Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

After Hercules and his friend Iolaus stopped a band of hoodlums from robbing an innkeeper, Hercules went home to his family. The horror that followed was over almost before it started. A huge ball of fire burst through his bedroom window and consumed his wife, Deianeira. In the next instant the fireball took Hercules three young children. His step mother, Hera, was to blame. Consumed by hatred, Hercules set out on a path of destruction. But the beautiful slave girl Aegina helped Hercules overcome his grief and set him back on an honorable path.

A group of traveling villagers arrive in the deserted town of Parthus, the only thing living there is a lone dog. One of the men of the group tells the others this is what they have been searching for and declare it their new home. Inside a temple, somebody steals a golden chalice. This of course angers Hera and she causes a storm to rage over the town. Hercules meanwhile is walking along a road near that town & finds shelter. Inside the building where hes staying, he encounters a blind seer who tells Hercules the storm is bad news. The following day Hercules continues on his way, accompanied by the seer. They arrive in the town, and Hercules discovers from Broteas that the town suffered some heavy damage due to the storm. The seer tells them that the town is cursed. Hercules introduces himself to the people. Later, the villagers tell him how they had to leave their previous home, Hercules gives the people some food. At night the seer goes into the temple where the chalice was kept and has a vision of a beautiful woman being given the chalice by Zeus. He also sees Hera exact her revenge on the villagers by turning them all to dust. Hercules wakes the next day to find the villagers about to sacrifice the food he had given them to Hera.

Ares thrived on conflict and bloodshed. Hercules did not share Ares passion for killing, and when Ares tried to assemble an army of teenage boy-soldiers to do his bidding, Hercules knew he had to stop him. With help from the powerful blacksmith Atalanta and the young widow Janista, Hercules freed Janistas son Titus and his friend Ximenos from Ares spell. Then he confronted a representation of Ares in his cave, and after a fierce battle, Hercules beheaded his bloodthirsty foe. Titus learned that the way of the true warrior is not to kill, but to destroy forces of evil.

Pride and arrogance are ugly traits ill befitting an honorable warrior. Yet Iolaus succumbed to pride as the two men made their way to Thrace. First Iolaus fought a taunting bunch of thugs and had to be rescued by Hercules. Then he took his own path toward Thrace, determined to beat his friend to the city. On the way he met Lydia and escaped several dangers, but Hera sent Nemesis to kill Iolaus for the sin of pride. Only when Iolaus committed a selfless act of friendship toward Hercules did he earn his own reprieve.

The beautiful warrior woman Xena was intent on securing complete control of the region of Arcadia. To accomplish her goal, Xena decided that Hercules must die. She posed as a maiden in distress and effectively lured Iolaus away from his best friend. Xena then used all her beauty and charm on Iolaus, even preying on his loneliness. Hercules discovered Xenas true identity and went to rescue Iolaus. At first, Iolaus turned on Hercules rather than join him. But eventually Iolaus realized the truth. He and hercules fought Xena and her army until Iolaus was injured. Xena departed, vowing a vengeful return.

A mystery drew Hercules and Iolaus to the city of Tantalus. There, the bodies of fallen warriors were disappearing from the battlefields. Hercules learned that Ares, the god of war, was to blame. After King Memnos death, his son Daulin had assumed the throne, Daulins sister Poena, had taken up arms against him. She believed Daulin had killed their father. Ares had created the entire situation merely to satisfy the appetite of his bloodthirsty hound, Graegus. After leashing the vicious beast, Hercules explained the truth to Daulin and poena, bringing an end to the family war.

"Unchained Heart" is the 13th episode and season finale of the first season of the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. Written by John Schulian and directed by Bruce Seth Green, it first aired in the United States on May 8, 1995.

The beautiful Voluptua persuaded the legendary King Midas to create the Touch of Gold gambling palace. Hercules and Salmoneus visited the palace, where they discovered corruption and avarice. Hercules was even tricked into fighting soldiers as part of a show. When Midas had an ethical change of heart, Voluptuas henchman Segallus roughed him up and incarcerated him. To free the king and his daughter, Flaxen, Hercules beat a succession of adversaries in the boxing arena and defeated Segallus as well. Inspired, the townspeople revolted against Voluptua and destroyed the palace.

Hercules and Iolaus were on a peaceful fishing trip when trouble interrupted them. Goth and his marauding barbarians were plundering a country tavern, so Hercules and Iolaus stepped in. They captured Goth and headed for Athens, determined to make the man stand trial. But Goths brother, Bledar, pursued them, and Hercules group was forced to take cover in a fortress deserted by all except Charidon and his daughter, Elora - once Goths lover. Hercules and Iolaus valiantly fought off Bledars attacks until Elora led them all through an underground tunnel to safety. Elora renounced Goth, who was still Hercules prisoner.

When Hercules finds Salmoneus working in a pleasure palace, he meets a woman named Lucina. Hercules helps to get her away from the life she has been living and reunites her with her estranged husband.

When Persephone, the daughter of Demeter is abducted by Hades, Hercules travels to the Underworld to rescue her. While there, he briefly reunites with his family.

While Hercules befriends Typhon, a bumbling but kind hearted giant, Iolaus is captured by Maceus, brother of Demetrius (from The Mother of All Monsters), vowing revenge on Hercules.

When their friend, Amphion is framed for murder, Hercules and Iolaus set off to find the Sword of Veracity, which will make the real culprit admit the truth and set Amphion free.

Hercules, Iolaus and some other former Argonauts find out that their former leader Jason is a scared drunk since he left Medea for another and saw his new family murdered; the rule of his kingdom Argos has passed to a regent. Having witnessed an apparently demon-lead party steal the Golden Fleece, they set out once again to bring it back on the Argo. Soon they strife and casualties fall but Hercules guesses the demons identity, a rival for Jasons throne, when theyre trapped in a volcano. Hera has enlisted Marcus the regent to have skeleton warriors destroy them ...

Hercules escorted a young Spartan named Damon back to the village of Propontus, where he discovered the residents were consumed with war. With help from his old friend Atalanta, Hercules organized a series of athletic contests for the warriors so they could prove who among them was strongest and fastest. Salmoneus named the event the Olympic Games. Tarkon the Elean was not keen on the idea, however. With help from Ares, his soldiers were transformed into Mesomorphs, who attacked the competitors. But the Spartan and the Elean athletes joined together to defeat Tarkons men, allowing the Games to continue peacefully.

In the town of Zebran, King Beraeus was about to marry Ramina when the warrior Tarlus abducted her. Hercules convinced the king to let him go after Tarlus, whom Hercules knew to be a good man. He and Iolaus rescued Ramina but she slipped away in the land of the Primords and returned to Tarlus, the man she really loved. Hercules rescued her again but lost her once more. Finally Hercules realized King Beraeus was forcing Ramina to marry him, so he switched sides and assisted Tarlus. After Hercules struck down Beraeus, Ramina married Tarlus.

Thanis, a friend of Hercules and Iolaus, is framed for a crime he did not commit. Hercules and Iolaus help out to prove his innocence.

Deon discovers he has the godly power to order people to do his bidding. Hercules helps him to use his gift wisely.

No one ever came out of the Cave of Echoes. But Hercules and Iolaus were determined to rescue young Melina, who had disappeared inside the cave. Parentheses, a young writer whom they had recently befriended, joined them in the rescue effort. At first eager, Parentheses became more and more frightened by the bloodcurdling roars from deep within the cave. But he overcame his fear when Hercules sent him down into the pit to save the girl. Fortunately, there was no monster - only a tree root - but the adventure was enough to fortify Parentheses, who walked off arm-in-arm with Melina.

Daedalus the inventor was consumed with guilt over the death of his son, Icarus, who had flown too close to the sun. When Hercules found his longtime friend in Euboea, the unhappy Daedalus was inventing weapons of mass destruction for the cruel King Nikolos. Hercules knew the king was taking advantage of his friends grief. Nikolos tried to kill Hercules with Daedalus latest creation, the Megalith, but Hercules outsmarted the king, destroying the machine and Nikolos with it. Daedalus burned his blueprints for weapons and vowed to create only things that would help mankind.

Hercules must retrieve a lost mummy before it can consume human life force and become an evil monster.

Typhon, the gentle giant, and Echnida, the mother of all monsters, sent word of their newborn to Hercules. But the thief Klepto abducted the child, a squid-like creature named Obie. Klepto brought the little monster to the warlord Bluth, who had been promised power and riches if he could deliver Obie to Hera. Bluth tried to turn Obie into a killing machine, but Hercules handily defeated Bluth, who found himself impaled on his own sword. When they returned the child to Echnida, she saw Kleptos growing affection for Obie and forgave the remorseful thief.

The ruthless Queen Parnassa of Kastus lost her son, Millius, in battle years ago. Working with Hera, who caused Hercules to suffer amnesia, the Queen formed a plan to make the son of Zeus think he was really Millius, the leader of her bloodthirsty army. But Kirin, Hercules ""wife"", fell completely in love with him and helped Iolaus to convince Hercules of his true identity. The mention of Deianeira, Hercules late wife, snapped him out of it before he could pledge his loyalty to Hera. But the victory was a bittersweet one, as Hercules bid farewell to the lovely Kirin.

Hercules must fight a dragon, when he hears news of it terrorizing several villages in Laurentia and killing some of his old friends.

Hercules has a nasty surprise for his birthday when Xenas mortal foe Callisto makes a deal with Hera to escape the afterlife and drug Hercs family, in a plot to kill the half-god in return for her freedom.

Hercules asks Serena to marry him. But Ares is still manipulating the situation and, determined to destroy the pairs relationship, makes Hercules a deal - Serenas hand in return for Hercules giving up his godly powers.

Iolaus and his companion Moria discover an underground cult that has brainwashed Salmoneus and Iolaus missing cousin Regina, part of a group duped into mining for gold for crooked cult leader Kamaros.

King Augeus has gone mad and believes himself to be Zeus. Naturally, Hera uses the situation to her own means – he can have real godly powers if he can kill Hercules.

Hercules and Iolaus rescue a spoilt princess from kidnappers, and as they try to return her home, it emerges that her own sister is behind the kidnapping as she plots to become Queen herself…

Hercules is washed up on the strange island of Atlantis, a technologically advanced place where an outcast psychic is predicting the islands impending doom, but no-one will listen to her.

Iolaus was depressed by his failure to save a woman from falling to her death, and he told Hercules to find another partner. Fortune, the goddess of luck, was behind it all. Feeling bad for Iolaus, she tried to make amends by wiping his memory of the tradegy. Unfortunately, the meddlesome Fortune accidentally erased his entire memory, including Hercules. Iolaus went to work for the troublemaker Zeno and wound up fighting Hercules until the son of Zeus convinced his friend he had the heart of a hero -- not a killer. Then Hercules summoned Fortune, who restored Iolaus memory.

The pirate captain Nebula tried to bury her stolen trunk of jewels in a seaside cave. But the horrifying Arachne, half spider and half woman attacked her. When Hercules and Iolaus showed up, they joined forces with Nebula to try and destroy Arachne before she could destroy them. Arachne swooped down from the ceiling of the cave and snatched Iolaus. Finding his friend wrapped in a cocoon, Hercules took on the spider-woman. During the fight he held up a reflective shield, and when Arachne saw her own image, she backed away in horror, right into a flaming cocoon.

Fleeing from Ares soldiers, Nemesis burst into Hercules campsite and proclaimed him the father of her sixpmonth-old son, Evander. Then she slipped away, leaving Hercules and Iolaus with the child, who soon demonstrated god-like powers. When they found her again, Nemesis revealed that the child was the son of Ares. The goddess Discord was consumed by jealousy and tried to make off with the baby, but Evander dispatched her over a tower wall. The powerful infant returned himself to the arms of his mother, and after a vicious battle with Hercules, Ares gave up his struggle for the baby.

Hercules must help a young girls dream come true by becoming her dance partner to help her win the competition. Problem is Hercules cannot dance. Enter Widow Twanky, to teach Hercules some moves.

Hercules good deeds landed him on trial when Kazankis, a Hercules impersonator, was killed. Charged with manslaughter, sedition and undermining the authority of the gods, Hercules pleaded innocent on all counts. But Spencius, the government prosecutor, showed how Hercules acts of heroism caused Kazankis and others to emulate his actions, putting themselves and their families at risk. Although Hercules began to doubt himself, he told the court that society needs heroes who are not afraid to risk their lives for others. The case was ultimately dismissed, and Hercules was freed.

When Salmoneus and Autolycus were mistaken for the murderers of King Pholus, they disguised themselves as performers in the widow Twankys all girl dance troupe. Autolycus promptly fell for the voluptuous Cupcake, while Salmoneus earned the unwanted affections of their pursuer, the late kings greedy brother Gekkus. Things got worse when the two men were forced to perform the Hootchi-Coochie-Jiggle-Wiggle in the buff, although Twanky was thrilled. The final showdown with Gekkus on stage was perceived by the audience as part of the show, Cupcake helped Autolycus and Salmoneus overcome Gekkus, who was hauled away as the kings killer.

While Hercules and his double, the Sovereign, were stuck in the Netherworld, Iolaus traveled back in time to protect young Alcmene. But he couldnt prevent Callisto from killing Hercules mother. Callisto then found her own family and, through a series of instinctive actions, she killed her mother and father. As more events began to go wrong, Hercules sent Iolaus a telepathic message: Get the Chronus Stone from Xenas scepter to travel back in time without Ares help. Using a makeshift lightning rod, Hercules joined Iolaus in the past and sent Callisto back into the vortex, setting the timeline right.

Discord shot Hercules with Artemis bow, turning him into a pig. Then she sent the hunter Colchis after Hercules, but the pig jumped from Iolaus arms and ran off. After a butcher caught him and threw him into a meat wagon, hercules was befriended by a female pig, Katherine. Autolycus and Iolaus rescued the two pigs from a slaughterhouse, where hercules communicated with his friends through Fleevio the parrot. Retreating to Alcmenes home, they eventually got the drop on Discord. Iolaus shot the mischievous goddess with Artemis bow, turning her into a chicken, and Hercules returned to normal.

Autolycus convinced his former girlfriend, Cupcake, that he wanted to fix her up with Prince Alexandros at a royal ball. In truth, Autolycus wanted to steal the sapphire of Antioch from the prince. Introduced to Alexandros as Hermia, princess of Carpathia, Cupcake inadvertently delayed a war from breaking out between Carpathia and Antioch. But the traitor, prime minister of Antioch, stabbed Prince Alexandros. Finally King Georgas of Carpathia arrived and established peace, while the wounded Prince proposed marriage to Cupcake -- even though he knew her true identity. Too late Autolycus realized he was still in love with her.

As Alcmenes health failed, Hercules recalled the time years ago when the Parthans invaded Caylan territory. Young Hercules, Jason and Iolaus joined King Eteocles and fought bravely to repel the invaders, but the King was killed. Many more died before Hercules and Jason were able to make an offer of peace, asking King Stavros to share the disputed land with the Caylans. Stavros was impressed by their bravery and agreed ending the conflict. Back in the present , Alcmene passed away and was buried by hercules and his friends. Suddenly his father, Zeus, confronted an angry Hercules.

While Iolaus paid a visit to his mother, Hercules explored Olympus. He was hurt to learn the real reason his father had brought him there: Zeus needed protection from Hera and the other gods, who were conspiring against him. But Hercules couldnt turn his back on his father. Then Zeus allowed Hera to rip away his godhood in order to save Alcmenes spirit from eternal hell. Hercules went to the dark side of Olympus, where he overcame Apollo and Hera in battle. Zeus godhood was restored, Alcmene returned to the Elysian Fields, and Hercules became a half-mortal again.

Stricken with grief over the loss of Iolaus, Hercules vowed to bring him back from the Sumerian version of the Underworld. Nebula, who confessed her love for Iolaus in his final moments, accompanied Hercules on his journey. The son of Zeus rappelled down into a cave to confront Dumuzi, the Sumerian god of the Underworld. Dumzumi had been collecting human souls in order to survive, ever since King Gilgamesh had destroyed the sacred chalice. But Iolaus had already crossed over to the Underworld and was lost forever. Hercules cry of rage shattered the mirrors surrounding Dumuzis lair, destroying the god.

Salmoneus and Autolycus obtained a Sultans lamp and released Jinni the genie, who gave them three wishes to share. Autolycus asked to be invisible. Instead Jinni made him intangible, so he couldnt grab anything. Salmoneus, meanwhile couldnt decide whether to ask for more sensitivity or more ruthless energy, so Jinni gave him both in the form of two clones -- Cry Baby Sal and Hyper Sal. Forfeiting their third wish, they were returned to normal and imprisoned inside Jinnis lamp. But they escaped, and Autolycus used the third wish to give the lonely genie a roomful of clones.

Hercules wanted to save the Norse god Balder, but Balder explained that his death was foretold in the Book of Fates and could not be changed. Sure enough, Hercules was tricked by Loki, the god of mischief, into accidently killing Balder. An enraged Thor tried to kill Hercules with his huge stone hammer, but Hercules beat Thor and took him to Valhalla. There, Odin -- the king of the Norse gods -- explained that two parts of an ancient prophesy had been fulfilled. If the third part took place, the final nightfall and end of all things would occur.

Hercules and Morrigan were enjoying life on the island of Eire until they found the Druids slaughtered. Recognizing the work of the demon Dahak, Hercules and Morrigan returned to Sumeria. There, they found Nebula had been bothered by waking dreams of her dead love, Iolaus. When Hercules visited Iolaus tomb, he found it empty -- and turned to find Dahak behind him, in the body of Ioalus. As they fought, hercules could not bring himself to slay his friend, even though he knew it was no longer Iolaus. Dahak escaped, with Hercules, Morrigan and Nebula in hot pursuit.

Hercules and his friends followed the demon Dahak to Corinth, where Dahak -- in Iolaus body -- had set himself up as the peoples savior. He wanted to return the world to a time when the Titans ruled. Hercules and Zarathustra, a man who resisted Dahaks teachings, found the Stone of Creation and joined Nebula, Morrigan and Jason at the Dark Ones fortress. Hercules used the stone to harness the light of dawn. The light became metallic and bound Dahak to his own altar. Hercules then prepared to perform an exorcism that would allow Iolaus to rest in peace.

When a volcano threatened to destroy the people of Mount Pelion, Hercules decided to blow a hole in the far side of the volcano, allowing the lava to flow into the sea. The Amazon Ephiny joined him, and for a third, Hercules enlisted Kurth, a young man condemned to die for murdering the Centaur Nagus son. Hercules convinced Nagus to help pull the wagon of explosive crystals. Most of the crystals were lost in a mishap, so the remainder had to be deposited directly in the crater mouth. Kurth took care of this suicide mission, redeeming himself in the process.

Hercules missed the original Iolaus. He remembered when a sacred ruby had been stolen from the head of the stone panther, and he and Iolaus went to retrieve it. Autolycus committed the crime, and he swallowed the ruby. At dusk the stone panther sprang to life, and a fierce battle ensued. When Iolaus grabbed Autolycus around the rib cage to pull him out of harms way, the ruby srrang free. Hearing this story, Iolaus 2 hoped Hercules didnt expect him to be as brave as the other Iolaus. Hercules responded that no one could be.

Havisha, a former priestess of the oracle of Cyprus, and her boyfriend Drayus were killed by thugs on the night he proposed to her. Havisha rose from the dead on a mission of vengeance. After killing the men who murdered her, she attacked the Oracle. Hercules arrived just in time convince Havisha to stop the killing. She departed with Drayus spirit. The Oracle, meanwhile, gave up her job because in saving her, Hercules had defied the fate she foresaw. Morrigan, who had accompanied Hercules, departed for her own people, but the couple knew they would always have Cyprus.

Nautica, a mermaid, wanted to see the world. But her father, Triton, had arranged a marriage for her. Nautica found a way out when Discord gave her legs. When she met Iolaus 2, they both fell immediately in love. Unfortunately, if Nautica did not return to the sea by sunset, the waters of Greece would turn to ice. When Brutus took her hostage, Iolaus found the strength in his love and handily defeated Nauticas captor. The lovers returned to the beach and after one last kiss, the mermaid swam out to sea.

The Rock of Arges was cursed by Zeus. Villagers who handled it began to fade out of existance, so Hercules saved them by crushing it. Unfortunately, this caused the curse to transfer to Hercules -- which was exactly what Ares, Deimos and Discord had planned. But Hercules slowed his disappearance through sheer force of will, so Ares sent Deimos to finish the job. Feeling jealous, Discord decided to help Iolaus 2 and Hercules find the remaining two stones. When Deimos and Ares inadvertenly broke the stones, the spell was broken. Hercules returned to normal while Ares was sucked into oblivion.

The Archangel Michael was the harbinger of the apocalypse. He released the horsemen War, Famine and Pestilence upon the land. Meanwhile, the late Iolaus, who defied The Light on the other side to warn his friend of the approaching Armageddon, joined Hercules. Despite Ares help, Hercules and Iolaus could not stop the release of the final horseman, Death, whose first target was Iolaus. Determined to save his friend this time, Hercules fell with Death into a volcano. Hercules sacrifice earned the world a reprieve, and Iolaus was sent back to Earth to continue his life at Hercules side.

When Hercules saw the Amazons waiting tables and dancing in a chorus line, he knew they had to be under a spell cast by Aphrodite. Sure enough, the goddess of love was responsible. She had broken up with Hephaestus, which threw her powers out of whack. Meanwhile, Deimos put the Amazons to work in a mine, digging for the Chronus Stone. Finding it, he turned the Amazons against Hercules and Iolaus. But Aphrodite finally confessed her love for Hephaestus, breaking the spell. Deimos vanished, and the Amazons returned to normal.

Hercules and Iolaus answered Vlads call for help to defend his kingdom against vampires. Arriving in Dacia, they were joined by Galen, whose sister Nadia had gone to Vlads castle and never returned. Soon they discovered the horrifying truth: Vlad was a vampire, and Nadia had long since joined the undead. Nadia managed to turn both Galen and Iolaus into vampires. In a clever move to save his friends, Hercules ate hemlock and gave his tainted blood to the vampires. Thus weakened, Vlad was no match for Hercules. Upon Vlads death, the others returned to normal.

Hercules and Iolaus arrive in Egypt just in time to save Queen Nefertiti from assasins. Iolaus suspected Princess Amensu of perpetrating the crime, because Amensu wanted Egypt to attack Greece while her mother did not. But the real traitor turned out to be Prince Ramses, who had appeared to support the Queen. He found the Necronomicon -- the Book of the Dead -- and used his new powers to send stone statues after Hercules and Iolaus. But they evaded the statues and retrieved the book. Ramses was destroyed upon reciting the books incantation, while Nefertiti and Amensu were reconciled.

Evander, son of Ares, had the power to create anything he could imagine. Zeus, wishing to make amends with Hera, used the boy to free his former love from the Abyss of Tartarus. Unfortunately, the Titans were released, too. Helios and Oceanus tried to destroy Hercules and Iolaus but succeeded only in destroying each other. Meanwhile, the third Titan, Atlas, attacked Olympus. But Hera turned him into stone, condemning Atlas to hold the weight of the world on his shoulders forever. Hercules and Iolaus took Evander home to Nemesis, while Zeus and Hera began their reconciliation.