Granted I haven't watched any previous episodes had no idea about the show at all. I was at the edge of my seat waiting for Lucy Lawless to appear.. it was almost unbearably painful to get through everything else before it..my brain kept spinning trying to figure out what the what is this and whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy? Such slow-paced, awkward and uncomfortable scenes..I paused several times.. I am a softy when it comes to rating shows and movies.. but the only reason I gave it 3 stars is what Cheryl's scene acted out by the brilliant Lucy Lawless added to the -499,999,999,999,999,993 rating ... yes, it was below a frog's bum, and it's only savig grace is Lucy's acting where she somehow sort of manages to give the feeling of a comforting hug to the viewer, yes, even with the scenes and the character she's portraying (can even hear her voice comforting me 'there there, I'm here, it's alright..') ~~ well.. as Ares would say.. "Until next time ,Xena, until next time.."