{"id":2039615,"date":"2025-09-21T20:41:10","date_gmt":"2025-09-21T20:41:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2039615"},"modified":"2025-09-21T20:41:10","modified_gmt":"2025-09-21T20:41:10","slug":"the-strangest-episode-of-hercules-is-a-work-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/the-strangest-episode-of-hercules-is-a-work-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"The Strangest Episode Of Hercules Is A Work Retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-article-body=\"true\">\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Hercules: The Legendary Journeys <\/em>was never a serious show, which is why it was a little jarring during Season 4 when Hercules and Thor went up against Loki in a shockingly dark storyline that made it clear, no matter how many gods were punched, a greater evil was coming. To break up the grim darkness, the show came back from its midseason break with \u201cFor Those of You Just Joining Us,\u201d which doubled as a clip show to bring fans up to speed, and a wacky adventure that broke the fourth wall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">Set in the present, the episode is about a work retreat to figure out plot lines for Season 5. It includes the show\u2019s regular actors playing writers and producers. Kevin Sorbo as Kevin Sorbo and as Hercules. It\u2019s a strange but delightful episode that hits everything wrong (the giant chicken) and right (it\u2019s supposed to be a stupid show) about the wildly successful series.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">\u201cFor Those of You Just Joining Us\u201d starts with producer B.S. Hollinsfoffer (Robert Trebor, normally plays Salmoneus the shifty merchant) watching the giant chicken from \u201cOne Fowl Day,\u201d which came after the multi-episode story arc involving <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/topic\/hercules\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Hercules;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">Hercules<\/a> turned into a pig (in reality, Kevin Sorbo got married and was on his Honeymoon). To say no one liked that episode would be an understatement. Hollinsfoffer\u2019s solution is a retreat to Camp Wannachuck that includes Rob (<a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/topic\/bruce-campbell\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Bruce Campbell;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">Bruce Campbell<\/a>), Jerry (Kevin Smith, not that one, the one who plays Ares), Paul (Michael Hurst, he\u2019s Iolaus), Liz (Hudson Leick, she\u2019s Callisto on <em>Xena<\/em>), and as the camp leader, the cheerful Sunny Day (Renee O\u2019Connor in her one and only cross-over appearance that\u2019s not as Xena\u2019s sidekick Gabrielle).<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">From Sunny Day whistling the theme song to <em>Xena <\/em>to Paul suggesting they kill off Iolaus, \u201cFor Those of You Just Joining Us\u201d is filled with winking nods to the actual production of the show, right down to the snarky response that they\u2019ve already killed Iolaus twice. Kevin, constantly insisting he\u2019s \u201cjust an actor,\u201d ends up laying out the entire Gilgamesh arc for Season 5 to approving nods from the production staff. Even by the usual standards of <em>Hercules<\/em>, it\u2019s over the top, but then it gets even better.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/guJFP4UNnOOgYbFfKYD.AA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/giant_freakin_robot_articles_628\/894cfdbc80bf024230a349f6aeca0472\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">There\u2019s a killer loose on the grounds of Camp Wannachuck, first attempting to poison everyone over dinner, and then locking them into a sauna. Both times, Kevin saves them by discreetly using his Herculean strength. Sunny Day reveals herself as the killer, but she\u2019s been wearing a latex mask, and is really Hollinsfoffer, leading to the sight gag of Renee O\u2019Connor\u2019s tiny frame being replaced by Trebor\u2019s much larger one with no explanation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">That\u2019s when Ares appears, admits his part behind the plot, and tells Hollinsfoffer he\u2019ll never work in this town again, because he\u2019s always wanted to say that. It turned out to be true, as Robert Trebor never appeared as Salmoneus after the episode aired. The staff realizes quickly that if Ares, the actual <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/topic\/god-of-war\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:God of War;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">God of War<\/a>, is real, that must mean so is Hercules\u2026 and they all turn to look at Kevin.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/XMjICOHgqiBxp4vpyq.X1w--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/giant_freakin_robot_articles_628\/ec06a26c26b8dfc9ed3828feab4f1385\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">To their credit, the team behind <em>Hercules: The Legendary Journeys <\/em>knew how to do a clip show, with the earlier \u201cYes Virginia, There is a Hercules\u201d establishing the modern-day setting of the show within a show. \u201cFor Those of You Just Joining Us\u201d did everything it set out to do by reminding fans how funny the show can be, serving as a breather between dark storylines, establishing Dahak as the biggest, baddest villain in the series, and getting fans caught up after the hiatus. It\u2019s not the worst episode, that would be a toss-up between Season 4\u2019s \u201cOne Fowl Day\u201d and \u201cPorkules,\u201d but it\u2019s the weakest of an otherwise incredible season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\"><em>Hercules: The Legendary Journeys <\/em>remains a weird pop culture artifact of the \u201990s, right up there with the need for everything to be \u201cXtreme\u201d and why kids became obsessed with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/topic\/marvel\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Marvel;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\">Marvel<\/a> Universe trading cards. Today, it\u2019s not as fondly remembered as <em>Xena<\/em>, having never hit the same creative highs as its own spinoff, but then again, it\u2019s hard for anyone to compete with <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.giantfreakinrobot.com\/?s=Xena\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Lucy Lawless;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Lucy Lawless<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"relative mb-4\">\n<div class=\"relative\"><img alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"900\" height=\"506\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" class=\"rounded-lg\" style=\"color:transparent\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/gxU.TrXsdVuSHiwMFxtMKg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/giant_freakin_robot_articles_628\/faf62739149fb4b35f8b07118261024e\"\/><button aria-label=\"View larger image\" class=\"group absolute bottom-3 right-3 size-10 md:size-[50px] lg:inset-0 lg:size-full lg:bg-transparent\" data-ylk=\"elm:expand;itc:1;sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;\"><span class=\"absolute bottom-0 right-0 rounded-full bg-white p-3 opacity-100 shadow-elevation-3 transition-opacity duration-300 group-hover:block group-hover:opacity-100 md:p-[17px] lg:bottom-6 lg:right-6 lg:bg-white\/90 lg:p-5 lg:opacity-0 lg:shadow-none\"><svg viewbox=\"0 0 22 22\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"size-4 lg:size-6\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\"><path d=\"M12.372.92c0-.506.41-.916.915-.916L21 0l-.004 7.712a.917.917 0 0 1-1.832 0V3.183l-6.827 6.828-1.349-1.348 6.828-6.828h-4.529a.915.915 0 0 1-.915-.915M1.835 17.816l6.828-6.828 1.349 1.349-6.829 6.827h4.529a.915.915 0 0 1 0 1.831L0 21l.004-7.713a.916.916 0 0 1 1.831 0z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><dialog aria-label=\"Modal Dialog\" aria-modal=\"true\" class=\"fixed inset-0 z-4 size-full max-h-none max-w-none bg-white hidden\"\/><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"mb-4 text-lg md:leading-8 break-words\">If you need to unwind for a few hours with a show that doesn\u2019t take itself seriously, you can do worse than streaming <em><a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/video\/detail\/amzn1.dv.gti.df70dc45-513e-4682-88b3-514c486680d7?autoplay=0&amp;ref_=atv_cf_strg_wb\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" data-ylk=\"slk:Hercules;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" class=\"link \">Hercules<\/a><\/em> on Amazon Prime Video.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hercules: The Legendary Journeys was never a serious show, which is why it was a little jarring during Season 4 when Hercules and Thor went up against Loki in a shockingly dark storyline that made it clear, no matter how many gods were punched, a greater evil was coming. To break up the grim darkness, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2039616,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[377196,349166,372326,360624,377195],"class_list":["post-2039615","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-hercules","tag-kevin-smith","tag-kevin-sorbo","tag-renee-oconnor","tag-robert-trebor"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/The-Strangest-Episode-Of-Hercules-Is-A-Work-Retreat.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039615","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2039615"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2039615\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2039616"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2039615"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2039615"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2039615"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}