Honestly, if you grew up in the late '90s, you probably remember the "warrior cry" better than your own middle school locker combination. That iconic "Yiyiyiyi!" followed by a circular piece of metal—the chakram—shredding through a group of nameless thugs. But looking back from 2026, the real heart of Xena: Warrior Princess wasn't the campy CGI hydras or the time Xena fought Ares in a bathtub.
It was the slow-burn, soul-linking, "are they or aren't they" (spoiler: they definitely were) bond between Xena and Gabrielle.
For years, people dismissed their relationship as just a "buddy" dynamic or, at most, some cheeky pandering for the "subtext" fans. But that's a pretty shallow way to look at what's actually one of the most complex character arcs in television history. We’re talking about a reformed mass murderer and a farm girl who basically invented the "from zero to hero" trope before it was cool.
The Evolution Nobody Expected
When Gabrielle first hopped onto Xena’s wagon in the pilot, she was... kind of annoying? Let's be real. She was a talkative bard from Poteidaia who just wanted to see the world. Xena, on the other hand, was a woman so traumatized by her own bloodlust that she was ready to give up.
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Their dynamic started as a classic "mentor and student" setup. Xena taught Gabrielle how to defend herself; Gabrielle taught Xena how to be a human being again.
Why the "Subtext" Was Actually the Main Text
Back in the '90s, network TV wasn't exactly a playground for LGBTQ+ representation. You couldn't just have your lead characters come out in the first season. So, the writers—and actresses Lucy Lawless and Renee O’Connor—had to get creative. They used what fans called "subtext."
It wasn't just "gay high jinks," as Lawless once joked. It was written into the DNA of the show. Think about the episode "The Quest" in Season 2. Xena is technically dead, inhabiting the body of Autolycus, and she kisses Gabrielle to "transfer her soul." Sure, on paper it’s a plot device. On screen? It’s a full-on romantic moment that left an entire generation of queer kids staring at their cathode-ray tube TVs in shock.
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By the time we got to the later seasons, especially after their journey through India and the whole "Fallen Angel" arc, the "subtext" was basically just... text. They were soulmates, "fated to be together" across multiple lifetimes, as confirmed in episodes like "The Xena Scrolls" and "Between the Lines."
The "Rift" and Why It Matters
A lot of fans hate the Season 3 "Rift." It was dark, it was messy, and it involved Xena dragging Gabrielle behind a horse (the "Gab-drag"). It felt like the show was breaking its own heart.
But honestly? That’s why the relationship felt real. Most TV friendships are static. Xena and Gabrielle actually hurt each other. They betrayed each other’s trust—Gabrielle by lying about her daughter Hope, and Xena by letting her rage take over.
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The fact that they came back from that—that they spent the rest of the series trying to earn back that original bond—is what makes them so much more than just "warrior and sidekick." It was a partnership built on forgiveness, which is a lot harder to write than a simple romance.
A Few Things Fans Always Debate:
- Were they married? In the literal, legal sense? No. In the "we’ve died for each other, raised a daughter (Eve) together, and our souls are literally intertwined for eternity" sense? Absolutely. Lucy Lawless even stated in a 2003 interview with Lesbian News that she viewed them as "married, man."
- The Ending (A Friend in Need): Don't even get me started on Xena staying dead in the finale. While it’s still a massive point of contention, the final scene—Gabrielle standing on the boat with Xena’s ghost—cemented Gabrielle as the new Warrior Princess. She had fully transitioned from the girl with the staff to the woman with the chakram.
Why We’re Still Talking About Them in 2026
The impact of Xena Warrior Princess and Gabrielle isn't just about nostalgia. It’s about how they changed the "strong female lead" archetype.
Before Xena, female action stars were often solo acts or needed a male lead to balance them out. Xena and Gabrielle proved you could have two women as the entire emotional and physical core of a show. They didn't need a Hercules to save them; they saved each other. Every modern duo, from Killing Eve to The Last of Us, owes a little bit of its soul to those two women wandering around New Zealand—I mean, "Ancient Greece"—in leather skirts.
If you're looking to dive back into the series or explore the legacy of this duo, here is the best way to do it:
- Watch the "Milestone" Episodes: Start with "A Day in the Life" (Season 2). It’s the ultimate domestic comedy episode that shows how they functioned as a couple when they weren't fighting gods.
- Read the Comic Continuations: Dynamite Entertainment released several comic runs that pick up after the show ended, often leaning much more explicitly into their romantic relationship.
- Check out the "Whoosh!" Archives: For the real history buffs, the Whoosh! online journal has been documenting the show's production and subtext since 1996. It’s a rabbit hole of early internet fandom history.
The show was campy, the special effects haven't aged perfectly, and the geography makes zero sense, but the bond between the Warrior Princess and her Bard remains untouchable. They weren't just friends; they were the blueprint.