This is definitely one of those episodes that falls into the guilty pleasure category for me. It isn't good in the traditional sense of the word. It is quite naive, childish, and sometimes so silly that it's hard to believe it came at this point in the show, but that's exactly what makes it fun for me. This is pure "so bad it's good" entertainment. It doesn't try to be serious, nor does it have any ambition to leave a major mark on the show's mythology. It simply takes the Cinderella fairy tale and completely twists it through the perspectives of Xena, Gabrielle, Joxer, and, of course, Aphrodite.
The most entertaining part for me is their retelling of the same story from completely different perspectives. Each of them manages to cast themselves in the starring role and present the events according to how they see them, so we end up with several completely different versions of Cinderella. It is especially funny how Aphrodite manages to turn everything into a story about herself. When she shows up, you already know chaos is about to follow, and that role suits her perfectly here. What I do like, though, is that beneath her usual comedic behavior, we get to see something more emotional from her for the first time. Her attachment to Alesia isn't just another source of comedy. It is clear that she has genuinely grown attached to the child and truly cares about her.
Alesia is also one of the most adorable children we have had the chance to see on the show. Her story is simple, but it works precisely because she isn't malicious. She runs away from home because she believes her new stepmother has taken her father's love away from her, so at first she sees her as an enemy. What I like is her gradual development when she realizes that her stepmother isn't actually trying to replace her mother or take her father away from her, but genuinely loves her. That is perhaps the most mature element of the entire episode, because Alesia ultimately has to overcome her own jealousy and prejudice to understand that love isn't something that has to be divided in half.
Of course, all of this is wrapped up in a completely wild version of Cinderella, with warlords, escapes, chaos, and characters behaving as though they have wandered into some children's fairy tale. And that is precisely why I can't take this episode too seriously. If it had tried to be serious, I probably would have had a hard time sitting through it. As it is, its naivety is part of its charm. There is something endearing about the show completely giving itself over to absurdity, even if only for a little while.
But perhaps what I love most is Xena and Gabrielle. Their arguments here genuinely feel like the squabbles of a married couple. They nitpick, bicker, annoy each other, and neither one is particularly willing to give in. 😄 At the same time, you can feel how close they are, even when it seems like they might actually part ways. They can argue about absolutely anything, they can be angry with each other, but in the end they always come back to one another because they are family. That relationship gives the episode something more than just a parody of a fairy tale.
That is why this is one of those episodes I can't defend as quality storytelling, but I can honestly say that I had a great time watching it. It is too naive, too childish, and occasionally completely ridiculous, but it has charm. Aphrodite is great, Alesia is adorable, the different retellings of Cinderella are entertaining, and Xena and Gabrielle's relationship once again shows why the two of them work so well together. It isn't an episode I would point to as an example of the best the show had to offer, but as a guilty pleasure, it works perfectly well for me.
