Xena is rewarded for saving the temple of the Fates by being sent back in time to before she became The Warrior Princess. At first, she is delighted to find that her brother Lyceus is still in her life, but she soon discovers that, because in this world, she didn’t take up her sword to defend her village against Cortese, her mother is dead and Gabrielle is a slave.

Xena is determined to make the best of this second chance and mounts a rescue mission to free Gabrielle. The Fates’ condition is that she mustn’t spill blood – a bit of a handicap for a warrior, but Xena complies, battling with cunning instead. She’s also surprised to find that she is betrothed to a chap called Maphias. (He’s a bit of a wimp "you’ve got to go along to get along" but he comes good in the end.)

Without Xena to defend them, the Amazons and the Centaurs are all either dead or enslaved. Warlords, who Xena had previously dispatched, are ruling the roost and the people live in fear and misery. When she sees Gabrielle about to kill, (Renee is wonderful as the embittered slave girl) Xena makes the ultimate decision to put things back the way they were, saving Gabrielle but sacrificing Lyceus. Thank the gods she did because if not, we wouldn’t have had this Show which inspires and uplifts us all!

Review by Jan