SYNOPSIS:
This synopsis is by Liz Sheppard.
I feel sorry for all the Herc only fans. If they don't watch
Xena, they'd
be sooooo confused. This episode starts where Maternal Instints stopped.
Xena and Gabby are at Solan and Hope's funerals. But what they don't see
is Hope's ashes floating away. They land in some weird town and collect to
form a very dry I'd say 15 or so year old Hope. She fries some old guy's
head and steals his cloak. This chick needs some moisturizer, bad.
Hercules and Iolaus are doing good deeds for Alcmene;
can't she ever build
her own walls? Alcmene comes by to give the duo the news that some king has
gone beserk with Ares because his daughter has got married.
Hope releases Callisto from her cave. Callisto wants the
brat to leave her
alone and get some moisturizer, but Hope convinces her to destroy the
Hercmeister and heal Cally's inner child or something like that.
Ares and Strife give the weirdo kingy Tyndareus a powerful
bow and arrow so
he can have a big bloody war and make Ares a happy guy. Kingy just wants
his daughter back but Ares convinces him to do evil. Herc and Iolaus spoil
the party, party poopers. Herc collapses the ceiling over all the arrows
leaving the black leather duo very angry and upset. Oh yeah, Strife tries
some really...weird...moves on Herc, but Herc sends him flying. The heroes
solve kingy's problems by talking sense into him. Iolaus had a strange line
here, I gotta say it: "Hey, is the world supported on the backs of four
giant elephants?"
Ares is still moaning about there being no war, the sore
loser. Strife does
something stupid and the angry god of war sends him flying. Callisto graces
the duo with her godly presence. Ares and Cally flirt and play with
fire (setting Strife on fire). They start talking about pounding Herc, but
Strife tries to talk sense into Ares, but he doesn't listen. They go
outside and open the space portal, releaseing Herc's bearded spawn of a
twin brother, the Sovereign. He calls Cally a priestess...makes me wonder.
Ares takes the pendent of Hind blood and the gods disappear. Maybe I'm
wrong, but did the pendent somehow...shrink? I remember it being
bigger...oh well. Ares and Cally flirt some more (with Strife getting more
stuffing beaten out of him. This is _not_ his day).
Herc and Iolaus run into a villager, who gets scared of a
shaven Herc
wearing new clothes. He says a bearded black leather wearing Herc was
tearing up a defenseless town. The Soverign starts beating up villagers and
destroying buildings because of all the happy faces. Dude, take a pill.
Herc and Iolaus put Sov to sleep and take him to where the portal opens.
Cally and Ares open the portal and the Herc's get sucked in. The evil gods
go bye bye, leaving one very confused Iolaus.
The Herc's end up in Sov's old playpen. Sov complains
about his luck and
decides to kill Herc to they can both die.
Ares, Cally, and Strife are toasting to the fact that Herc's
gone. Cally
tries to get the pendent and Ares beats her up. Iolaus hears them and
sneaks into the room. When Cally has lost all her strength, Hope shows up
and revives the psycho goddess. It's Ares turn to be beaten, and he gets a
good one. She takes the pendent and backs away. Strife tries to talk to
her, but she covers a knife with the blood and stabs him. While the Herc's
are fighting, Herc feels a shaking and realizes something terrible has
happened. Iolaus runs into the room and finds out that Strife is dead (I
told you it wasn't his day). Cally and Hope leave. Ares says good stuff
about the dead little freak and about the force of evil in Cally's friend.
Iolaus and Ares go to get Miss Psycho Blonde.
Hope sends Cally back in time so she can kill Alcmene
before Herc is born.
Ares sends Iolaus back in time to stop Cally because Ares has to fix things
there with Strife being gone. We see a quick view of Iolaus' life, then he
ends up in Corinth where the "harlot" Alcmene is pregnant.
Herc and Sov beat each other up some more, then they
have a meanful chat.
Herc finds out that the Sov could watch the present via a window in a pool.
Herc sees Iolaus running through the window, but Herc can't reach him.
Iolaus runs to young Alcmene's place, where she's talking to
her dead
husband's grave. Iolaus tells her that a crazy woman is coming and they
have to go. Callisto shows up and throws a fireball at Alcmene's direction.
To be continued. I hate to be continues; kill 'em all. While
I'm at it,
kill all commercials too! Let 'em rot in tartarus for all eternity!
COMMENTARY:
This synopsis is by KSZone .
Once again I must just say that the producers and writers
have done a excellent job on HTLJ, which many thought was dead. No way folks!
Armageddon stated attitude and a new era for Hercules. The idea of having the Dahak
story line continue on HTLJ was one of the best ideas and leaves so many options open
for next season and after. The acting was wonderful and the fights and scenes where
very well done and looked at.
Strife and Ares work perfect together. I feel bad that Strife
died in this episode. Joel Tobeck did such a wonderful job as Strife. Killing Strife, for
Dahak, was wonderfully done by Callisto, who showed some vile anger when stabbing
Strife with a dagger dipped in hind blood. It seems that Dahak's starting his conquest of
the known world by killing its gods. He has started by having his protege Callisto kill
Strife and who's next? Perhaps no one or perhaps someone else? Ares? Hera?
Poseidon? Proteas? Bacchus? Maybe even Callisto!? One of the best Ares/Strife scenes
was where they where trying to con Tyndareus into taking the weapons to kill the man
who stole his daughters heart. Those jerks! Those cool and funny jerks! [Strife and Ares
have some kind of role in "Yes Virginia There is a Hercules"]
Callisto seems to have lost all her enjoyment for life, now
that she's a goddess. It seems that she wants to change history and become someone
else. However we also witness how Callisto has that vile edge. Callisto is sexy and evil
which is cool. Hudson does the job so well that I would bow down and worship her as a
real goddess. She's perfect as Callisto and perfect in all. Callisto seems to be doing the
"Using" thing more than ever. She used Ares and will probably not use Hope, which
could be an idea down the line, if not written in the story line already. Callisto is the
perfect villain and her little line about Cirra builds up next week. Hope is also a good
villain and I'm sure Gabrielle would have begged Xena to have killed Hope in Britannia, if
she saw what Hope has turned into. Killing Hercules is probably a good idea for Dahak
to do if he wants to control the world. During this show, Xena and Gabrielle where
enemies and in Illusia. That gave Hope and Dahak the perfect chance to free Callisto,
kill a god, and go after Hercules. Herc and Iolaus did not seem to know much about
Dahak and Hope, although a line in the second part of this episode hints Iolaus knows,
of course Hope never told Ares and Iolaus who she was. That means they probably know
the story but not the face. The idea of Dahak wanting to wipe out heroes and gods is
obvious and I'm glad there doing more with the Dahak story line and doing more
crossover type episodes and story lines. They really make the show more enjoyable and
unmissable. That goes for both shows as of late. What better than now to be a fan of
Hercules AND Xena!
The Sovereigns return was good and gives Hercules a
place to be, where he can reappear. The fight between Herc and his evil double was
very well done and it seems as if Hercules might try to change the Sovereign. Sorbo
does the bad guy role very good and I hope we see more Sovereign after next week.
Maybe a Sovereign episode. The Limbo Land reminds me of Illusia. Perhaps there part
of the same element or Netherworld. We may see soon. Based on what happened in part
2 of Armageddon, we may even see some Netherworld on Xena in the future. Priestess
Callisto? Wonder how Callisto looks in the other world. Perhaps she looks like "Illusia
Callisto". That would be interesting.
The whole time travel thing looks to be good and will
continue next week. We saw some clips from "Young Hercules" as Iolaus went back in
time, and some footage from "HTLJ Amazon Women" as well. It seems as if Callisto will
do more when she goes back. Iolaus was told to just save Hercules and stop Callisto but
its true he will go through a heck of a lot more. The time travel portal was cool and much
cooler than the Netherworld portal. Those are some cool effects that I've gotta
compliment "Flat Earth" on. Keep up the good work! The scene where Young Alcmene is
at the grave of her dead husband. She claims that her baby [Hercules] = is born of her
and him regardless of what others say. It looks as if Zeus either appeared to Alcmene as
her late husband, while he was at war [Like Atrius/Cyrene/Ares in "The Furies"] or she
somehow does not know the truth. Perhaps the "Young Hercules" series will cover that
stuff. The thing with Young Alcmene is something to discuss on the forums and message
boards. Perhaps Ill discuss more next review. When Iolaus arrived it was very puzzling
to Hercules, who was watching the whole thing through the pool in Netherworld. It seems
that the pool is the key out of the Netherworld. I thought the writers did a great job. Good
writing means taking everything to a conclusion and not leaving loose ends. They
showed Hercules and Alcmene talking in the beginning and Herc said his next visit
would be longer, however there may not even be another meeting now. Its gotta be very
painful for Hercules.
One theory for the Dahak incident was as follows: Perhaps
this whole story line started after the Hind episodes last year. In HTLJ "End of the
Beginning" Hercules traveled in time to save Serena from joining Ares, which would later
cause her death. Hercules and Ares w= here always foes and Ares always wanted to
take over the world. When Ares had a knife dipped in hind blood at his throat, he allowed
Serena's human half to live AS LONG AS HE TOOK THE HIND AWAY.
Now its interesting that there was hind blood left since when
Serena's hind half died in one world, the others world Hind Serena died too. Is it possible
that Ares took the blood for himself and somehow got it too the other universe and
Sovereign got it, or Ares gave it to naughty Xena, who got involved with Sovereign, who
took the hinds blood. In XWP's "Deliverer" Ares is worried that Dahak will destroy the
Greek immortals and gods, but he does nothing to stop Khrafstar and Meridian from
starting their little cult with Gabrielle. Could Ares really be Dahak???!!! Perhaps Ares,
who wants the world, has come out with a plan to rule the world and it is Dahak, his other
identity. Than we don't see Ares until Bitter Suite, where he cons Xena into hurting
Gabrielle, thus bringing both to there deaths and Illusia. He had the perfect chance to
get Xena and her friend down, thus allowing himself to work for Hercules. Why didn't
Ares go back in time to stop Callisto if he was so worried? Why send Iolaus? Iolaus is a
hero and someone who can stop Dahak! Getting him out of the way could be a way for
him to possibly catch Callisto and be trapped with her in the past, allowing him to
become Dahak and destroy Zeus and control the world. Perfect plan ? Perhaps yes.
Than with both Hercs in Netherworld, there's none there to stop him from doing what he
wants, and Zeus is always with some girl. Hera hates Hercules so why would she help
her stepson. Perhaps she has something to do with this as well. "Xena Scrolls" took
place in Macedonia, which is near Dahak territory, according to some sources. Ares was
trapped in a tomb there for many years. Could that mean something? Very possible. As
time goes on, or back, we shall learn much more.
This episode is going to be continued. It combined some
humor with a dark plot. Everyone was good. I thought Hopes new look is way better. It
proves her as more demonic and sick, which she is. She has a more evil and demonic
voice, and looks like a little devil in the cloak. Strife is very cool and everyone else was
perfect. This episode is for anyone and gives us a lot to talk about. I love the crossover
episodes and story lines! This episode gets 5 out of 5 stars. Its was worth waiting and
was GREAT. I won't brag anymore, either watch it for yourselves or rewatch it.
BATTLE ON HERCULES AND XENA FANS! Feel free to
email your comments and or opinions on my review and commentary.
TALES OF THE HERCAVERSE
02-01-98. At Burbank II Con (01-18-98), Liz Friedman
(HTLJ, producer) and
R.J. Stewart mentioned that Paul Robert Coyle wrote part one and was joined by
someone named Tobin for
the second part. Tobin also did the teleplayfor part 2. The director was Mark Beesley,
who directed
Necessary Evil.
02-01-98. At Burbank II Con (01-17-98), Robert Tapert
(XWP/HTLJ, Executive
Producer) mentioned that there was a Hercules episode coming up with Hudson Leick
and that it would
feature Callisto and offer her a chance at redemption. This episode is none other than
ARMAGEDDON, Part
1 and 2.
02-01-98. At Burbank II Con (01-17-98), Gary Gerani
(Topps) talked about the
TOPPS Xena magazine. The Xena magazine was meant to be a one-shot, but with the
demand, it's going
to be a quarterly magazine. Issue #2 should be out mid-January. Callisto is the featured
character and it
includes an interview with Hudson Leick. It also includes an interview with Paul Robert
Coyle about the
making of Armageddon I and II.
.
02-01-98. At Burbank II Con (01-17-98), Brad Carpenter
(out-going Director of
Merchandizing at Reniassance Pictures) showed a few slides from Armageddon I and II.
Callisto was
wearing a necklace of Hind's Blood and Xena is in Queenly regalia. Gabrielle, as usual,
looked kind of out of
it (the woman NEEDS prozac, I tell you!). On Sunday (01-18-98), Brad mentioned that
Kevin Smith will be in
Armageddon I and II and that it is a cross-over episode between Hercules and Xena.
01-08-98. Callisto visits the Herkmeister for not one, but
TWO shows. A two
parter called, Armageddon. Apparently Armageddon is Callisto's DESTINY/DEBT, for it
goes back to the
time Xena raided Cirra and visits Her Evilness in the making.
HIGHLIGHTS:
From KSZone.
The little love thing between Callisto and Ares.
Strife and Ares acting like salesmen when trying to persuade the king to take
the weapons.
Hercules taking Sovereign down with a headscissors move. Incredible Action!
Kevin Sorbos work as Hercules and Sovereign.
Callistos lines in the episode where very good.
Callisto looking as sexy as ever.
Hopes demonic look and her new demonic tone of voice.
Callisto talking about her life being messed up now.
Strife just interrupting in the wine party between Ares and Callisto.
Ares kicking Strife around.
Strife showing Hercules some karate moves and Hercules just pushing Strife
back into the wall.
Callistos little talk about her love for fire. Her little "Killed Them" lines where
amusing in some way. Hudson knows how to act psycho and beautiful at the same time
and she knows how to do it very well.
Ares doing some complaining when Callisto vanishes.
The little argument/agreement between Ares and Iolaus.
The whole scene where Callisto killed Strife was interesting. Callisto went mad
when she slayed Strife with a knife dripped in Hind Blood. It was a good scene. Very vile
and brutal but good.
Iolaus passing out from the sleeping gas used on Sovereign. The way Iolaus
walked after and started snoozing in his awakeness was funny.
Hercules being "Doctor" when prescribing some gas for Sovereign.
The fight between Hercules and Sovereign in Netherworld. The moment was
when Kevin Sorbo leaped in mid-air and took himself down with a headscissors move.
Incredible Stuff!!!
Iphicles must be older than Hercules since he was hanging out with friends in
this episode. Perhaps friends in a toddler center or something.
We learn the name of Alcmene's husband. It is "Amphitrion".
