SYNOPSIS:
Synopsis by Kent Simmons.
A man named Zaranthrusta enters Iolaus' tomb in Sumeria. He touches
the tomb and realizes that Dahak is alive and well and in Iolaus' body. The
man exits.
Hercules guides Nebulas ship back to Greece. Morrigan is fishing, but
she has bad luck, because she cannot fish. Morrigan is taught to fish
by Hercules. Herc and Morrigan flirt a little and than kiss. Nebula comes
aboard the deck and speaks her mind. Morrigan is worried Nebula is
still hurt by Dahaks taunting during her dreams and visions. The three
arrive in Corinth. The city is joyful and at peace. One woman welcomes
the strangers and says the Greek Gods have deserted the land. A savior,
the native son and god of the light, has returned home to guide the people
of Greece to a new era. A old friend of Alcmene, Olivia, notices Hercules.
The people fear him. They think he has come to destroy them and the gods, due
to Dahaks preachings. Iolaus, under Dahaks control, enters carrying a young
child. He claims he will save the people from Hercules.
Herc and Dahak argue back and forth. Herc leaves with the gals. Dahak
is mad because Hercules hasn't joined him. In the woods, a place that Herc
describes as one were he and Iolaus played as kids, the trio discusses
matters at hand. Nebula and Morrigan argue. Morrigan thinks they will have
to kill Iolaus and Nebula tells Morrigan that it's not Iolaus. Herc is ready to
kill Iolaus, since it would mean Dahaks end and Iolaus would die in peace.
Hercules goes to an old friend for help while the gals get some news on
this shocking turn of events in Greece. Herc goes to his mothers house to
find Jason mad at him. Jason agrees that Hercules deserted. Hercules
uses his loyatly and friendliness to convince Jason that he is the same friend
he was before. Jason is shocked that Iolaus isn't himself and agrees to help
his old buddy and friend Hercules. Herc is impressed with how Jason has
kept Alcmene's garden nice. Jason says Iphicles is at sea and doesn't know
of the problems in his Kingdom. Jason tells Hercules he will find Iolaus at
Dahak's Temple. Hercules heads off.
Morrigan and Nebula battle two Warriors of the Light, to save a teacher
and his scrolls from burning. Dahak is burning the works of Ovian, Homer,
and Socrates. He wants his own word to be the only word people know.
The teacher explains that he escaped Dahaks grasp and returned home to
rescue his belongings and scrolls. As he tells the gals were they can find
Dahaks stronghold, Dahak uses his powers to choke the man to death and
have spiders crawl from his mouth.
Hercules encounters Dahak Iolaus at the temple. They battle, for a momment
it seems Iolaus has fought threw Dahak, but it's Dahaks clever mind that nearly
gets Herc to kill him with a long sword. Dahak uses fire to plant Hercules against
the wall at one point, but it fails. Dahak vanishes after telling Hercules that he
wants to return the world to the way before the gods. The three meet up in the
woods. Morrigan and Nebula head to Jasons while Hercules goes to a nearby
lavapit, were the titan Mnemosyene lives. Titans lived before the gods. The
fire titan isn't happy to meet the son of the god who trapped her there. She agrees
to help since Dahak battled the titans at the beginning and the Titans were so
weak from fighting Dahak that they lost easily to Zeus. The fire titan tells Herc
to the Stone of Creation is the key to defeating Dahak.
Herc meets Zarathrustra in the woods. The older man and Hercules discuss the
plans to battle Dahak. Zar has been around 1000 years, cursed to be immortal
by Dahak for not joining Dahak. Zar shows Hercules that Dahak has gotten power
by the deaths of the Sumeria Gods and the Celtic Druids. By killing Iolaus, his
soul will be damned aling with Dahak. Hercules learns by killing Dahak he will
loose the worlds balance of light and darkness and all would be good. Herc
cannot kill an innocent soul, which Dahak holds in Iolaus, because Herc is
part of that balance that keeps the world safe. Hercules must trap Dahak in
his private realm. Hercules decides an exorcism will be performed. This event
will seperate Dahak from Iolaus for ever, trapping Dahak in his world and allowing
Iolaus' soul to rest in peace forever.
Meanwhile at the temple- Dahak gets to Nebula and gets her to join his
cult. Nebula and a few warriors capture Morrigan and Jason, Morrigan getting
knocked out badly by Nebula. Jason and Morrigan arrive in the jail area of the
stronghold. Dahak comes to them and isn't impressed with Jasons spunky
attitude. Nebula and the guards take Morrigan away somewhere.
Hercules and Zar find the cavern in which the stone is kept. The stone of
creation will light up when sun comes up and will chain Dahak so Iolaus
and him can be seperated via exorcism. Zar isn't sure this ia good idea since
he saw one performed long ago and it was a horrific terrorfying event.
Hercules leaps across a abyss, with long wooden posts as steps, and
grabs the stone. He must pole vault back as the cavern colapses, while
saving Zar from falling to his immortal nondeath. The two succeed and
head to the temple. Jason fakes his hanging in the stornghold jail and
breaks free from the guards. Herc, Jason, and Zar meet up at Jasons
house.
A the strongholds temple. a chorus is singing Dahaks word while Dahak
preaches his messages. Nebula is schedule to execute Morrigan for not
joining, but cuts her free and proves she just acted so everyone could find
there way into Dahaks stronghold. Herc and the guys arrive, forming a
huge battle. As the heros clear out the zombiefied people, Herc and Dahak
struggle in battle to posses the stone of creation.
Light comes and Herc grips the stone tightly, than places it in a large
cane. The light ties Dahak to the altar. As he trys to break free, Morrigan
and Jason and Zar and Nebula and Hercules sit and wait to perform a miracle.
"Let the exorcism begin," spoke Hercules in a determined and sincere
voice.
It shall begin next time...To Be Continued Next Episode.
COMMENTARY 1:
This commentary is by Xorys.
I'm so turned off by all this Dahak drivel, that there's probably not much point in my even commenting much on this ep... I'm just totally out of sympathy with whole thing. I'm only glad that they're keeping the darned
nonsense on HTLJ, which at least preserves XWP from it.
To recap one more time, why do I hate Dahak so much? Because it turns the
whole thing into some hokey, pseudo-religious struggle against absolute
evil, accompanied by bad horror-movie trappings - which is the absolute
antithesis of why I started watching the show in the first place... i.e.
humour and sensible humanism!
I suppose Michael Hurst was ok as "the possessed", though frankly, I think
he should have left it to Linda Blair!
A couple of little technical points:
I see they've added another arrow to their quiver so far as boat scenes are
concerned... The scenes on the ship going from Sumeria to Greece were *not*
shot using the famous RenPics boat - they were shot on a static set, with
the motion and the sea added afterwards as a (not particularly good) cgi
effect... or at least, that's certainly the way it looked to me!
And they actually showed us a map! Which was interesting (given various
"alternate universe" theories of the show that have been mooted) in that it
did conform essentially to real-world geography, although "Greece" was
written right across Macedonia and parts of Bulgaria (& "Sumeria" looked a
bit oddly placed, too).
I was interested to note that the teacher said that the writings of
"Socrates, Homer and Ovid" meant more to him than gold. An interesting
choice of authors... no writings of Socrates survive, if indeed, he ever
made any - we know of him mostly from the writings of Plato; Homer almost
certainly never wrote anything, since he was part of a pre-literate
tradition; Ovid lived a generation or two after Julius Caesar, in Rome and
subsequently in exile in Tomi, near the mouth of the Danube - of his
writings, some survive and some are lost... but it's hard to see what
they'd be doing in ancient Greece (unless you subscribe to Terry
Pratchett's theory of "L. space")
COMMENTARY 2:
This commentary is by Xorys.
I waited since November to watch this episode. I didn't mind the wait and to be honest, It
was worth waiting to see the first-half of the conclusion to this seasons first major storyline.
This episode was one of the darkest ones, and at the same time was one of the sadder ones,
being that we all know what happens in "Redemption" and the ending may hurt or turn
away many viewers of HTLJ. I won't quit watching but the "Save Iolaus Forum" says that
over 500 people will or may quit watching.
To refresh everyone on this season let me summarize it all for you quickly: Hercules
defeated Hera at the end of last season, decided to ask Zeus not to protect him, and
reunited with his true family in Iolaus. Gilgamesh of Sumeria needed a hero to help
bring the gods back to Sumeria. Iolaus and Herc go along with Gilg's emissarys to
Sumeria via Nebula's vessel. Nebula is Gilgamesh's sister and has probs with going
home. Alls fine once she is reunited with her brother. Herc and Gilg head to the
pyramid to retrive the chalice of nectar, the food of the gods, which according to the
myths will bring the gods back to help the people. Gilgamesh drinks the nectar and
tells Herc that he is helping Dahak. Dahak needs the sacrifice of a warriors heart
to finally make his entrance tot he world. As Neb and Iolaus discover there love
for each other, Gilgamesh returns to the palace to sacrifice Nebula. Herc stops
him but in the process Iolaus gets killed trying to save Nebula from Dahaks dagger.
Gilgamesh is killed by Hercules. Herc moarns Iolaus' death and doesn't know
were to turn. He saves the souls of many by destroying the sumerian underworld
hod Dimuzi, but cannot get Iolaus back. He decides to sail off to disapear while
Nebula stays in Sumeria to rule. A storm takes Hercules to Ireland, Eire to be
exact, were he decides to be a hero no more. Morrigan, the demi god assassin is
trying to get the Celts to follow the ruthless god Kernnunnos and not the peace
loving Druids. Mabon, the Druid leader, helps Hercules find himself. After seeing
Iolaus' image ina cavern and finally knowing that no matter what, Iolaus will
always be in his heart, Herc helps defeat Morrigan. Morrigan kills one druid
though and thus takes his place as guardian of justice. Herc will now have too
help reform her.
Caesar, Julius Caesar comes to Eire. Herc leads the Celts against him while
helping reform Morrigan and than reuniting her with Brigid, her daughter. He
sees good in Morrigan as the druids do. Herc sends Caesar back to Rome a
loser and defeats Kernunnos, reuniting mother with daughter. Herc than has
a fatal dream, sending him to Norseland, were he meets a god that doesn't
use his powers to plague mankind. Balder, cares for people and Herc happily
agrees to help him. Herc must save the Norse Gods from a deadly pophecy,
and one god, Loki, is the blacksheep of the family. He is being assissted by
Dahak, now refered to as The Darkness. Herc finally saves the Gods and has
new respect for the gods of some lands, seeing that not all are bad. He heads
back to Eire.
Another vision, and the death of the druids, send Hercules to Sumeria. Morrigan
tags along. Iolaus is alive, but its really Dahak in his body. Dahak battles Herc
as Nebula and Morrigan retreat for there lives. Dahak heads for Greece in the
body of Iolaus. Herc, Morrigan, and Nebula head to Greece to stop Dahak or
die trying.
Indeed the journey to this episode has been long and perhaps the most intense
first part of a HTLJ season ever, and maybe forever. "Let There Be Light" continued
the saga in a good way, now leading to a climatic battle for Iolaus' soul. This episode
begins perfectly with Zarathustra following in Hercs footsteps, discovering that
his enemy Dahak has returned. Herc gets his clothes back for his homecoming, but
he and his gal pals learn that Greece has changed. The gods have vanished and
Dahak has brought his light [darkness] to the Grecian Land. The people fear the
hero Hercules. They have been tricked into thinking there hero is evil, something
that could be easily seen as Herc had killed Hera months before and has vanished
right after, while the gods vanished, and at the same time Hercules never got along
with the gods. Things has fallen and been ruined. Even Jason, a friend of Herc since
teenage years, had distrust in his best friend. Dahaks hold on the people was strong
but Jasons heart guided him to believe Hercules was his friend still and also
the same person he was before.
The special effects were good. The fire titan was a nice touch, as was the
involvement she mention of Dahak in the beginning. I sense The Titans
may be part of the next major storyline. The hatered she has for Zeus was
understandable. Hercules seems to be much more unangry to admit Zeus
is his father, after season lasts finale episode. That fact was sortof proven
during the scene between Mnemosyene and Hercules. Zarathustra was also
a good character. Very bibical sounding name. The scene in the cavern
where the stone was kept was one of the best scenes. This one little struggle
decided the beginning of the fate of the entire world.
I liked the scene between Zar and Herc in the woods. It was well done and
scripted to begin with. The movements, words, and faces of the characters
showed the inner emotions they had. The calm soft music made the scene
click together perfectly. I also liked the way they inserted some Grecian
Music into the scene were Hercules races to the Titans Lavaland. I like
the way they have adjusted to the different lands and places with scenery
and music.
Nebula is FINNNNEEE! Gina Torres looks better every time. It was cool
too see a more evil and dirty Nebula in this ep, even if she was just acting
it out to get all into the temple and the plan set up. Morrigan was nice and
did a good job. The scenes between the gals where nicely done. Gina has
a sexy and sinister evil smirk and smile. One of the best lines of the episode
has to go to Jason though.
"Anybody who claims to know everything doesn't know a damn thing!"
The best performance in this episode has to go to Michael Hurst. Hurst
played Dahak perfectly. The white vestment and scarf fit a servent of
Dahak well. The gospel chorus thing was okay but the episode could have
done without it. I must say Hurst was the perfect person to play the role of
someones body possessed by a demon. The scene between Hercules and
Dahak were classics. The intesity and hatred that Herc had for Dahak was
seen in the temple scene. Herc does smarten up though. He senses that Dahak
wants Hercules to kill him. Herc knows better and doesn't. The last few mins
were perhaps the most intense last few minutes of a HTLJ, except for the rest
of the Dahak arc. I can hardley wait for "Redemption" to air.
The title fits the episode perfectly. Nuff said. This Morrigan/Herc things
seems to be also getting more intresting.
I give this episode 4 out of 5 stars. The gospel chorus was a nice touch, but in
a way it made the episode less intense at parts. I loved the scene were Dahakolaus
asks the people to join him and they mob him, and his lets out his joyful sinister
laugh. Great scene. The whole ep was great although the chorus makes me give
it less than I really want to give it.
Things to Look Out For
The tomb in this episode, were Iolaus was, is way different from the one in "Darkness
Rising." This one is bigger and has a taller ceiling. It's more like a temple.
The pillars in the Cavern of Creation were also seen in Dimuzis Throne Room
in "Descent."
The scenes of the outside of Dahaks Temple [The first one and not the one the
service was at] were used in HTLJ's "Lost Kingdom." You can even see the
mark of queen Umpholie on the door if you look closely.
-Jasons house was used in "Top God", "Twilight," and "reunions" last season. It
was also used in XWP's "Family Affair" during season four. The windall mill didn't
appear in the HTLJ's episodes, except for this one, were the same setup as in XWP's
"family Affair." The garden was added for "Light" episode though.
Corinth set was used for several episodes.
The woman that greated Herc and the gals in Corinth was seen in "Reunions"
as the lady that Zeus had intrest in. I think it may be the same character she
played in that episode that was used in this episode.
Recall that scene of th epeople looking to the sky for the gods during the
scene were the woman tells Herc about whats taken place in Greece? It was
used during HTLJ's first season episode "The Road to Calydon."
Herc's got his usual outfit back. The one with the yellow shirt and waffel brown
paints. Either he's got more as presents or else Mabon's a darn good sower.
Highlights
The performance of Michael Hurst as Dahak.
The interaction between Herc and Zarathustra.
The special effects with the Fire Titan.
The scene between Herc and Morrigan on the ship.
Zarathustra enters the stronghold and screams out "The power of Greece is upon
you!"
Jason tells Dahak off in the cell.
Jasons hanging trick.
The look on Morrigans face as she starts to move around while fighting the
soldiers of the light outside the school house.
The smile on Nebulas face after she knocks Morrigan out.
Dahak and the chorus.
Dahak preaching.
Morrigan gives a swagger after Nebula comments on her impressive fighting
style.
The little showdowns between Morrigan and Nebula.
Who was who in the HTLJ ep Let There Be Light?
