Search

» » Xena die Kriegerprinzessin Who's Gurkhan? (1995–2001)

Short summary

Gabrielles comes home to Potedaia, where she meets her sister Lila. There, Lila tells her that a man called Gurkhan kidnapped her daughter, Sarah, and eventually killed her parents and her husband. Looking for revenge, Gabrielle decides to Gurkhan's palace in the walled city of Moghador, in Northern Africa, with Xena, Eve and Virgil.

There was a scene that was cut from the episode, where Gabrielle gets into a fight with one of Gurkhan's new wives. The wife says she is competition, then slaps Gabrielle. Gabrielle punches her around until the wife goes flying into Harem's pool.

Originally, Eve was supposed to follow Xena and Gabrielle outside after Gabrielle hears about her parents. Michael Hurst, the director, decided it made the scene too "clunky" and gave Eve's lines to Xena.

Gina Varela (Milda) is of Greek and Kiwi heritage. The series is set in ancient Greece.

The torture scene became a little too real for Lucy Lawless, who went back into spasms while being hung upside down.

Xena was branded during the torture scene, but the footage was deemed to be too disturbing and was cut from the finished episode.

Xena doesn't use her Chakram in this episode.

Both this episode and "Legacy" take place in North Africa. As originally written, Xena and Gabrielle got off the ship before it left for home, thus leading into "Legacy".

Milda (Gina Varela) is fully nude when she is having a oil massage. Only her bareback and bottom are seen.

The episode is about the danger of vengeance.

The episode did not air in several countries, due to it's violent content.

The music used during Xena's torture scene was the same music used in Xena: Warrior Princess: The Greater Good (1996), when Xena succumbed to the poison.

Directed by Michael Hurst aka Iolaus to Hercules and Xena.

The sequence which Xena is tortured is one of the violent scenes of the series.

Willa O'Neill, Calvin Tuteao, Tandi Wright, Gina Varela and Michelle Langstone have all acted in Shortland Street (1992).

User reviews


  • comment
    • Author: Cordantrius
    Directed by the very talented Michael Hurst, "Who's Gurkhan?" dealt with some very dark subject material.

    Revenge is not an uncommon theme on "Xena", it's not even an original concept for Gabrielle to be the one seeking it, but "Who's Gurkhan?" dares to take Gabrielle closer to the edge than "The Return of Callisto". It is the darkest Gabrielle ever is in the series.

    While Gabrielle's character explores her dark side, Virgil finally shows his "Joxer" colour as he is sadly reduced to the comic relief. Not that Lee can't pull off the humour, but, until now, he's always been a much more dramatic character. Both Lee and Wilkinson were woefully underused.

    Make-up, sets and costume outdid themselves again, which gave Hurst more to play with, which, with his cineographic eye, made for a very visually stunning episode.
  • comment
    • Author: Faugami
    Hands down one of the best episodes in the series run, not only for the storyline, dancing scenarios, and musical atmosphere, but also for the presence of the evil yet enjoyable Gurkhan. So basically, Gabrielle wants vengeance against Gurkhan and goes undercover to try and get to him. The best thing about this episode is the overall music selection as well as the matching of the BGM with the scenery. Particularly Gabrielle's belly-dancing sequence. It is phenomenal in terms of music choice; which in my opinion, is the absolute best musical piece in this entire series run. Of course, Gurkhan is later found out in his harem and Gabrielle wants to slice off his head but doesn't; instead, she covers his head and allows Gurkhan's own executioners to behead him. There is tremendous moral value and savage sexual drive while torture and sadistic pleasure go into play. The episode rolls through as an overall very serious one as well as extremely memorable due to Gurkhan's fate. The episode, as well as the character of Gurkhan, remain my second-favorite plot-line and character in the series. Coincidentally, the episode came only right after the brilliantly orchestrated Hell arc.
  • Episode cast overview:
    Lucy Lawless Lucy Lawless - Xena
    Renée O'Connor Renée O'Connor - Gabrielle (as Renee O'Connor)
    Adrienne Wilkinson Adrienne Wilkinson - Eve
    William Gregory Lee William Gregory Lee - Virgil
    Willa O'Neill Willa O'Neill - Lila
    Calvin Tuteao Calvin Tuteao - Gurkhan
    Tandi Wright Tandi Wright - Sonata / Sarah
    Gina Varela Gina Varela - Milda
    Michelle Langstone Michelle Langstone - Lana
    Jo Lo Jo Lo - Yo
    Stephen Hall Stephen Hall - Auctioneer
    All rights reserved © 2017-2024 hd.thomson-multimedia.com