How do you do a Christmas episode of a television show that’s set in the period B.C.? This was the challenge faced by filmmaker Sam Raimi for one of the shows he produced Xena, Warrior Princess. The solution was A Solstice Carol (originally broadcast on Dec. 9, 1996), a parody of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Directed by John T. Kretchmer and written by Chris Manheim, A Solstice Carol begins with Xena (Lucy Lawless) and Gabrielle (Renee O’Connor) in a small remote kingdom shopping for Winter Solstice presents for each other when they learn the plight of a local orphanage that is due to be evicted from their building for not paying back taxes.

The eviction is the work of King Silvas (Peter Vere-Jones) who has banned the celebration of Solstice ever since losing his wife years earlier. (Initially, Xena and Gabrielle think she died, but later they find out that she left him.) Xena wants to kick royal butt. Gabrielle, however, being the idealist she is, believes the best way to remedy the situation is to trick Silvas into believing in the spirit of Solstice by impersonating the Three Fates and haunting him. (“If the plan fails, we punch faces,” Gabrielle says.)

One ally in their scam is Senticles (Joe Berryman), once a great toy maker who, now that he’s unemployed due to the ban on Solstice, is forced to work in the palace as the King’s scribe. Another is the Silvas’ estranged wife, Melena (Sheri Booth) who is willing to give her ex a second chance.

The plan works as far as convincing Silvas to turn over a new leaf, but his soldiers are not so easily won over. In a slapstick free-for-all, the soldiers square off with Xena, Gabrielle and Senticles who use the toys he designed as weapons. (The gags include Gabrielle literally playing “Jingle Bells” on a couple of soldiers’ heads by hitting them with bells, Senticles loading a toy crossbow as the “whistling theme” from The Good, The Bad and The Ugly is quoted in the music score and a pillow getting cut open and feathers flying out creating an impromptu “snowstorm.”)

A Solstice Carol is hardly one of the best episodes of Xena, but it works as a light diversion and the cast certainly look as if they enjoyed themselves.

Xena, Warrior Princess: A Solstice Carol can be viewed on-line from Netflix’s Watch Instantly service and is also available for rental (Season Two, Disc Three).