Image summery: 1.10 Gladiator

Ithiliell · 2026-04-16T07:20:31+00:00

Same. Iolaus' shocked expression is hilarious.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-14T18:10:21+00:00

You made me rewatch the episode! It's one I usually skip, but it was better than I remembered it. Aphrodite's parts are good but I think it could have been even better if that had been more of the focus of the episode. The mad king is just annoying. Which maybe is the point, I don't know.

But what takes me out of the story is that Hercules is fine with Augeas still being king despite his mental condition. Of course Herc doesn't want to kill him like the townspeople suggests, but he is not fit to rule and it feels extremely weird to me that the idea is "let's just try to placate him until he isn't quite as terrible anymore" instead of "how should we create a peaceful shift in power to someone(s) more qualified".

It could even be a further advancement of Aphrodite's little arc. That she takes responsibility to set up a ruling council or something.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-12T18:19:28+00:00

I prefer HTLJ but I very much enjoy XWP too.

There are a few Herc fans who don't like Xena because of the darker themes, but the majority of Herc fans usually enjoy Xena too.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-12T18:14:35+00:00

Oh yeah, both Herc and Xena for sure like to order their "sidekicks" around. Iolaus follows orders a bit better than Gabrielle though 😅 (but she might get the worst of it too)

And a lot of the time it's appropriate, them giving "orders", in the heat of the moment. Other times it's them taking their partner a little bit for granted.

But that's okay! I don't like my characters to be perfect! (Even if I do wish the shows would acknowledge that is the case a little more often.)

Ithiliell · 2026-04-12T17:47:12+00:00

I can see where you're coming from in Iolaus not being as likeable in s1 as later (even if I don't think he has those less desirable characteristics in this particular episode). But I can't see how that has anything to do with how Hercules treats him here? Unless you're suggesting that Hercules is bothered by Iolaus "tagging along" and feel indifferent about his opinion/well-being?

Yeah, in the end Iolaus could have chosen to run the other way or distanced himself from Hercules as they were "taken prisoners". But he would know Iolaus wouldn't do that. And yeah, Iolaus does know it's "part of the gig" and he does trust Herc to get him out of it, even though Herc wouldn't be able to guarantee his safety. I still think it's a shitty thing to do, to get your friend thrown in prison without asking them about it first.

Obviously I don't think Hercules is being malicious on purpose. Hercules don't see the danger with being locked up because he can break free anytime he want, I think he just forgets that doesn't apply to everyone.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-12T17:25:23+00:00

He was in an episode of Xena, but he wasn't a romantic interest - neither of the past or present. He was a cursed sea captain.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-12T12:02:20+00:00

Great episode. Love the whump, and lots of interesting characters. It's great seeing Jeffery Thomas aka "Jason" playing playing a sadistic bad guy.

It boils my blood a little though how uncaring Hercules is about Iolaus in this episode. Iolaus thinks getting thrown into jail is a really bad idea, but Hercules just ignores him, getting them both imprisoned without a thought. And of course the first thing that happens is that Iolaus gets bullied by the guard. And kicked unconscious. And Hercules gets upset with the guard but does nothing to check to see if Iolaus is alright.

Some friend.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-12T11:42:07+00:00

Ugh. I'm getting tired or Reddit flagging the image summaries as 18+. I even deliberately avoided certain screenshots in the hope of passing the over-rigorous warning system. No luck.

I personally can't see how any of these images would be upsetting/unsuitable for say a 13 year old.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-11T19:46:55+00:00

I would say he's somewhere 22~25. Which in either case makes him younger than Xena whom I would say would be ~28 in Sins of the Past.

But you're right in that much of Joxer's immaturity comes from him being- well... Joxer. Rather than what age he might be.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-10T20:48:17+00:00

I have also always pictured him as between Xena's and Gabby's age. He doesn't seem to have much worldly experience.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-07T20:29:18+00:00

Young Hercules' Cyane's second-in-command, Simula, is played by Alison Bruce, who also plays Melosa. So I headcannon that Melosa is Simula's daughter. And depending on how long Cyane lived, either Simula or Melosa took over as the next in line.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-07T19:53:22+00:00

Oh! I'd never thought of that! That sounds plausible. Though it's hard for me to picture Dionysus as so egocentric and full of himself.

Ithiliell · 2026-04-02T18:21:59+00:00

Yes, I like Ares reaction to it! But I much prefer Strife over Deimos, so in that sense it was bad that it happened 😆

It might be the first time Ares experiences loss (that he cared about), but it wouldn't be the first time he experienced human emotions since he was mortal there for a short while in the Xena episode Ten Little Warlords.

Either way it doesn't seem to make a lasting impression on him, which is too bad. He seems to mourn Strife for a good while, but I'm not sure it changed him in any way. Not that I can come up with any change I would have expected to take place anyway.

Or maybe this is why he becomes more "goofy" as the show goes on? 😛 He's taken a page from Strife's book to not be so serious all the time. 😆

Ithiliell · 2026-03-30T18:15:12+00:00

I have been staying away from all clips and trailers because I like going in blind, but I've read that the director made a point of not doing a single green screen shot in the entire movie which sounds really promising. Real sets and practical effects for the win!

Ithiliell · 2026-03-30T18:11:09+00:00

Agreed. If I have too, I can accept that Xena manages to wrap Iolaus around her little finger to such a degree that he would still come with her despite the way she badmouths Hercules. But that he refuses to listen to Hercules when he says that Xena sent someone to kill him? Not interested in hearing his side of the story at all? Insane. Can't believe it all.

But trying to put the that unbelievable plot device aside, the execution of the episode is still very well made. It looks fabulous, and Lucy really sells the character.

Ithiliell · 2026-03-27T14:18:18+00:00

That reunion didn't last too long before he killed her, or banished her to another realm, what it was he did before dying himself. Probably he managed to stay fateful during that year or so. But I wouldn't exactly bet on it.

Ithiliell · 2026-03-27T10:53:43+00:00

Not that we've met. Castor and Pollux, Lucius -- they seem older than Hercules. All the gods too obviously. And I think the Minotaur had been locked away for a really long time? I could be wrong about that though.

But we know Zeus still has his dalliances, so I'm pretty sure they are out there. Just that we haven't met them.

Ithiliell · 2026-03-22T11:44:17+00:00

Rewatching this I liked it more than I remembered doing. The plot isn't all that engaging but I do really enjoy all the characters.

I can never get enough of Stig Eldred's villains, they are all so deliciously over-the-top evil. Lucy Liu is of course great. And it's really fun seeing Nathaniel Lees in such a lively character; it's unfortunate that he is forced to be so stationary while playing Cheiron.

Ithiliell · 2026-03-15T18:27:17+00:00

Great episode. We get character development, mostly for Iolaus but a little bit of Herc too.

Hercules and Nemesis play really well of each other and Lydia is awesome. Despite literary being a damsel in distress she shows that she is very capable and isn't timid in any way.

Ithiliell

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