Xena, a mighty Warrior Princess with a dark past, sets out to redeem herself. She is joined by small town bard, Gabrielle. Together they journey the ancient world and fight for the greater good against ruthless Warlords and Gods.
Xena broke a lot of new ground and quickly became iconic for its complex portrayals of female characters and its heavy LGBT undertones. The show became a huge cult hit, overshadowing Hercules, the show that originated Xena's spin-off.
Xena is Wonder Woman on steroids, and Lawless -- with her dark bangs, moon face, light blue eyes, and small, grim smiles -- plays the warrior princess with barely concealed delight.
Xena, along with her companion and soulmate Gabrielle, are now regarded as feminist and LGBT icons, laying the groundwork for female-led action series.
Xena's portrayals of race, gender, and sexuality may seem fairly normal or even disappointing now but were highly progressive at the time. While the show was white-dominated, there was a clear effort made to introduce a more diverse cast.
As Xena evolved, it became a show filled with not just action and adventure, but also memorable characters full of heart. The combination of these elements is why not just fans but those involved with the show still fondly remember Xena.
