The episode begins with Gabrielle, Xena, Eve and Virgil entering Poteidaia. Gabrielle is excited to see her home village thriving once again and rushed off to see if her old house was still standing. Xena, Eve and Virgil catch up to her and find her sitting on the fence looking over her family’s house. She sadly says, "It looks so old and run down." Xena urges her to go in and see her family, which Gabrielle does. She tentatively approaches the door as everyone else waits by the fence and is nervous about seeing her family. She says, "Here it goes," as she attempts to knock on the door and it opens with Lila standing there. Lila is happy to see her and they hug. Lila looks older and has lost her naivety and is very glum. They all are sitting around the house talking and Gabrielle explains what happened to her and Xena.  Lila tells Gabrielle she wishes that Sarah were there to see her. Gabrielle is confused and asks who she is and Lila informs her, that’s her daughter.

Xena is pacing back and forth and turns, intrigued when she hears that Lila has a daughter. Gabrielle is excited and looks at Xena smiling, "Xena I have a niece." Xena smiles slightly as Gabrielle turns back to Lila asking, "Where’s Sarah?" who says nothing at first. Xena looks like she knows something’s up, but she’s not sure what. Gabrielle worriedly asks, "Where’s mother and father?" Lila hesitates and begins, "Eight years ago Sarah was captured by the raider Gurkhan, he took her to the walled city Mogador." When Lila mentions that name Eve gets a frightened look on her face and squishes her fingers into the fruit she is holding as Virgil and Xena look at her for an explanation. Eve says, "It’s in North Africa." Still with an uneasy look on her face as Lila continues to explain. She tells them that they heard from a merchant that Sarah was in one of Gurkhan’s harems and her parents and husband went there to try to buy her back. Gabrielle asks, "What happened to them?" and Lila begins to cry explaining that he beheaded all of them and she doesn’t know what happened to Sarah. Everyone is shocked and saddened by the news, Gabrielle is livid, upset and dismayed. She storms outside as Xena follows her. The weather is stormy as are Gabrielle’s feelings, as you would expect. Xena comes up behind her and tells her she’s sorry.  Gabrielle says, "Xena my niece may still be in that harem," of which Xena replies, "We’ll go after her first thing in the morning." Gabrielle’s anger and anguish is mounting and she rubs her face in frustration.  Xena says, "If she’s there we’ll get her out."  Gabrielle tearfully and angrily informs her, "This is not just a rescue mission." Xena’s tone deepens and she asks, "What do you mean?" Gabrielle lowers her voice and shouts, "I want vengeance," as Xena jumps, frightened by Gabrielle’s proclamation and the lightening and thunder clap to emphasize Gabrielle’s point. It starts to rain heavily as Gabrielle is seething and Xena replies, "It will have blood Gabrielle, blood will have blood." Gabrielle looks over her shoulder at Xena angrily shouting, "Don’t talk to me about consequences Xena, that man murdered my mother and father!" She’s fighting back her tears, her anger and anguish replying, "Now I kill him!" She walks away, leaving Xena standing in the rain in disbelief over Gabrielle’s reaction.

Everyone is on a boat and Gabrielle is practicing her moves using her Sais and Eve asks, "What’s your plan?" Gabrielle tells her, "I get inside Mogador, I kill Gurkhan and I bring Sarah back." She’s completely focused on her practice with the Sais and her plan. Eve tells her, "That’s your goal, what’s your plan?" As Xena stands off away from them watching Gabrielle worried about what she’s about to do. Gabrielle tells Eve, "I haven’t thought about it." She’s not concerned with what Eve is saying to her. Eve tells her she has been to Mogador before and Gabrielle wants her to tell her about Gurkhan, but she says she can’t because she’s never seen him as no one else has either outside of the palace and that he keeps his identity a secret. Gabrielle confidently guarantees, "I will find him," as Eve, tells her, "Perhaps he’ll be a tough man to kill and if he should capture you pray that the end is quick." Gabrielle replies, "If you are trying to scare me Eve..." as Eve steps away from her and turns her back to Gabrielle who asks, "Why were you in Mogador?" Eve explains that she was there selling slave girls and is very remorseful and regretful about her actions as she walks away from Gabrielle. Xena walks up behind Gabrielle who replies, "A calm way your daughter talks about her past," looking at Eve with disgust as Xena answers, "She knows what I know, there’s nothing you can do to change the past, you can only work to make the future better. That’s why she’s so worried about what you might do once you’re inside Mogador...Gabrielle, you’re not an assassin." Gabrielle is listening to everything and she knows it all makes sense, but she has other things on her mind and vengeance is one of them. Gabrielle answers, "You’re right Xena, today I’m not an assassin...tomorrow..." She tries to explain and rushes to the side of the boat to vomit. The show’s consistent with Gabby’s seasickness at least.

Gabrielle is still very sick and is hanging out by the side of the boat as Eve and Xena sit next to one another against a pole looking at her. Eve tells Xena, "She wants to kill Gurkhan. For you or me that might have been an interesting challenge at one time, but for her..." as Xena adds worriedly, "It’s a suicide mission." Eve remarks, "She doesn’t have what it takes to kill in cold blood," as she moves closer to Xena and both continue to watch Gabrielle. Xena looks at Eve then back to Gabrielle as Eve asks, "Do you think I inherited that gift from you mother?" Xena looks at her and plays with the ends of her hair answering, "You certainly had a gift," of which Eve regretfully answers, "Yep," Xena looks back to Gabrielle and Eve looks up at Gabrielle asking, "So, what are you going to do?" Xena fixes her stare on her baby doll and states, "Cure her seasickness." Eve looks at mommy and leans her head on Xena’s shoulder as we see Gabrielle suffering from her sickness.

Virgil tries to wake Gabby and is unsuccessful...big surprise! Xena explains that she gave her something to keep her asleep and Virgil figures out Xena’s plan. She’s going to Mogador without her. He tells her, "she’s not going to like that," of which Xena retorts, "She’s going to like being beheaded even less, you’re coming with me." He tells her, "I can’t, that would be a direct betrayal of her trust," as Xena grabs his cheeks and squeezes them together, puckering his lips. He relents saying, "Good idea...good idea." Realizing Xena’s steely stare is very convincing and you don’t say no to her! Xena and Virgil head into Mogador and Xena tells him to make it look good.  He shoves her towards the slave trader and she whispers, "Not that good," and turns back to the slave trader. Virgil announces, "I’m Superlious," as he rips the coverings off Xena’s face and head continuing, "and I have a choice specimen," as he scrunches her face. Xena growls at him as she’s not pleased with her face being contorted and the slave trader approaches her.  Virgil moves around to face Xena as the slave trader rips off her clothing and Virgil is shocked and has to pick up his chin from the ground. The slave trader tells him he knows who will purchase her...Gurkhan. Xena’s facial expressions are great here. She is not pleased about the men looking her over and the fact that Virgil is checking her out, as she’s naked.

Xena is sitting with all of the other potential slaves who are talking about where they are from and she’s trying to figure out which one is Sarah. Virgil approaches yelling, "Girl...girl," playing the part well...I think he’s enjoying it too much! Xena approaches him and tells him as soon as he can figure out which one is Gurkhan to get behind him and see what he can find out. The slave trader takes her to the square to be auctioned off. The bidding begins and gets crazy as it picks up and the trader announces Gurkhan. Virgil is psyched and is grinning as he stands behind Gurkhan or is it? There are many Gurkhan’s in the crowd. Xena is trying to figure out which one he is, but can’t. Virgil is completely lost and gives up as Xena is purchased by Gurkhan...one of his imposters.

Gabrielle finally wakes up and realizes Xena went into Mogador. She asks Eve where Xena is and she’s keeping quiet. Gabrielle replies angrily, "Eve, that peaceful smile isn’t going to cut it...where is she?" She answers, "I’m just as much to blame as she is," and walks behind Gabrielle as Virgil cockily climbs onto the boat singing some stupid song about him being Superlious, pirate of the sea...like father like son! Gabrielle is livid with him as he drops the bag full of gold coins on the ground. She asks, "You sold Xena to Gurkhan didn’t you?" He’s ashamed that he is busted and so is Eve who retorts, "We did it because we love you." Virgil answers, "I didn’t...well, I aah...aah..." as he approaches. He inherited his eloquent speech from his father. "I mean...I mean...I do love you, what I’m trying to say is that I didn’t know about the potion until you were already out." Gabrielle is shocked and in disbelief that he betrayed her saying, "Virgil you went along with Xena after she did it." He tries to explain his case by saying, "She threatened me," as Eve, says, "It’s the truth." Gabrielle grits her teeth and walks away from them angrily saying, "Two can play that game."

Xena is still fishing for information from some of the slave girls who are lying around naked, smoking something and taking baths. Xena happens to talk to an Asian girl who tells her she’s from Chin, so far to the east it’s called the land of the rising sun. Xena asks her name and she tells her it’s, "Yo." Nice name! Xena introducing herself, "Sophia, tell me, does Gurkhan have another wife named Sarah?" She tells her it’s against the rules to talk of the other wives. Xena informs her she’s just looking for a simple yes or no and she tells her that Gurkhan will punish them if they break the rules. Xena moves on to someone else who is off in wonderland thinking of her fiancé Leonardo. Xena tells her, "You just keep thinking about him, you think about him every moment, that’s what’s going to help you get through," smiling and trying to give the other girl hope. She answers, "I hope so because sometimes I would rather be dead then be in this place." A nicely dressed woman arrogantly saunters over to the side of the tub and says, "Be careful of what you ask for," and stops in front of her and Xena. Xena’s not impressed and asks, "Who are you?" She reaches down and grabs Xena by the hair asking, "You dare to question the number one wife?" Xena says, "Sorry, I didn’t know who you were." She pompously informs everyone that she is his number one wife and that she will one day give Gurkhan a son who will rule over his father’s kingdom and if anyone comes between her and her lord they will feel her wrath. Xena sees someone looking at the women from behind the partition and intently stares at them to identify who they are. ‘Miss I think I’m wonderful’ sees her do it and doesn’t like it. She kicks Xena in the face sending her back in the tub, as Xena angrily looks up at her ready to snap her in two. The woman replies, "Bad dog," as Xena bows her head as a slave would do.

All the Gurkhan imposters as well as Gurkhan are chilling out in a main room smoking as ‘Miss I think I’m wonderful’ leads all the slave girls into the room for them to check out. They all sit and look back as Virgil approaches with Gabrielle wrapped up in a white sheet announcing, "I bow before the might of Gurkhan the magnificent. I am Superlious the pirate and I search the world over for the most beautiful and delicious maidens." Xena is livid and is trying not to look back at him. Virgil states, "I have rare beauties that are ready to be plucked," with a sly grin. He turns and points to Gabrielle, "Take this one, an Amazon warrior queen from Greece. Strong, savage, independent and never touched by the hands of man." He is explaining all of this as he circles her and Gabrielle straightens up at the last comment he has made. He continues, "The untold pleasures that await the one who can tame a creature like this stagger the imagination and I offer her to you now, as a gift, a token as my good faith." He removes the sheet and says, "If it pleases the great one the little flower would like to dance in his honor." ‘Miss I think I’m wonderful’ looks at the men and they nod yes and says that he approves and would like to see the dance.

Xena is livid that Gabrielle is there as she begins to dance. Her hair is braided back in what looks like cornrows. She’s dressed in a bra with a greenish sheer skirt. Gabrielle begins to do a belly dance and moves down the steps in front of Xena who is sitting like a man with her legs spread apart, one leg bent up with her arm resting on it and the other leg resting on the ground...not very ladylike, watching Gabrielle do her dance. She is intrigued by the way she is dancing, especially when she does a back bend and flips over standing up. I know what Xena was thinking, ‘hey, how come she never dances like that for me? She’s been holding out on me.’ Gabrielle continues the sensual dance and Xena glares at Virgil who is digging the dance as well and clears his throat feeling very uncomfortable from the way Xena is looking at him. Gabrielle reaches for the dagger she has hidden in the back of her bra and Xena sees it. She runs over and jumps on Gabby’s back who is kneeling down and pushes her to the floor. Gabrielle is shocked and says, "Xena." Xena holds her down and tells her, "I had this under control," as she’s laying on her and takes the knife out of her bra strap.  Xena breathlessly tells Gabrielle, "Trust me," and knocks her in the back of the head. Gabrielle falls to the ground unconscious as the guards rush to Xena who is holding the knife and says, "She won’t have Gurkhan before me," and is kicked in the face, then clubbed in the back of the head. She falls on top of Gabrielle unconscious as well. Virgil rushes out of the room.

The guards take Xena to the dungeons and beat her senseless. It is very sickening to watch. The worst beating she has ever received and it’s vicious. She’s laying on the ground half conscious, bloody, dazed and you see Gabrielle’s hand reaching to touch her face. Xena opens her eyes and sees Gabrielle next to her smiling. She tries to reach for Gabrielle, but she disappears and it clips to Xena hanging upside down, being savagely beat, repeatedly by the guards with a club. Gabrielle is sitting with the other slaves worried about Xena and the scene moves back to Xena who is hanging upside down, with a pool of blood underneath her. She is beaten so badly that it looks like her left eye is gone. It’s horrific and you hear the blood dripping on the floor. Gurkhan enters the dungeon and approaches her. She attempts to look around to see whom it is, but it’s very difficult for her to see.  He stands before her and says, "Tell me Sophia, why did you have a knife?" Xena informs him; "To make sure none of the other wives got a jump on me."  He asks, "Or are you here simply because you were taken as a slave?" He moves from in front of her and you see Gabrielle dancing in the foreground and Xena shows a very small smile at the sight and replies, "I want to be here," as she continues to watch Gabrielle.

He asks, "Really and why is that?" as he paces behind her. Gabrielle stops dancing and looks at Xena saying, "Sarah."  Xena says, "I want to give myself to the great Gurkhan." He asks, "Are you sure... no other agenda?"  She replies, "Yes, one." He answers, "I’m listening," and Xena replies, "I want to be number one wife." He chuckles and turns towards the door saying, "Let’s just start by calling you Fatima," The corner of Xena’s mouth curls up slightly as she sees Gabrielle turn and walk towards the wall, disappearing. I really liked this scene as Xena did the same as what she told the other slave girl to do, to think of her fiancé constantly and it would get her through. She thought of Gabrielle throughout and that’s how she survived it. I thought it was very touching. Xena staggers into the room where Gabrielle is and smiles happy that she is alive. Xena staggers towards the bed as Gabrielle approaches with a horrified look on her face as she sees Xena’s wounds and rushes around to her side when she collapses on the bed. She gathers her up in her arms and looks worriedly at her as one of the other girls asks, "How is she?" Xena sarcastically replies with a slight smile, "Peachy," as Gabrielle hugs her with a look of regret and love that Xena would take such a beating to spare her. What an act of love that was!

Xena and Gabrielle are sitting by a tub and a woman is cleaning Xena’s wounds. This woman either has an extreme healing touch or Xena is one hell of a fast healer because her eye and face wounds were completely healed at this time! Gabrielle has a far off look and Xena asks, "Thinking about Sarah?" Gabrielle turns to her and replies, "Yes, and mother and father. I didn’t get a chance to say good-bye to them Xena. I don’t think Sarah is here..." Xena interrupts her saying, "She’s here believe it." Gabrielle asks, "Do you think she’s in another cell?" and Xena pulls her arm away wincing and answers, "Don’t know." She is facing the wall and Gabby is facing the opposite of her. She puts her hand down on the bench and Gabrielle lovingly and slowly slides her hand down Xena’s arm who turns to look at Gabrielle saying, "But I’ve got an idea to flush her out." Xena is sitting with a towel around her waist and is holding a towel over her breasts, but you can see the side of one of them as she moves her arm. Her back is badly bruised from the beating and Gabrielle’s thumb is lightly stroking Xena’s arm. She informs Gabrielle in a serious loving tone, "Gabrielle, you can do it. You can kill Gurkhan." They both stare at one another briefly and Xena stands up, moving behind Gabrielle. Gabrielle says, "Thank you." She puts her hand on Gabby’s shoulder and leans down to her ear, "Don’t thank me, just be ready." She replies and walks away. The camera pans up to the girl that was cleaning off Xena who is intently watching Xena walk away. She gives you the feeling she’s going to rat on them, but doesn’t.

‘Miss I think I’m wonderful’ tells all of the slave girls to lay on their faces and Gurkhan enters pointing to Xena saying, "That one," and miss thing informs her, "Tonight you will dance." Xena is dressed in a black bra with a black sheer skirt and sheer wrap, with jewels and mendi art on her stomach. She is seductively dancing in front of everyone tantalizing Gurkhan the pig as all the other women watch the display. He has fallen for her hook line and sinker...did you expect anything else? She has so many skills!  She finishes her dance and kneels before him stating, "I have a request," which he grants and Xena smiles saying, "Sarah’s head on a plate."  He asks, "Where did you hear that name?" and looks around the room and the move in close on the girl from Chin who looks down at the floor. He laughs shaking his head, "Very well, I’ll give you Sarah’s head," and snaps his fingers alerting his guards to grab Sarah who is none other than ‘Miss I think I’m wonderful!’

Sarah, formerly known as ‘Miss I think I’m wonderful’, is quite upset as you could imagine and asks, "Gurkhan, how could you do this?" as everyone looks at her without a word being said and she leaves. Gabrielle looks at her in disbelief and worry. We next see Xena seducing Gurkhan in his bedroom and she says, "I have an idea," and whispers it in his ear. She is on top of him sitting as Gabrielle enters the room and she doesn’t look pleased at what she sees. He sits up with Xena still straddling him and says, "Join us little one," and waves her towards the bed. Xena pushes him down on the bed and he’s enjoying it big time as Gabrielle slowly approaches the bed.  Xena puts the new and improved ‘renders you paralyzed’ pinch on him. This one doesn’t cut the blood flow off to your brain or he’d be dead, well, not that brain at least! Xena climbs off of him and moves in behind Gabrielle holding a dagger over her shoulder in front of her saying, "If you’re going to do it, do it now." Gabrielle closes her eyes, then opens them and takes the dagger. She removes it and slowly moves up on the bed, hovering over him with it at his throat. He’s scared and is shaking in his bare feet. Gabrielle maniacally asks, "Are you afraid...afraid like my mother, my father, like my sister’s husband just before you cut of their heads?" She moves the dagger from his throat to the side of his face and is only inches from his face with her own and he is petrified. She says, "If I kill you, you win. I become like you." She moves back and then leans back down telling him, "I hate you," with so much passion and vehemence before walking towards the end of the bed in front of Xena much to his relief. She turns back and kicks him and beats the living you know what out of him as Xena stands by doing nothing. Gabrielle sits down on the bed and blows out the breath she has satisfied with what she has done.

Gabrielle enters the chamber where Sarah is being held as Xena stands in the doorway.  Sarah asks, "What do you want? Is this the ultimate humiliation? Is Gurkhan going to allow you two to sever my head?" Gabrielle approaches her saying, "I’m Gabrielle and this is Xena." She says, "Gabrielle and Xena?" somewhat hopeful, then says, "Well, that’s not possible." She hangs her head in shame as Gabrielle says, "Lila... my sister told us everything that happened and we’ve come to take you home." She begins to cry and Gabrielle squats next to her and Sarah wants her to get away from her. She’s shouting and crying for Gabrielle to get away from her, but she doesn’t and finally Sarah relents allowing Gabrielle to hold her. Xena solemnly stands at the door watching as Gabrielle tells Sarah, "Nobody blames you. You were just a child. It’s okay." Sarah tells her, "I’m so ashamed," as her head is bowed in front of Gabrielle who kisses her forehead and moves her hair off her face. She is subconsciously playing with the strap on Gabrielle’s arm saying, "He killed father, and grandma and grandpa." Gabrielle answers, "That must have been so terrible for you." She tells her, "I didn’t know how to handle it, life just seemed so brutal and I aah thought the only way to survive was to be more vicious than my competition. I’m so sorry." Xena bows her head down and looks like she’s going to cry as Gabrielle puts her head against Sarah’s comfortingly replying, "So am I Sarah," and hugs her.

Xena looks up and says, "We should go." Sarah tells her it’s impossible that Gurkhan’s security has made the palace invincible as Xena turns away from them then back with Gurkhan’s head under her arm sarcastically saying, "There’s a loophole in the system," nonchalantly looking at them as they look back. Gabrielle grins as Sarah is surprised to see Gurkhan captured. We next see Xena, Gabby and Sarah enter the main room and Xena announces, "Alright girls...we’re going on a cruise. Anyone care to come?" with a sarcastic grin and walks away followed by everyone else. We next see the guards enter the cell where Sarah was being held and decapitate the clothed person and they realized it was Gurkhan! 

Everyone is on the boat heading home. Gabrielle and Eve are standing next to the railing looking out over the ocean as Sarah approaches. Gabrielle says, "Your mother will be so happy to see you." Sarah answers, "How could she ever love me again after what I’ve become?" Eve pipes in, "You don’t know mother’s very well do you?" Sarah answers, "You don’t understand I’ve done terrible things," as Xena is standing in an off white linen dress watching the scene. Sarah then asks, "How can I ever be forgiven?" Gabrielle smiles and shakes her head replying with a smile, "Are you ever in the right company," as she glances over her shoulder at Eve who is standing close to her, then up to Xena who is smiling at everyone as the episode ends.

Well, it was a good episode. Nothing that knocked our socks off, but a good segue way to begin the trilogy. I had a feeling that something was missing with Yo, the gal from Chin. I’m hoping they explain that dialogue in the next couple of episodes with her. There was too much foreshadowing with her to not explain it later in the episode. If they don’t, it was wasted dialogue. We’ll see. I really loved the part where Xena thinks of Gabrielle and that’s what got her through the beating. She loves Gabrielle so much and took one hell of a beating for her beloved Gabrielle that’s for sure.

Enjoy the episode!