| "The Haunting of Amphipolis" | |
|---|---|
| Xena: Warrior Princess episode | |
 Behind-the-scenes picture of Renee O'Connor (Gabrielle) inside a water tank, surrounded by stunt performers dressed as ghouls. This scene was filmed without the use of any special effects.[1] | |
| Episode no. | Season 6 Episode 2 |
| Directed by | Mark Beesley |
| Written by | Edithe Swensen Joel Metzger |
| Teleplay by | Joel Metzger |
| Production code | V1401 |
| Original air date | October 9, 2000 |
| Guest appearances | |
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"The Haunting of Amphipolis" is the second episode of the sixth season of the American fantasy television series Xena: Warrior Princess, and the 114th episode overall. The episode was written by Edithe Swenson and Joel Metzger, and directed by Garth Maxwell; it first aired on October 9, 2000. The series, set in Ancient Greece, focuses on Xena (Lucy Lawless), a ruthless warrior seeking redemption for her past actions. Throughout her adventures, she is accompanied by her best friend Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), who assists her in recognizing and pursuing the greater good.
In the episode, Xena, her daughter Eve (Adrienne Wilkinson), and Gabrielle travel to visit Xena's mother Cyrene (Darien Takle) in Amphipolis, which they realize has become a ghost town. While investigating, Xena discovers Cyrene was accused of being a witch after she started to hear voices and was burned at the stake. The trio also realize Xena's childhood home is haunted and that the demon Mephistopheles (Anthony Ray Parker) is responsible for the current situation in Amphipolis.
"The Haunting of Amphipolis" was originally written by an unnamed writer who was replaced by Metzger because the dialogue he wrote was unsuitable. When Metzger was hired, the writing staff requested numerous changes to the original script, which featured a murdered man and his daughter. The changes included the addition of Mephistopheles as the main antagonist. According to Metzger, besides focusing on the haunting of Xena's childhood home, the final product bears no resemblance to the original script.
Many of the scenes in this episode required the use of special effects and CGI. A scene involving Gabrielle being dragged underwater by ghouls was filmed using only practical effects and stunt performers. Upon airing, the episode received positive reviews from critics who praised its horror elements and dark tone. Multiple scenes involving Gabrielle's demonic encounters, and Eve being confronted by illusions of her victims were also commended.