite" episode.

Key EventsEdit

• This episode marks the first appearance of Meleager.

GoofsEdit

• When the villagers attack Damon's men with the pottery, the sound of glass being broken can be heard - despite glass not to have even been invented by that time.

TriviaEdit

• Chakram Count: 1

1. To save Gabrielle from the bandits.

• Although Xena and Meleager do not meet in this episode, that have come close to meeting before. Whilst Gabrielle was at the Athens City Academy, Xena mortally wounded a drunken man. The man later died, and Meleager almost took the blame for it.

Links and ReferencesEdit

Guest StarsEdit

ReferencesEdit

PeopleEdit

• Xena
• Gabrielle
• Lila
• Meleager
• Damon
• Derq
• Pharis
• Athol

PlacesEdit

• Greece
• Potidaea

OtherEdit

• Argo

Season NavigationEdit

		Season 1					Season 2 >>
#01	Sins of the Past		#09	Death in Chains		#17	The Royal Couple of Thieves
#02	Chariots of War		#10	Hooves and Harlots		#18	The Prodigal
#03	Dreamworker		#11	The Black Wolf		#19	Altared States
#04	Cradle of Hope		#12	Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts		#20	Ties That Bind
#05	The Path Not Taken		#13	Athens City Academy of the Performing Bards		#21	The Greater Good
#06	The Reckoning		#14	A Fistful of Dinars		#22	Callisto
#07	The Titans		#15	Warrior... Princess		#23	Death Mask
#08	Prometheus		#16	Mortal Beloved		#24	Is There a Doctor in the House?