Neil said
though I find the whole idea of Xena ideologically repellent
Please explain? Perhaps you're taking the 'warrior princess' as a literal description? (someone who has watched more correct me if I'm wrong) Xena is the daughter of a feamle inn-keeper. After war sweepingt hrough the land became too much of a problem, she took up arms and began to put together a band to fight back. As she became more succesful, she fought for merchenary reasons, rather than to protect. After defeat at the hands of an idealist, she was remided of why she'd become a warrior in the first place-- the non-warriors need protection. So, to make amends for being greedy, she wanders around helping anyone who needs her assistance and donates any fees for her work to the peasents. "From each according to their ability; to each according to their need." Where's the ideological repulsion, Neil?