Xena's AFIN kimono

Xena’s breakaway kimono from “A friend in need part two” worn by Lucy Lawless and stunt double in the last episode from season 6. Xena can be seen wearing a red kimono throughout the episode, including during her initial and final encounters with Yodoshi and her tearful reunion with Gabrielle.

After Harukata told Xena that only another ghost can kill Yodoshi and freed 40,000 souls that died at Higuchi when Xena grabbed a torch and the wind caused that the entire city to end up in flames. Xena would need to die in order to face Yodoshi in the spiritual world.

Xena emerges from battle in the japanese tea house projected by Yodoshi as an illusion, where she and Akemi embrace in an emotional reunión. Now Xena is wearing the red kimono until she reemerges after Gabrielle kisses her dropping into her water from the Fountain of Strength.

The red silk kimono is made of a delicate satin red silk and features snap closures throughout and a darker red sash with black velvet bow.

This kimono was used specifficaly for special effects sequences as it has snap closures in the back and openings on the inside of the sleeves, it was easier to hold the harness cables for the scenes where Xena is thrown and knoced backwards by Yodoshi in the fighting scenes of the last episode.

Photos for reference:

Gabrielle Kendo costume

A special addittion to my collection, Gabrielle’s kendo costume seen in the last episode “A friend in need, part two” from season 6. The costume composes of a blue top with orange thread around the neck, pants with tie waist closure and dragonfly details and black wraps for her wrists. The top and pants are tagged with “X21-22 / Gab Kendo / Renee”.

 

After Xena is killed in battle by Yodoshi’s army, Gabrielle ran into the forest and met Xena’s ghost in a tearful scene. Gabrielle is determined to bring Xena back to life. Harukata tells her that she has until the second sunset to complete the ritual high at the Fountain of strenght on Mt. Fuji.

At that time Gabrielle is told indications to get the sacred katana power against malicious spirits. Later on, Gabrielle defeated Yodoshi’s general Morimoto and get Xena’s head and burned the whole body. Gabrielle arrives to Mt. Fuji with Xena’s ashes and she is about to bring Xena back to life when…

After doing some research, I could tell that the blue pants doesn’t match on screen but they have the exact same pattern with the dragonfly painting details although the ones seen on screen are darker, maybe a grey black tone.

My guess is that the only possibility is these pants were used on scene when Gabrielle was fighting with Morimoto under the rain. In which the hero’s clothing got wet so this way the blue pants could have gone unnoticed. On the other hand the blue top, in my opinion, is an unfinished top made for Renée as is show on the tag. So, I have come to the conclusion that this costume was probably a back-up costume tailored specifically for Renée or maybe an unfinished one, who knows.

 

The costume comes with the original COA from It’s A Wrap! Auction held in 2001. Chakram and sais are screen used props.

Photos for references:

Xena's Valkyrie costume

“Xena brought Odin out of his despair by sharing with him her lust for life. He, in turn, made her a Valkyrie.” - Brunhilda.

Valkyries are women warrior who serve Odin, the king of the Asgardian gods. It is they who have the sacred duty of escorting slain soldiers to their quarters in Valhalla.

Those Valkyries were mortal women that are able to ride the sacred horses from the sky. Odin taught his runes to his favorites Valkyries, after that they have special powers and able to harness all her energy into a flame that will burn for as long as they wish.

Xena met Odin 35 years ago and shared her thoughts about her way of living and he made her a Valkyrie. She was able to persuade him to obtain the Rheingold from the Rhine maidens, and forge an indestructible ring capable of granting the ultimate power of a god in exchange for destroying what he loved most, only if she haven’t forsaken love the power of ring will work.

I had never made a photoshoot of my Xena’s Valkyrie costume. The Valkyrie costume includes Xena’s stunt double helmet, leaf armour corset, skirt, gauntlets used by stunt double, Sheree, and Grinhilda double stunt boots.

Sadly, the leaves of the armour and gauntlets are made of a very fragile translucent silicone material and have already coming off and some of them are becoming cracked.