The episode begins with Xena and Gabrielle walking through a field that is littered with dead bodies. Gabrielle is horrified and asks Xena what kind of an animal would do something like that. Michael, the archangel, appears as they are scanning the scene and Xena draws her sword angrily asking, "What do you want Michael?" Xena’s still pissed at him about trying to cast her down into hell the last time she saw him. He explains that desperate times require desperate measures as she can see from the dead bodies lying around. He explains that Caligula has done that to the people and asks if she knows of his reputation. Xena answers, "Sex addict, murder you’re run of the mill Roman emperor."  Gabrielle adds, "He thinks he’s a god," and Michael informs them that he is a god now.

Michael explains that he killed Tyverius in order to gain power, murdered his entire family and has slain anyone who won’t swear their allegiance to his cult of blood. It seems that the little pervert wants to write his name into the history books as a great god of the Pantheon. Xena adds, "Including angels no doubt," as she flashes a sideways glance to him. He tells her even the followers of Eli and gets Xena’s attention. She turns to him and warns, "If anything has happened to Eve, Michael," and he tells her, "Not yet Xena, but your daughter has her courage of her convictions Xena and she has gone to confront Caligula’s persecution." Xena turns and threateningly warns him, "If I find out that you are behind any of this Michael, I swear...I" as she’s interrupted by Michael snidely saying, "As you well know Xena, your daughter obeys a higher power than me," and devilishly smiles. Xena turns away from him smiling and says, "Michael don’t forget. If I can kill gods," as her wicked smile turns serious and she says, "I can kill angels too," as she walks away. Xena and Gabby head into Rome.

The scene changes to Caligula riding into Rome on a chariot dragging two dead people behind it and he finds it hysterical. He approaches a young man and hands him a sword. He tells him to stick it in his stomach, which he does and nothing happens to him, as he is a god now. The man swears allegiance to his cult of blood and Caligula moves to an old man with his hand poised for him to kiss his ring, swearing allegiance to his cult and the man refuses. He orders him to be taken away to die as Eve interrupts. He sarcastically and tauntingly announces that she is Eve of the Elisians and that he was sorry to have missed meeting her when she was the bitch of Rome as Livia. She preaches some Ely stuff trying to get him to do good and he sarcastically yawns, bored by her preaching. Frankly, I was too.

Xena comes riding up in a chariot with a new outfit containing a cape and a gold mask. Caligula and his guards move out of the way as she is coming too fast. Gabrielle shows up with a red sash draped over her and a silly yellow gold hat...I assume to keep people from recognizing her and grabs Eve as Xena battles the guards who run towards the chariot to stop her. She easily dispatches them and stops the chariot, flipping over the front of it and landing right in front of Caligula. He jumps back startled by her entrance, but he likes her style. She says, "Oh, yeah...how do you like this?" and pulls out a boot dagger to stab him with, but Ares runs out from the crowd and tackles her. He explains that his sister is bound to Caligula and if she kills him she will kill Aphrodite too. Aphrodite has appeared on the scene with a wicked bad and very funky hairdo.

Gabrielle escorts Eve to the gates and tells her to join the other Elisians just outside of town, that she’ll be safe there. Eve is upset saying it’s her mission and Gabrielle tells her it’s her mother’s mission to protect her. She orders her away and tells her they will join her there. The scene changes to Aphrodite and Caligula making googily eyes at each other. The guards bring Xena and Ares before Caligula. Aphrodite is intrigued by the man in black before her and starts feeling Ares up. He’s embarrassed and is moving away from her advances saying, "Okay...that touching, no!" Caligula isn’t pleased by it and moves Aphrodite away from him, much to Ares’ relief. Caligula orders them away along with the Elisian Eve and they tell him that she has disappeared. He orders them to find her. Aphrodite tells him she’s tired of all the distractions and Caligula tells her that she should rest then and kisses her, as she passes out. Scantily clad men carry her off and attend her to.

Caligula demands that Xena tell him just exactly what she was doing and Gabrielle and that silly hat interrupt Xena. She explains that she is Cinda of Thrace and that she represents the great charioteer Saba and points to Xena. She explains, "If that buffoon hadn’t of interrupted Saba would have challenge you to a chariot race," and smiles nodding her head as she turns to Xena then back to Caligula who is very intrigued. He tells her there might be some gold in it for her as he pushes Gabrielle away from Xena if she can entertain him as being a god can be so boring.  He moves closer to her and tells her, "I so love tall girls," as he turns to walk away with her and gooses her. He tells her she’ll be his guest of honor at the palace so he can enjoy her company until the race.

The scene changes to Xena and Gabrielle bathing in a hot tub. Xena is dutifully washing Gabrielle’s feet. Yeah, I do that everyday for my friend! J Oh, did I mention that Gabby says it feels good? Well she does! Xena tells her they need to stop Caligula from killing Eve. She tells Gabrielle they need to find out what the bond between him and Aphrodite is as Gabrielle adds that they need to prevent a genocide that he will do with his cult of blood.  Xena has exited the tub and is getting dressed as Gabrielle remains inside leaning against the side of the tub with her arms spread up on each side of her, watching Xena dress. She tells Gabrielle to go to the party and try to talk some sense into Aphrodite and tells her she’ll join her there later as she is off to the dungeon to talk to Ares. Gabrielle squints her eyes at the mention of Ares’ name. She just doesn’t like her girlfriend around him! Xena wishes her luck and heads off. Gabrielle shouts reminding her that she’s the guest of honor for the party as Xena heads down the hall dressed in her new black bra and lingerie underwear, accentuated with a long black cape and her mask.

Gabrielle heads off to the party, which looks like an orgy and approaches Aphrodite. She has no clue who Gabrielle is...must be the hat! Aphrodite is put off by Gabrielle and gives her a bitchy attitude. Gabrielle explains that she’s her friend and Aphrodite is whacked out. She stumbles out into the hallway and Gabrielle follows her, worried about her as she’s swaying side to side. She looks like she’s on drugs or is drunk. Aphrodite puts her hand on Gabby’s shoulder and moves her up against the wall saying, "I’ve never been so happy." She wantonly stares at Gabrielle and places her hands on Gabby’s face. She lightly strokes her cheek with her thumb and slowly leans in, kissing Gabrielle who pulls away from her shocked that she did that. She asked, "What are you doing?" as she pushes Aphrodite away. Aphrodite laughs and the scene changes to Caligula groping some other chick.

He figures out that Aphrodite is gone and goes in search of her, finding the goddess of love talking to Gabrielle. She has her hands on Gabrielle’s shoulders and Gabby is trying to steady her as Aphrodite tells her she loves Caligula very much. Gabrielle tells her she doesn’t believe that as Aphrodite is stroking Gabby’s cheek with her hand and Caligula interrupts them. He tells Gabby to forgive her, that she’s tired and emotional as Aphrodite is stumbling towards him.  The guards steady her and she looks back waving to Gabrielle with a sultry smile. She looks Gabrielle over one last time and is escorted away. Caligula tells Gabrielle that he insults the emperor and the god by not being there and tells Gabrielle that she’ll learn the importance of punctuality in death.

Xena visits Ares who is very worried about his sister. He explains that he came to Rome when he heard that she had lost her mind and tells Xena that without the god of war, the goddess of love becomes unbalanced. Caligula heads back into the main room followed by Gabrielle who says, "You are not going to leave before my world renowned performance."  He’s intrigued and the scene changes to Xena talking to Ares. She wants to know what Caligula has to do with Aphrodite and Ares explains that he is sucking Aphrodite’s godhood from her bit, by bit. Xena tells him she might be able to do something about it, but Ares is worried and doesn’t want her to get hurt. The scene changes back to Gabrielle performing a tribal type dance for Caligula with plenty of grunts, spins, back flips, shouts and cartwheels. She’s stalling for time so Xena can get there and she is definitely on her way. She enters as Gabrielle is doing her dance on a rope and finishes holding two balls of fire before Caligula who is very impressed. Xena wants to know if she got to Aphrodite and Gabrielle informs her that Aphrodite doesn’t recognize them.

Gabrielle takes Xena’s robe off much to Caligula’s delight especially when she says she’s at his command. Xena tells him to name his test and she’ll prove that she’s worthy of his indulgence. He has the guards bring Ares in and tells her to prove herself by killing him. Ares, Xena and Gabrielle are very scantily clad, after all they are at an orgy. Xena and Gabrielle cozy up with Ares and Xena explains that her and her manager had a floor show in a former life that they would like to show everyone. Gabrielle has Ares’ arm and is seductively turning under it and Ares is unfazed by it, as he’s busy staring at Xena. Figures! Xena and Gabrielle begin to stroke Ares’ bare chest and Xena asks Caligula if he’d like a little bit of the action. Ares is astonished and gives Xena a nasty look. I don’t think Ares wants that kind of action! Caligula tells her he’s tempted, but he can’t as he lays down with Aphrodite. Xena tells him to suit himself and says she’ll give him a taste of what he’ll be missing. She seductively strolls over to him, removes her mask and slowly leans in to him and kisses him. Gabrielle and Ares are standing face to face, in each other’s arms but are staring at Xena who is passionately kissing Caligula. Can we say major jealousy? J Xena bites Caligula who is very fascinated by Xena.

Xena moves back over to Ares and tells him they will entertain him. Ares tells her as Gabrielle and Xena are rubbing their hands all over him, "You know I’ve fantasized about this in a hundred different situation and I’ve got to tell you I never got to this scenario." Xena tells him, "Well, enjoy it while you can cause in about thirty seconds all hell is gonna break loose." Caligula has noticed blood on his hand and looks up to see if something has dripped on him and realizes it has come from his mouth. He goes ballistic and orders Xena to be put into chains. Aphrodite tells him not to make them go home and he slaps her back, ordering everyone out of the room. He orders a guard to stab him so he can test his immortality, which he still has.

Gabrielle is with Aphrodite and she’s looking at the wound on her head that is bleeding. Gabrielle tries to tell her that she knows her, that she’s her friend. Aphrodite is bugged out and says she’s leaving, but can’t as her powers are waning. The scene changes to Xena and Caligula. Xena holds the chain up in front of her that has her hands bound and says, "Nice touch." He wants to know how it is that she made his lip bleed. Xena seductively tells him, "No Saba the Celtic goddess of sex god. When I heard the Olympians had met an untimely end I thought it was the perfect opportunity for me to spread my..." oh, the anticipation, "wings...and of course when I saw you I knew you would make the perfect ally." He wants to know what powers she has and she explains that she has the powers to pierce the veil of immortality and make gods die. He says it’s a risk to keep her around and she tells him, "A risk not too, especially when you compare me to that washed up dishrag Aphrodite." He asks where Aphrodite is and she says it doesn’t matter. She puts the chains over his neck and slides in behind him, sexily saying, "Now how much better would it be if there were two healthy gods using one another," as she tantalizingly rubs her body up and down his. He moves the chain and turns to face her asking, "You mean...you and I?" She says, "Well otherwise you’ll be know as Caligula...god of messed up freaks."

He gets pissed and shoves her away from him asking if she knows whom she is talking to. Xena asks, "Do you?" as she jumps up, back flips and breaks the chain before landing. She tells him that he has her offer is on the table and that she makes a very good friend and an even better enemy as she walks away. He is intrigued, yet very frightened of her. The scene changes to night and you hear voices calling out his name. He screams frightened by them, as they are his parent’s voices taunting him. He freaks out and screams for someone to save him. He turns to see Michael leaning against a chair behind him, maniacally laughing. Caligula asks, "What kind of a demon are you?" The scene changes to Eve praying. She feels someone’s hands on her head and stands up in front of Michael saying she’s ready. He wickedly grins and says, " You are ready?" she turns to him smiling and says, "Yes archangel," as he moves closer to her saying, "You’re afraid," and pulls her closer to him. Eve says, "No...I’m..." as he tells her, "have no fear," and leads her away. I thought for sure he was going to have sex with her right then and there! I really don’t like the way Michael has been acting the past few episodes...he’s really become a maniacal jerk!

The guards drag Eve before Caligula and she drops to the ground. Of course, she tries to preach to him saying she’s bringing the word of Ely to him and tells him to let go of lust and violence and to open his heart to truth and hope. He tauntingly tells her he’ll stick with the lust and violence as he pulls out a dagger to kill her. Xena steps in and seductively says, "Oh, fabulous." She is standing behind Eve in a model’s pose, trying to tempt Caligula sexually. She sensually walks up saying, "Caligula, what on earth did you think you were doing?" As Eve stands up, pissed that once again mommy has intervened. Darn, I wish mommy would stop doing that so we don’t have to be subjected to Eve! Eve angrily tells her, "I don’t need you to interfere with my mission." Xena casually strolls up and punches her across the face as she continues to walk up to Caligula. Xena looks as Eve falls to the ground and says, "Granted, she’s a bit irritating but why here and now?" Caligula tells her, "Well, the demon with wings if I should spill her blood it would insure my legacy as the greatest of all gods." Xena condescendingly says, "The demon with wings...hmmm," and licks her lips, ushering him away saying, "My dear, why hear and now when there is no sport or glory?" He is intrigued by her ideas. She convinces him to kill the messenger of Ely in front of the masses and he likes it saying, "That will make them take notice," as Xena approvingly gives him a golf clap to show her support.

He takes Xena’s hand and they walk in a tango with Xena walking backward. She wants to know why he prefers Aphrodite to her and he tells her it’s not that he prefers her, it’s that he needs one final thing from her as he stops and pulls Xena against him. He turns and looks at her as she asks, "What’s that?" in a seductive whisper. He tells her, "A final kiss goodbye," and looks as if he’s going to kiss her, but he walks away. Xena watches as he sashes out of the room.  Xena is livid by everything that is going on, in particularly with Michael’s involvement. The scene changes to Aphrodite lying on the ground and Gabrielle helps her up. Aphrodite is perturbed with Gabrielle and asks what it is that she wants. Gabrielle tells her she wants her friend back and Aphrodite is baffled by the fact that they are supposedly such good friends, but she can’t recognize her. Gabrielle tells her it’s because she is giving up her identity to some maniac who she claims to love.

Michael appears by them and draws his sword. Xena rushes in and screams his name before kicking him away from the gals. Gabrielle gets Aphrodite to safety as Xena angrily says, "You tried to get Caligula to kill Eve to force my hand and now you try to go after my girlfriends. That’s not going to happen. Bring it on!" They start to fight and Gabrielle watches in the background encouraging her lover on to kick the angel’s butt. Xena pushes him in the hot tub and puts the pinch on him. He doesn’t want to talk so Xena shoves him underwater and Gabrielle pleadingly shouts, "Xena stop it." Hmmm...what’s up with that? She was just encouraging Xena to kick his butt, but now she wants her to go easy on him? Come on Gabby! Michael explains that he was trying to kill Aphrodite, not Gabrielle. Aphrodite is sitting on the pillows and looks like she is tripping on drugs. He explains that Caligula is threatening to become Ely’s major foe and they can’t allow a madman to become a full god, which will happen if he kisses Aphrodite one more time and that’s why he was trying to kill her. Gabby is wigged out and rubs her hands over her face as she’s listening to what he is saying.

Xena tauntingly says, "I’ve got one more question for you. What happens to angels when they die?" As she angrily shoves him back underwater. A large beam of light comes in and hits Xena. She is screaming and writhing as her power to kill gods is taken from her. Aphrodite falls back passed out as Gabrielle is covering her face from the light. She rushes to Xena’s side...of course, when the beam of light leaves along with Michael who is standing there laughing at Xena. Gabrielle comforts her lover as Caligula enters the room. He approaches the bed and kisses Aphrodite, taking all of her powers from her. Xena kicks him away from her and he thinks it’s Xena’s jealous outburst saying he’ll forgive it as he flies across the room before disappearing. Gabrielle and Xena jump on the bed, hovering over Aphrodite. Gabrielle takes Aphrodite’s face in her hand and says, "Aphrodite?" as she wakes and says, "Gabrielle, I know we are close, but is this appropriate?"  Gabrielle says, "Is it really you?" as Aphrodite laughs and they help her up. Aphrodite says, "Has anyone ever told you that you can be like a total ditz?" Yep, that’s our beloved Aphrodite back in full force. Xena asks if she knows who Caligula is and she says, "No...Ewww! Okay, I’m getting us outta here," and closes her eyes with her hands up, but they go nowhere. She’s confused and Xena says, "Caligula is truly a god now."

Xena heads for the dungeon to meet with Eve and Ares. Ares is worried about his sister and Xena tells him she’s okay, but she’s lost her mortality. Ares is upset about everything and walks off to sulk. Xena wants nothing to do with her mother and tells her that it’s her life, her death and her choice. But Xena has other plans saying, "I’m your mother and I would die before she’d let them touch a hair on her head." Eve approaches her and tells her, "You can’t protect me from all the evil and cruelty in the world mother." Xena answers, "It’s funny you should say that," as the scene changes to Xena dragging her pride and joy behind her horse through the crowded city. The guards tie her up to a pole on a platform before a building as Caligula walks up. He moves up to Eve with a dastardly look on his face and looks like he smells her before turning to face the crowd. He grandiosely moves to the edge of the stairs and tells them they are there to witness a chariot race between their god and his new queen the goddess Saba. He holds out his hand for Saba who takes it and joins him at the top of the steps. They all cheer her and he informs them that the victor wins the right to kill Eve of the Elisions, formerly Livia the whore of Rome.

Xena and Caligula head off on one heck of a chariot race and of course, Xena...I mean Saba wins. Xena walks up on the steps before Eve and faces the crowd, waiting for Caligula to approach.  Eve is extremely happy to see mommy won the chariot race. She announces that she’s been waiting a long time for the opportunity to spill blood, but it won’t be Eve’s as she removes her mask. Gabrielle shouts out, "That’s Xena. That’s Xena the Warrior Princess!" He realizes who she is saying, "I know that name...Xena slayer of gods," and is very nervous now. Xena says, "Also known as Xena, mother of the girl you so charmingly called, whore of Rome," as she drew her sword and approached him. He asks if they could rearrange the terms of the deal and Xena flatly says, "No," as she kicks him to the ground. She tauntingly replies, "The only thing that we will negotiate is what happens to you," and kicks the fireball from his hand. She stands over him and arrogantly says, "Caligula, I’ve been killing gods for years and you can hardly throw a fireball straight. So, you gotta ask yourself, do you feel lucky?" The crowd is chanting Xena’s name over and over again. Well, Caligula is very upset about it seeing as how they should be worshiping him. Xena tries to convince him that it would be better if he killed himself to ensure his place amongst the pantheon gods because if she did it, he would just be another dead god.  He takes the sword and shoves it through his stomach, dying before everyone. Oh, she can be so convincing! She says as she’s watching him die, "The only person in Rome who could kill Caligula was Caligula" Xena, Eve and Gabrielle walk by him as the scene changes.

Xena is standing before a large pot of fire staring into it with her hands on her hips. She doesn’t look happy. Gabrielle asks, "How are you feeling?" and comfortingly touches her arm. Xena says, "Dirty," and looks at Gabrielle who looks away, to the fire before her. Xena turns back to the fire and Gabrielle turns back to her saying, "Xena there was nothing you could do. He was evil." Xena turns to Gabrielle regretfully saying, "No, he was damaged, he wasn’t evil." She guiltily looks into the fire as Aphrodite says, "Aahh...it’s not fair!" She is frustrated that she can’t snap her fingers and disappear. She closes her eyes and tries harder to disappear, but girlfriend is going nowhere. She’s sitting on a bed next to Ares who is lying on it and Eve is sitting to his left. Aphrodite’s normal hair is back...thank the gods! Xena and Gabrielle look at her and she whines saying, "It’s not fair, it’s not fair, it’s not fair," pouting as Ares comes into view. He says, "Welcome to my nightmare sis," as Gabrielle chuckles at that comment. Aphrodite looks at Gabrielle and asks, "Gabrielle when you were trying to get through to me you said a couple of times you were my friend, did you really mean that?"  Gabrielle smiles and says, "Absolutely." Aphrodite bashfully smiles and rolls her eyes embarrassed saying, "How quaintly sentimental," as she looks at Ares and Eve, then smiles and turns to Gabrielle, "But very much appreciated," as Gabrielle grins happy to have her friend back.

Xena smiles and says, "Alright everyone. Let’s get out of here," as she smiles and waved Eve over saying, "Come on." Eve happily joins her mother and father...I mean Gabrielle as Xena puts her arms around both of them as they are on each side of her, heading towards the door. Eve asks, "Are you sorry mother to lose your greatest gift. The ability to kill gods?" Aphrodite holds Ares’ hand and helps him up from the bed as she rises. Xena looks at Eve, smiling and replies, "No, it will just make life spicier. Besides, I’ve still got my two greatest gifts and I’ve got no intentions of losing that," as she lovingly smiles and pulls Eve and Gabrielle closer as they walk away. Ares and Aphrodite are walking behind them. Aphrodite is trying to hold onto Ares’ arm, but he playfully moves it away and she pretends to punch him. He teasingly acts like he’s going to punch her as she moves away, but wraps his arm around her shoulder. She puts hers around his waist, smiling as they walk off into the next episode.  

I really enjoyed this episode, but I can’t stand Michael anymore. What a friggin' jerk! He used to be pretty cool, but he’s acting like a mad man. This episode was a lot like HOD with the orgy scenes and the scantily clad beauties. The scenes with Gabby and Aphrodite were very intriguing, in particular the kiss scene. It was much better than the one between her and Xena this season. What in the heck is up with that? Wow...what subtext between those two! Why can’t we have that between Xena and Gabrielle? Alexis Arquette was great as Caligula! His grandiose demeanor was perfect for the role and he was extremely entertaining to watch. Very cool chariot race by the way. I would have to say that Ares and Gabrielle have one heck of a rivalry going on for Xena’s affections, but we all know who will win that one. A sexy little blonde! J

The episode next week looks to be very entertaining. It looks like a cross between a Xena genre and an uber one. Michael Hurst is playing a reporter who is interviewing Aphrodite, Ares, Xena and Gabrielle. They show clips of Ares with a milk mustache and he’s covering the camera with his hand as Xena is in the background and the reporter asks, "Is it true that you are in love with Ares?" In another scene, Gabrielle covers Xena’s mouth as she’s laughing about something...Gabrielle that is...and says, "This interview is over," as she ushers Xena away. It looks very funny.