Ep 18. The Convert

Xena: Warrior Princess is a popular fantasy television series that aired from 1995 to 2001. The show follows the adventures of Xena, a former warrior who has dedicated her life to helping the helpless and righting wrongs in a mythical world. In season 4 episode 18, titled "The Convert," Xena must deal with a powerful religious leader who is threatening the safety of innocents in a nearby village.

The episode begins with Xena and her trusty sidekick Gabrielle traveling through a forest when they come across a group of villagers who are fleeing their homes. The villagers tell Xena and Gabrielle that a powerful religious leader named Julias has taken over their village and is forcing them to convert to his religion. Those who refuse are subjected to torture and death. Xena is outraged by this and immediately decides to help the villagers. She and Gabrielle travel to the village to confront Julias.

At the village, Xena and Gabrielle are initially met with suspicion by the villagers, but after proving their good intentions, they are allowed to speak with Julias. Julias is a charismatic and powerful man, with a large following of devoted followers. He explains to Xena and Gabrielle that his religion is the only true path to enlightenment and that he is doing the villagers a great service by converting them. He also warns Xena and Gabrielle that they are putting themselves in danger by opposing him.

Xena and Gabrielle are not dissuaded by Julias' threats. They begin to investigate the village and soon discover that Julias is not as benevolent as he seems. They find evidence of torture and imprisonment of those who refuse to convert, and they also discover that Julias has a secret army that he plans to use to conquer nearby villages. Xena and Gabrielle know that they must act quickly to stop Julias before he can cause any more harm.

The rest of the episode is a tense battle of wills between Xena and Julias. Xena employs her usual combination of cunning strategy and brute force to take down Julias' followers and cripple his army. She also works to convince the villagers that Julias is not their savior, but a dangerous and ruthless tyrant who only cares about power. But Julias is not easily defeated. He uses his considerable charisma to turn some of Xena's allies against her, and he even manages to capture Gabrielle and use her as a bargaining chip.

In the end, Xena must use all of her skills and strength to defeat Julias and save the villagers. The battle takes a physical and emotional toll on her, but she emerges victorious. The villagers are freed from Julias' control, and Xena and Gabrielle continue on their journey, knowing that they have made a difference in the lives of those they have helped.

Overall, "The Convert" is a classic episode of Xena: Warrior Princess. It showcases the show's signature blend of action, drama, and humor, as well as its themes of strength, loyalty, and justice. It also features strong performances from Lucy Lawless (Xena) and Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle), who have terrific chemistry as the show's main leads. Whether you're a fan of the show or just looking for a great fantasy adventure, "The Convert" is definitely worth watching.