Plot summary
Xena meets Goliath, an old friend who saved her life years earlier. He now fights for the Philistines in the hope of finding the person responsible for his family's deaths. His allegiance places him on the opposite side of the Israelites whom Xena and Gabrielle try to protect.
The Philistines capture a group that includes the young musician David. As the conflict grows, Xena challenges Goliath directly, hoping to stop the wider battle. She plans to strike the vulnerable point between his eyes, but he arrives wearing a helmet that protects it.
While they fight, the Philistines launch a surprise attack and kill the Israelite leader. After the retreat, David recognizes that he must face Goliath himself if he is to lead his people. Xena helps prepare a way to expose the giant's weak point.
During the final confrontation, sunlight appears as David prays for it. The Israelites reflect it from their shields into Goliath's eyes. He removes his helmet, allowing David to hit the unprotected spot with a stone from his sling.
The blow brings Goliath down. Before dying, he reconciles with Xena and expresses hope that he will see his family again. The Israelites survive and gain a new leader, but Xena's victory comes with the loss of someone who once protected her.
Credits
Adapted from Legendary Journeys Wiki contributors, The Giant Killer. Complete episode narrative, rewritten and condensed for clarity; causal developments and the episode's ending retained. Illustrations, dialogue quotations and non-story metadata omitted.