"Xena: Warrior Princess" is one of those shows where either you cheerfully accept its goofy concept, or you just aren't going to get anything out of it, much like exec-producer Sam Raimi's "Evil Dead" films. My wife gets it, and my daughter enjoys the fact that Xena is a liberated ass-kicker. As for myself... while I never feel compelled to catch the show whenever it's broadcasted, as a fan of Raimi's early work, I personally appreciate his indelible creative stamp on the tone of the series: plenty of campy action scenes and dialogue, refusal to allow plausibility interfere with the fun, and stories that are compelling enough for the viewer to forget any issues of historical accuracy or realism (which is cheerfully tossed out the window on a regular basis). This 9-disc boxed set of the third season from Anchor Bay is also a huge improvement over the previous two, with better picture and sound, as well as a slew of extras fans are gonna love.

The set contains 22 episodes from the third season, pretty much when the series began to hit its stride. Episodes vary in tone from dark action to full-blown camp-comedy. While Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor, as Xena and Gabrielle, remain the focus of the show, recurring characters all have their moments, including Ted Raimi (the bumbling Joxer), Kevin Smith (as Ares), and Hudson Leick (as Callisto). Stand-out episodes include "The King of Assassins," in which Joxer's evil brother tries to kill Cleopatra, "Warrior, Priestess, Tramp," where Lawless plays three roles, and the two-part season finale, "Sacrifice," where Xena faces a surprising "goddess," part of a plot by Ares and Callisto. My favorite episode is "The Bitter Suite," which is presented as a full-blown musical. That's one thing I always thought was so cool about the show...the concept allowed the creators imaginations to run wild, which they usually did very well, considering the series' budgetary restraints.

Of the three boxed sets, this collection has the best overall picture and sound. Presented in 1.33 fullscreen, it's a really good transfer, with accurate color and black tones. It's a noticeable improvement over the relative graininess of the first season set, and definitely better than the reruns on the Oxygen Network. The audio is remastered in 5.1 Dolby Digital Surround, and it sounds great, especially noticeable in the aforementioned "Bitter Suite" episode.

While the previous two boxed sets contained some good extras, Anchor Bay outdo themselves with this third set, which is sure to please the series' many fans. Four episodes include audio and video commentaries by various cast and crew members, including Lawless and O'Connor. There are also a bunch of interviews with some of the same folks. Also included is a 30 minute making-of documentary, covering the two-part "Sacrifice" episode; this is on the last disc, as is a ton of additional footage (such as deleted and/or alternate scenes), a hilarious gag reel and a photo gallery. CD-ROM content includes cast & crew bios, storyboards & sketches and some series trivia. Useless trivia: Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle) was a regular on the new "Mickey Mouse Club." She had a recurring role in the "Teen Angel" episodes.

For fans, this third boxed set is definitely a must-have for the extras alone. Even casual fans may find the 22 episodes worth the expense. However, if you're one of those who don't appreciate the show's cheeky irreverence, there's nothing here that's going to change your mind.