Xena originally appears as a villain in Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. After ten years of pillaging and marauding, Xena's path crosses Hercules's, and she decides to kill him. She battles with him, and he defeats her but spares her life, saying, "Killing isn't the only way of proving you're a warrior." His kindness inspires her to join forces with him to defeat her former army and discovers the goodness in her heart. The two have a brief romantic relationship before Xena decides to leave and start making amends for her past.
She reappears in her own series, Xena: Warrior Princess, where she is determined to redeem herself. She starts by giving up the life of a warrior, but seeing a group of young women being attacked, she takes up her weapons to save them. One of the women is Gabrielle, who becomes her companion throughout the series. They become best friends and soulmates. Although their relationship was never openly romantic in the series, it is impossible to miss the subtext.
Eventually, Xena finds redemption by sacrificing herself in a battle with a demon, thus freeing the souls of 40,000. The series ends with Gabrielle on a ship, holding Xena's ashes, and speaking with Xena's spirit.