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Here's my review:

My favorite thing about the episode was the fact that it was the first time that we saw Xena sensing Ares' presence. I loved that about them, it just seemed to strengthen the idea that they really did have a bond, whether left over from the old days or something else entirely but there was definitely something there. It is also the first time that we are told that there was clearly a history between the two of them in the past. How Ares came to her and took her "under his wing", perhaps molded her into what he wanted her to be or at least, guided her, but how she always had her own fighting and rebellious spirit and how she would never let him take advantage of her or make her do something that she didn't want. That was interesting.

And even here, we had a great sense of the fact that it seemed his feelings for her went deeper than a meer obsession. When they are in the forest talking and he is telling her that "you go up against Agathon, he'll kill you" the look on his face when she walks away is clearly a bit of....fear, perhaps? that he really might loose her to Agathon? But most importantly is the fact that he is willing to come to her and warn her. I guess you could see this as almost his way of helping her. He doesn't want her to die and though he has told himself that he will stay out of it, let Agathon fight his own battles, he's not about to let Xena down by not giving her the information that she might need to defeat him. That's always an interesting dynamic between the two of them--that they can be adversaries yet he still feels the need to come to her in these types of situations and "help" in his own way.

I think Xena also realized that Ares was telling the truth about Agathon and, maybe, in a way, she knew that he was there to help her with Agathon in his own way.

I also loved their looks at the very end of the episode just before Agathon and Xena face off. Clearly, Xena has disrupted Agathon's (and ultimatly, Ares') plans. He's a bit ticked off with her and leaves her to fight Agathon. The way they banter in that scene is priceless, though, how she goads him on.

My other favorite moment in this episode is when Agathon is talking to Ares about his obsession with Xena. Clearly, this fact has not gone unnoticed by other people. And when Agathon vows to kill Xena, Ares is clearly disturbed by this. I think it's one of the moments where he realizes, at least subconciously, that Xena somehow means more to him than a mere sexual obsession.

Oh, I think he was interested in Agathon as a warrior. After all, he was a follower who'd do the GOW's bidding and liked killing. And I do think he liked Agathon's spunk and his ability to be disobedient (just like Xena). But he also took it too far and I think that's where Ares had a bit of annoyance toward him.

But when it comes to Xena, there's no contest.