Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Action fantasy series has female warriors in short outfits.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Xena: Warrior Princess
What's the Story?
Part action, part drama, part comedy, and part fantasy, XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS follows the adventures of Xena of Amphipolis (Lucy Lawless), a warrior who seeks to redeem herself for her former misdeeds as a treacherous warlord by serving as a protector to those who can't protect themselves. A spin-off of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena rewrites Greek mythology to create unique storylines that mesh historical figures, timelines, and a variety of modern topics while simultaneously trying to resolve ancient disputes. Xena shares her adventures with constant companion Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor) and fights enemies such as Ares, God of War (Kevin Smith), and Callisto (Hudson Leick) with the help of friends like Autolycus (Bruce Campbell) and Joxer (Ted Raimi). Using no-holds-barred martial arts, gymnastic feats, and brute force, Xena fights her enemies with a war cry that would frighten the wildest of animals, not to mention the bravest of men.
Is It Any Good?
Sometimes tragic, often quirky, and usually violent, this series offers a powerful female leader in a very masculine world. Xena: Warrior Princess, led by the dominating Lawless, is one of few fantasy shows centered on a strong hero who just happens to be a woman. Unfortunately, Xena falls prey to the male gaze more than occasionally, costuming warriors like Xena and Callisto in low-cut leather corsets that seem impractical for combat. Still, the show makes up for it with three-dimensional characters forging their own paths. Especially notable is Xena and Gabrielle's partnership—their friendship (and possible romance) is the emotional heart of the series.
About that romance: The creators of Xena: Warrior Princess resisted labeling Xena's sexuality throughout the series itself, wedging Xena into multiple ill-fated romantic relationships with men. Fans quickly identified a romantic subtext between Xena and Gabrielle, however, and the writers reportedly leaned into it by dropping subtle hints of a deeper love. Watching the episodes through that lens only adds to the show's intriguing nature. This, along with the campiness and the wild twists and turns of the plot, help make Xena a cult classic.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the different kinds of fighters in Xena: Warrior Princess. How many of them are women? How do the female warriors in Xena compare to other action heroes?
How are historical facts sometimes blurred with fiction to create interesting stories? What elements of Xena are based on history? Which are fantasy?
Can you identify the different sources that Xena draws stories and characters from? What do you notice about how characters from different cultures and mythologies are portrayed?
How do the characters in Xena: Warrior Princess demonstrate teamwork, courage, and integrity? Why are these important character strengths?
TV Details
- Premiere date : September 4, 1995
- Cast : Lucy Lawless , Renee O'Connor , Ted Raimi
- Networks : Logo , Oxygen
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Integrity , Teamwork
- TV rating :
- Awards : Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Emmy - Emmy Award Nominee
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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