Xena "Dreamworker" #1.3 (1995) (TV)

"The moment you pick up a sword you become a target. The moment you kill everything changes.", 21 January 2018

Gabrielle is taken hostage by Morpheus, the God of Dreams. Morpheus wants Gabrielle for his bride. Xena, as you'd expect, is having none of it. She enters a dreamscape, filled with all manner of threats she'll have to overcome if she is to survive and bring Gabrielle out with her.

Of the first three episodes in the Xena series, Dreamworker is filled with more magic than we've seen so far. It's not the best episode, but it is a nice preview of what's to come in the series. Xena's battles in the dreamscape are nicely staged. We are treated to some of the best action we've seen so far. The dreamscape itself is an interesting idea where, we quickly learn, anything is possible. Dreamworker also introduces us to the idea of Gabrielle killing in battle and what it would do to her. It's a theme that's explored in much of the series. It really adds to the muchly needed character development. Another plus for Dreamworker is that, when compared with the previous episodes, Gabrielle is less annoying. Fortunately, her character goes on to become much more than the damsel in distress she plays early in the series. 

I guess my biggest complaint with Dreamworker is the way Morpheus is presented - or not presented would be more accurate. His absence from the screen hurts the episode. There's a lack of a big-time threat. While there are plenty of fight scenes, etc., without Morpheus, the episode is missing the danger or real sense of peril that should be present.

6/10