Cradle of Hope

The Duo stumble upon an abandoned infant and aim to protect it until finding It's parents. Soon after the encounter a woman with a mysterious lineage joins them.

While this episode does handle an important Myth it's shoved to the background for a pretty lame story overall. Which is a shame, I would've liked to see the King's clash with Xena be the focus and build upon her character like 'Dreamworker' did.

Probably the best episode so far of Xena. It has action, campy fun and an interesting story.

King Gregor gets a prophecy from a soothsayer that a motherless baby will one day become king. Like Herod he orders the capture of a newborn so he can decide for himself what to do next. His advisor would rather have the baby killed.

Xena and Gabrielle find the baby first as those looking after him took the baby away and left it somehere safe. Gabrielle wants to keep the baby.

Xena also saves a woman from being hanged by local villagers, she turns out to be the granddaughter of Pandora also called Pandora who carries a mysterious box.

Xena finds that the king is not all bad, he is grieving the loss of his own wife and child. His rule might also be at risk from his treacherous advisor.

If the previous episode laid the groundwork for Gabrielle's blood innocence, this one lays the groundwork for Xena and Gabrielle's future shared motherhood in season five. A somewhat silly combination of the myths of the birth of Moses and Pandora's box, but unfortunately a forgettable episode (as well as half of the first season). However, the moment when they throw the baby like a ball on the field is hilarious. I like the ending and the lesson that there is hope in all of us, although I also interpret the moment with the empty box as a thought that all myths are just a trick.

Btw, the actress who plays Pandora is beautiful.