Orphan of War – Xena and Gabrielle, finding your purpose

Xena is born to fight, the way Gabrielle is born to nurture and heal. Even then, there are many types of battles (not just physical) and different kinds of wounds (emotional, for example). In 2.0, each woman can and does trade in other’s specialty. So theirs is not truly a purpose, rather a disposition, an inclination.
The villain turned good is a staple of stories, going back to oral accounts. They make the best heroes, provided they say on the straight and narrow. Yet the tough and treacherous road they walk is often left out or not given enough weight. We have many tales of the fall of the righteous and quite a few of the redemption of the damned, but the start of the last is often way past the lowest point.
It is a messy, draining slog uphill, and many don’t make it. Yet I hold there is a nobility and inspiration, a greatness to be found in the lurching disaster that is Xena during the first season. Leaving it out does a disservice to the legend of Warrior Princess.
Yes, she has uncomfortable and embarrassing moments of weakness and dependency. She relies too much on Gabrielle and runs through many second chances. But that makes her that much stronger and believable – her achievements past, present, and future mean more for it. If anyone can earn her way back, it’s Xena. She likely will not, but not for lack of effort.
As Xena increasingly stands on her own, what of Gabrielle? For a while now it is a question of want dominating, with the need diminishing. The choice between a wife and best friend grows harder by the day. Discuss in FORUMS.