Princessah
You can have a soulmate and it not be romantic or sexual.
They were destined to spend their lives together, however I think the amount of lovers Xena had before and AFTER Gabby proves that their relationship was not of a sexual nature. It was just something played up to satisfy the lesbian fans who wanted there to be more than there was.
You could just as easily say that the reason that Xena and Gabrielle's relationship wasn't portrayed as a full out of the closet lesbian lover relationship was to satisfy the view of all the people who didn't believe they were lovers; or who felt uncomfortable with that.
And as for Xena having lovers after Gabrielle, who where they? Ok so there was Ulyessis, Rafe, and Antony... None of whom where actually her lovers. And the only one she had ANY chemistry with was Antony. And than there was Are's, but that realtionship is almost as amibigious as Xena and Gabrielle.
The show was meant to be potrayed so that people could see what they wanted, wether thats Xena/Gabby, Xena/Ares, Gabby/Joxer or whatver else people come up with. And disregarding a the view of a sexual realtionship between Xena/gabby by saying subtexters ar just "lesbian fans who wanted there to be more than there was" is generalizing, somwhat patranizing and well, stupid.
How would you feel if I said that any love between Ares and Xena was just straight fans who wanted there to be more than there was? But I wan't say that because that would be disregarding the way you want to see the show.
sweatdrop okay, sorry I just had to get that out...
Well other than Xena and Gabrielle... my favorites are Lao Ma, Borios and M'lila. For such small characters in the show, just being part of Xena's past they had so much depth and greatness. I would get so into the story lines with them and the actors potrayed them so well I would forget they aren't real.