Xena and Gabrielle: The Greatest Friendship

Written: 1997
© Julie Ruffell 1997
Description: This article was published in Warrior Princess Press.

"Xena and Gabrielle: The Greatest Friendship"

When people tune into Xena: Warrior Princess they see two beautiful women beating up the bad guys. It's full of action, adventure and special effects. Then there's Xena, that amazing heroine, torn between good and evil, and her sidekick and protégé, Gabrielle, the Amazon queen with the deadly staff. Let's not forget the tongue-in-cheek humor, the unforgettable storylines, and, of course, the fact that Xena is the greatest television role model. These are all excellent reasons to watch the show, but the thing that makes me watch week after week is the friendship that is shared between Xena and Gabrielle.

Xena and Gabrielle respect each other; Gabrielle respects Xena's talents and knowledge while Xena respects Gabrielle's innocence, her code of honour and bard skills. Their friendship also carries a lot of love and caring for the other. Each would give her life for the other, and they can share warm moments as well. To figure out what makes their friendship work so well, we much first look at them as individuals.

Xena is a woman who has lived a hard life. She feels great pain for the turmoil that she has brought to the world and herself. Xena is strong on the outside, but weak on the inside. She has feelings and emotions, but often buries them deep within herself. Xena is a ticking time bomb, who runs from her emotional troubles. As Lucy Lawless points out, "She keeps moving. If she puts down roots, she might have to face herself." Xena fights an internal conflict within herself at all times, usually within dreams or at extremely emotional times. Xena can take care of herself, however. She's been around and knows how the world works. Xena is very untrusting, due to being hurt in the past. She has no real family, except a mother and an older brother she never sees.

Gabrielle is a lot more rounded than Xena. She is strong on the inside, but has the strength outside too. She is loving, forgiving and trusting. Gabrielle can fight her way out of trouble or talk around it, yet she's young and hasn't been out in the real world for very long, having lived a sheltered life at home with her family. Now she's an Amazon Queen, but her fighting skills still need some work. Gabrielle can also be a little too trusting, and is quick to give her heart away.

The two have pros and cons by themselves, but put them together and you erase the cons. Xena is the defender and the one who can spot trouble before it erupts. Gabrielle gets stung when reality hits her, but Xena points out the light to Gabrielle. Xena can get lost on the road between good and evil, but Gabrielle shows her the right away. Traveling with Xena makes it hard for Gabrielle to fight against her anger, yet Xena gives her a hand, pointing out how rage ruined her life. Xena's rage can boil over, but Gabrielle turns down the heat.

They really are two pieces of a whole. As we all go through life, we make and break friendships. Whether we are more like Xena or more like Gabrielle, we search for the other, for a true friend; for friendship truly is the best gift one can give, or receive.