Many Happy Returns Reviewed

This episode was the replacement for the much talked about Sappho musical episode - that sadly never happened, however despite being fairly rapidly developed, it works well. It is Alexandra Tyding's final XENA ep, and over the years Aphrodite has been a big favourite with the fans. Once again she is fun, taking the young Genia under her wing. The main enjoyment of the episode is from seeing Xena and Gabrielle being playful together as they play fairly lame tricks on each other. There is just something rather cute about seeing them interact when it is NOT life and death! And for the soppier side of us all, there is that sweet ending where Xena gives Gabrielle a poem by Sappho for her birthday. The poem is an actual Sappho poem all about love....aaahh! It's a lovely ending, and very feelgood.
It is also good to see Lucy and Renee play a different side to their characters. Season 6 has been excellent, but generally speaking, it has been darker and more dramatic than previous years. This is a return to light comedy - something both actresses are excellent at. They both have first rate comic timing and deliver their lines very well.

Considering this is the 4th last episode, there are a few firsts - Xena disguised as a man is quite disturbingly convincing! (Lucy makes a very pretty man by the way) and Renee finally gets to use her Texan roots to lay on a thick Texas accent to play a wedding planner. (All these years she has been pretty crap at accents and NOW they give her one she can do!!) This is also the first we have heard of the tradition of them playing pranks on each other - despite seeing Gabrielle celebrate her birthday one before in Takes One to Know One.
Then there is Xena flying...ok, so its Hermes helmet that lets her fly, but I was reminded of Lucy's appearance on The Simpsons which ended with her, Bart and Lisa flying off.

On the negative side, that guy playing the warlord of the week was just too much for me. OK, so he was obviously supposed to be over the top, but he looked like he was preparing for the panto season. Just too much face pulling and talking in a silly way. However, I did enjoy Xena and Aphrodite as Genia's parents, and Gabrielle as their wedding planner trying to get him to give up the helmet. An amusing little scene.
There were lots of funny lines and amusing scenes, but the humour wasn't too slapstick (mainly).

Hits

• That beautiful ending on a cliff at sunset and Gabrielle reading a lovely Sappho poem. Very sweet
• Lots of good one liners..."These are taken" (Xena pointing to her breasts...what COULD she mean??) "It's on your belt buckle " (Xena on how she knows the warlord Ferragus' name.
• Cute scenes - Xena and Gab set up camp and jump in the waterfall in about 5 seconds flat, Gab diving under and pinching Xena's bum! Gab waking up to find an eel in her bed, Gab on her guard when she thinks Xena is going to get her, Aphrodite and Genia not believing in each other (virgins and goddesses), the amusing fight in the tavern when Ferragus gets the helmet - love Gab's agonised "aah!" in the middle of that.
• My favourite bit - probably when Aphrodite guesses why they are going to Thebes and gives away Gab's birthday surprise - "So you got Sappho tickets! What row....?" followed by Lucy's perfect delivery of "surprise". Always makes me laugh..
• Katie Stuart as Genia was actually very good. New young actors sometimes struggle to hold their own, but I thought she captured the right tone of her character and the episode - not too over the top, but not trying to be too intense either.

Misses

• The two dimensional baddies and THAT warlord - Hori Ahipene as Ferragus.
• Not a miss, but a "huh". So, two episodes featuring Gabrielle's birthday, but none for Xena....not fair! Also, how many baths a day does Xena take? We see her and Gab bathe together and the next morning, she's in there again!

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