The episode begins with Marga the Amazon Queen running for her life through the woods. She’s battered, frightened and worn out...she’s also the hunted. A man in black is hunting her and as she’s trying to get away, her foot gets caught in a trap and then her fingers do as well. She pries herself out of the traps, just as the hunter approaches her. She kicks him in the chest and begins to run away, but he throws a triangular object at her that hits her in the leg knocking her down, before it returns to him. She crawls and tries to get away, but he grabs her. She tells him to just kill her and get it over with, but he doesn’t find any fun in that and tells her she’s to deliver a message for him before she dies.

The scene changes to the Amazon village as Xena and Gabrielle ride in and look for everyone; they are nowhere to be found. Xena knows that they are watching them and announces that they come in peace as Varia steps out from behind the trees. She’s not pleased to see Xena at all and wants to know why they are there. Gabby informs her that Marga invited them there as the other Amazons come out from hiding. A friendlier Amazon, Sela, approaches and greets them She informs them that one of their Amazons is missing in the sacred canyon and every time they go to search for her another Amazon disappears. She tells them Marga went alone to find out what was out there. Xena offers their help and Varia tells her they don’t need it. Can we say bitchy? Must have been that time of her cycle! Xena offers to get Marga and Varia wants none of that saying that she is their Queen and their responsibility before walking off. Xena goes after her as Gabrielle stays with the other Amazons.

Marga is struggling to make it back to the village and collapses just as Xena runs up. She rushes to her side, but she can’t be helped. Marga tells Xena that Varia will try to avenge her death and if she does, the Amazons will be lost. She makes Xena promise to protect Varia and to teach her to be a true warrior like she is. Varia runs up and stands by a tree, stunned that Xena is there with Marga. Again, she’s not pleased. Marga tells Xena that the fate of the Amazons is in her hands and tears the necklace off and hands it to Xena before she dies. Varia runs up and kneels beside her Queen and hugs her, crying that she has passed. Xena sees a mark on Marga’s back like the weapon used earlier and there is a message etched into her skin. Xena reads it off, "Is this the best that the Amazon nation has to offer?" Xena announces, "It’s a challenge to all comers," as the opener begins.

The scene changes to the Amazons carrying Marga in a cloth back to the village. Xena tells Gabrielle that it’s all internal damage, pressure points. She explains that Marga was meant to crawl back to camp before she died. Gabrielle asks why anyone would want to do that and Xena tells her so she would bring them the message. They are horrified and surprised by what took place. Xena looks around and can’t find Varia. She gets nervous and tells Gabrielle to keep everyone in the camp until she finds out what’s going on as she sets out to find the incorrigible Amazon. That’s the last we see of Gabrielle as she’s off to change into her alter ego, Reneé O’Connor, to direct this episode! Varia is sneaking around the woods and gets caught up in a trap. A group of men approach saying that Prince Morloch will be pleased. Varia slashes one with her fingernail across the cheek. His group of men hold up sticks as they try to take her down from her hanging position. We hear Xena’s chakram and it breaks all their sticks that have hooks at the end. She battles them as their leader watches in the distance. He’s amazed by Xena...who isn’t? Xena easily dispatches the men and has a staff that she is hitting one guy with, over and over again, harder with each hit as she stares at the guy watching her in awe. Being the chicken crap that they are, they all run off after the guy Xena was toying with gets strung up by his feet. He’s now hanging upside down from the tree right beside Varia.  Xena throws her chakram up and cuts Varia down.

Varia wants to kill the guy and Xena tells her just to watch him, that they need some information from him, as she watches the leader ride off on his horse. Xena turns back to get information from the guy who is hanging upside down and she finds out that he has poisoned himself. She’s pissed at Varia telling her she said for her to watch him. Varia could care less about him; Xena tells her that they have a leader, that they are more afraid of facing him than of death. She wants to know what that tells Varia and she cockily tells Xena all she needs to know is where to find them. Xena’s had it with the Amazon 'tude she has and draws her sword, tripping the trap Varia was ready to step into. Xena tells her there’re a lot of things she needs to know and one of them is that the entire canyon is filled with traps. Varia isn’t scared and Xena tells her she promised Marga that she would protect her. Varia isn’t impressed and tells her she doesn’t want her protection as she starts to walk away. Oh, but no you don’t girly. You do not give the Warrior Princess an attitude and then walk away! That’s a no-no! Xena breaks the chain of the trap with her sword, wraps it around her hand and flings the trap at Varia, which snaps around her neck. She is now on a leash! Xena tells her that if she wants to find Marga’s killer and stay in one piece she’ll do as she says and when she says it. Varia demands for it to be taken off and Xena tells her until she can learn from what she says, she stays on the leash.

The scene changes to Prince Morloch in his tent, blindfolded and practicing his martial arts. He has three men wielding their swords at him and he defeats them quite easily. His sidekick Raczar comes in and tells him of the woman...Xena...he saw earlier and how wonderful an Amazon she is...one of a kind. 

The scene changes to Varia struggling to break free from Xena. Varia tells her that her Queen is dead, most of her tribe is gone and that she won’t let her loose to kill the man who has done that to them. Xena tells her to stop acting like a child and start trusting her, the man will hunt her people to extinction. Varia is offended by what Xena told her and angrily says, "You know all about that. You wiped out a whole tribe of my sisters all by yourself," and clocks her one right across the jaw. Xena is stunned and livid. She grits her teeth and says, "I’m going to let that one go." Varia angrily tells her that she hates her. Xena tells her, "It won’t be the last time you say that," and shoves her on her merry way.

The scene changes back to the dastardly prince who reminds him that he has hunted every creature that has crawled or walked on the earth and they all turned out to be easy kills. He isn’t impressed with the so-called feared Amazons and is bored with them. Raczar informs him that this one is different and that she is a worthy adversary for him. He is intrigued and tells him to prepare the men as he goes hunting in the afternoon. 

Meanwhile, Xena and Varia are taking cover inside some temple.  Varia thinks that Xena is trying to take control of the Amazons and Xena informs her that Marga wanted her to teach her about being a warrior and that she can’t do that if Varia won’t let her. Varia is just being a real bitch and does a cartwheel telling Xena, "I don’t need to learn," as she begins to fight Xena. Ooh, bad move! Xena tells her anger makes her vulnerable and Varia tells her she’s doing something that should have been done the moment she stepped into the Amazon village. I’m assuming she’s referring to kicking Xena’s butt? Nah, can’t be. I don’t think Xena will allow that! I was right, Xena defends the punches and kicks Varia is throwing her way and tells her she has to learn to control her anger or she doesn’t stand a chance against Marga’s killer. Oh, by the way, the Callisto theme music is playing now. Xena tosses her scrawny butt into a pillar of stones and tells her the lesson is over. Varia can’t accept that and continues to fight Xena. They move close to a pit and Xena stops her saying, "Marga is dead Varia, your village is next. You can’t save them on your own, you’ve got to trust me." Varia counters, "Trusting outsiders has done nothing but get us killed."

Varia breaks the grip Xena has on her and attempts to punch her, but Xena drops to the ground to avoid the punch and Varia falls down into the pit. She grabs onto the wall of the pit and Xena reaches out to help her, but Varia tells her she will never take her hand. Xena grabs the chain and swings it around like a lasso. She tosses it down to Varia and snares her around the wrist with it. She pulls her up out of the pit and Varia is slightly happy that she saved her. Xena tells her Marga saw something in her and whatever she chooses to do, her Amazon sisters live and die by her decision. Varia has a change of heart and apologizes for what she said to her earlier. Xena tells her that she has to understand when enough is enough and when the fight is over. Varia tries to argue with her, but stops and catches what she was going to say. She swallows her pride and says, "I’ll work on it." She passes by Xena, knocking into her and Xena grins before turning to follow her.

The scene changes to the gang of men walking through the woods.  One man is alone and Xena drops down on his shoulders out of a tree, capturing him. They string him up on a tree and leave. His partners all come back and are trying to figure out how to get him down as Varia and Xena watch from afar. They are trying to figure out which one is the leader, but Xena discounts all of them as the leader. Meanwhile, Prince Morloch and Raczar are watching them. The prince is impressed saying she’s a cleaver one. He realizes that she doesn’t want his men, that she wants him. Xena knows something is up, she can feel it. She’s getting the same vibes she gets when Ares is around.  She tells Varia that something isn’t right and tells her that it’s time for her to do as she says. They stand up and Xena tells her to get ready to take off her clothes. They are shown from afar, talking to each other as Raczar points out Xena’s chakram. The prince arrogantly says that he’ll add it to his collection as Xena and Varia duck behind the trees. Xena...or is it? Pops out from behind the tree and Raczar wonders where the other one went. The prince has no interest in that one...he wants Xena.  The prince realizes the weapon is gone and that something is not right. The scene changes to Xena in Varia’s outfit and she sees someone in a dark cape crouching in the trees. She fires her chakram at them and hits them in the back.

She checks the guy out as the Prince stands in the distance clapping his approval. He smirks and says, "Come on in," as he turns and enters a cave that is behind him.  Did I mention that Xena looks great in that Amazon outfit? Well, she does! The only problem is, she doesn’t stay in it long enough. She goes back and changes into her own clothes. Xena tells Varia to wait outside as she enters the cave. He tells Xena, "If I would have known what fun you Amazons are, I would have come to this country years ago." Xena answers, "I’m not an Amazon," as she’s sneaking around the cave looking for him. He is so intrigued by her that he can’t stand it. He says he doesn’t usually do it, but he wants to know her name before he kills her.  He tells her his title...a long one...blah, blah, blah and Xena cockily stands there sarcastically saying, "Well, Xena of Amphipolis, Warrior Princess, Warrior mom!" He fires his triangle thing and she cartwheels away from it and stands up tauntingly saying, "Who conquers Prince chesty Morloch of upper whatever stand!"  She’s not impressed by his title and it shows! He catches his flying triangle and is very captivated by the warrior princess and says, "Very impressive," as the scene changes to Varia entering the cave.

She just can’t follow instructions! Varia brings a barrel into the cave with her. Xena and the Prince continue to play cat and mouse. Xena tells him that the Amazons he killed were friends of hers. He talks some trash about the gods making him a hunter and that he’s not a killer as he runs off. Xena sneers and heads off as well. She kneels in an opening and tells him a hunter hunts animals, not people, as he throws his triangle at her and she flinches as it hits the wall beside her. She fires her chakram that plays pinball with the wall and his triangle thing before returning to her. He tells her, "In this world there is only the hunter and the hunted." Xena sees Varia and tells her to get down. As she is turned the prince fires his triangle, which nicks Xena’s arm and heads for Varia who dodges it. Xena heads off to see Varia, who has been captured by the Prince. He punches her and tells her she’s not worth adding to his collection as he draws his sword. Xena shouts her name and throws her chakram at the sword cutting it in two. Hmmm...I wonder why it didn’t do that to the guy she hit in the back earlier in the episode? I guess she switched a button on it to keep it from slicing and dicing him. She catches her chakram and tells Varia to go as she is facing the prince who’s still astonished that his sword is now nothing. She runs off and he smiles as he watches her.

Xena catches up to Varia and is upset that she went in there. Varia tells her she just wanted to see the master in action. The group of men has now entered the cave and are on the prowl for the ladies.  The prince orders Varia dead and for them to leave Xena for him. Xena and Varia run off after grabbing the barrel Varia brought in earlier. They set a trap for the men and they fall for it. The barrel leaks a green liquid that explodes and engulfs the cave with a fireball. Xena and Varia have safely exited the cave. Xena tells Varia she’s tired of being the prey and that it’s time they hunted him. The prince is certainly satisfied with Xena despite the fact that his men are charred to a crisp.  He tells Raczar that she’s the prey he has been waiting for all his life. Raczar isn’t pleased with the game. Xena and Varia devise their plan and Xena heads off to do so. Varia sees a crossbow with an arrow-aimed right where Xena is walking. She heads over to stop her and trips the line, which fires the arrow into her ankle. Varia tells Xena that she thought it was going to hit her and Xena informs her she can take care of herself as she pulls the arrow out of Varia.

Xena notices all of the animals hauling arse and realizes that the woods are on fire. Xena helps Varia, who can barely walk, as they try to get out of the forest and away from the fire. The prince's men are pouring gas...I assume... on the trees, and the prince orders Raczar to light the fire despite the fact that the men are going to be right in the middle of the fire. The prince seems to enjoy watching people die. Xena realizes that they are squeezing them between two lines of fire to make them run right down the middle into his camp. Varia tells her that she won’t be fast enough to make it but Xena will and to go, that her sisters need her.  Xena tells her that saving her is saving the Amazon people. Xena finds a vine from the trees and makes a catapult out of it. She tells Varia to get on it, that she’s getting her out of there. Varia does and gets shot off of the catapult, but the prince’s men shoot a net out and it catches Varia. Xena fervently searches for her as the fire gets worse, but can’t find her.

Xena is running through the fire to escape and is still looking for Varia. Very cool scene of her running through. The prince orders Varia to be taken to the arena and Raczar isn’t pleased with his boss’ orders. Xena exits the fire and sees Varia tied to a post atop a bunch of logs that is set up like the Jenga game at the arena. She sends her chakram to cut her down, but the Prince averts it with his triangle weapon. She begins to fight with the Prince and he tells Xena he loves fighting with swords because then he can see the look in her eyes when he kills her. He is pleased that he nicked her and Xena replies, "Where’d you get that? Shaving?" as she refers to the cut on his cheek. He isn’t pleased with that fact and they continue to fight with the swords. Very good sword fight by the way, and of course, Callisto’s theme music is playing. They jump up on the Jenga logs and fight. They knock logs out of the structure at each other and it looks like it’s going to collapse. Xnea holds it up as the Prince cuts the log Varia is attached too and tells her he’s enjoyed the fight with Xena and he’s going to enjoy watching her die. Xena continues to battle him and back flips up to the top to untie Varia as the logs are about to collapse. Xena orders her off the logs and the Prince is nowhere to be found, oh, but he appears behind Xena.

He arrogantly tells her that they can fight all night long and he will eventually win out as he is enjoying it and that it’s the fight he has been searching for all his life. Xena is disgusted and says, "You’re right, so why would I give it to you?"  she turns to the edge and flips off of it. He’s pissed and demands, "You will fight me!" as Xena dislodges her chakram from one of the logs. He kicks the log that Varia was tied to and it almost hits Xena, but she casually moves out of the way and gives him a nasty look as she puts her chakram back on her hook. He angrily demands again, "You will fight me!" and flips off the tower of logs as Xena puts her foot at the end of the log by her. It flips up and he lands right on it, chest first and does he ever have one huge hole in his chest! Xena grabs him by the hair and lifts up his head saying, "You lose," and drops it as he and the log fall to the ground.

Xena and Varia walk away with Varia saying that all this time all she wanted to do was avenge Marga’s death and all that matters is that she’s here and she has been avenged. They begin the Amazon funeral pyre and Gabrielle is back! She lights the fire and Xena hands Varia the necklace Marga gave her telling her, "Marga wanted you to have this." She looks at it and Gabrielle informs her, "She chose you as her right of caste, you are the new leader of the Amazons," smiling. Varia tells her, "I still have a lot to learn to honor Queen Marga’s memory," and turns to Xena saying, "I will always be in your debt." Xena hugs her and smiles when she breaks it saying, "You don’t owe me anything." Varia smiles at Xena and turns to the pyre saying, "I will make you proud Marga."  The scene shows a close up of the group standing before the pyre and it slowly pulls up and away. Very good scene. Did I mention the music playing is the same from my beloved Ephiny’s funeral pyre? Well, it is and it brought those lost feelings up all over again! Oh, my poor Ephiny!

I enjoyed the episode and the direction was excellent. ROC did a great job and everyone should be very proud. It’s weird, I found the episode to be very good, but it’s not one that I would see over and over again, I think I feel that way because Gabrielle wasn’t in it very long. There is no subtext or maintext in this episode if you’re looking for that. Next weeks episode looks very intriguing and looks like it has another "Heart of Darkness" kinkiness to it. Xena is in a very skimpy, sexy outfit as well as Gabrielle...we just don’t get to see much of her in the clip. Looks to be very interesting that’s for sure.

Enjoy!