The Nineties in America - Salem Press (2009)

sprang up, includingBuffy the Vampire Slayer,La
Femme Nikita,Dark Angel, andAlias.
Xena was also somewhat unique among television
shows in that the heroine was once an evil character,
and her struggle to overcome her dark past in-
formed much of the continuing story line of the se-
ries. Nevertheless, though the series dealt with ex-
treme violence (though not graphically shown), the
quest for spiritual fulfillment, and the question of
how one can atone for evil actions—or if one can do
so—Xena also featured many comedic episodes.
This mixture of moods was typical of many television
shows of the 1990’s, as traditional concepts of drama
and situational comedy as distinct genres began to
break down. Xena even dealt with a potent social is-
sue of the 1990’s when she was magically impreg-
nated and had a baby, thus becoming a “working
mother,” leading to concerns about how she could
function in her “job” as an avenger of evil and still
care for her infant. Xena’s distinct leather costume

and “yi yi yi” shout became emblematic of the grow-

ing confidence and authority of women in the

1990’s.

Impact Through its mix of genres and story lines,

and especially its two female lead characters,Xena:

Warrior Princesssymbolized the growing power of

women in the wider culture.

Further Reading

Mainon, Dominique, and James Ursini.The Modern

Amazons: Warrior Women On-Screen. Pompton

Plains, N.J.: Limelight Editions, 2006.

Weisbrot, Robert.“Xena: Warrior Princess”—The Offi-

cial Guide to the Xenaverse. New York: Doubleday,

1998.

Vicki A. Sanders

See also Homosexuality and gay rights; Television;

Women in the workforce; Women’s rights.

The Nineties in America Xena: Warrior Princess
949