"Hercules and the Drama Festival" (10-14-98)
This was a pretty good episode... in some ways lack-luster, but the fact that it spot-lighted Icarus was a great big PLUS :-) First... Interesting, though strange, twist on the "Chronos Stone" theme.
Completely rewriting the legend involving Chronos (King of the Titans...defeated Lord of the Universe), having swallowed a stone, then hacked it up... Well, I guess if we can change Herc's origin...why not Zeus'? Anyhow... there really isn't any *reason* given for Chronos hacking up a stone and then cursing it... seems rather an odd tale. The original tale at least had a purpose... Oh well... I guess it was just another Hades-takeover-plot device. I didn't care for a new one so soon after the last one... Oh well (shrudge).
I dunno why, but I really like seeing the gods at their morning business meetings... I'm always curious to see who will be there, who won't and who among the lesser used gods will actually speak.
So far my theory that "when Apollo is present, Artemis is not, and visa versa" seems to hold true. This time Artemis is present (TWO NEW EPISODES IN A ROW! :-)
ZEUS: "Next up. Artemis, our beloved goddess of the wild things proposes that we restrict temple offerings to fruits and vegetables."
ARES: "Hey! She can do whatever she wants in the Temple of 'Touchy Feelie.' But I'm sticking with chops and rump roast! Can't fight a war on celery sticks and tofu!"
I'm surprised Demeter wasn't a bit miffed by Artemis' proposal, too.
BTW, did you see Hades smile at Aphrodite? And her look back (rolling eyes)? Nice bit of subtle serial continuity.
The Festival of Mnemosyne! A.K.A. the "Mnemes." Nice bit of mythical trivia. Yet another reference to a Titan (Mnemosyne and Zeus fathered the Muses and the term "mneme" means "memory"... it's also one of the oldest names for one of the muses).
The Prometheus Academy ("Pro-Ac" as Zeus calls it) is having a School Play. I was in agreement with Ares... what a snoozer!
PARENTHESIS: "Who's next? Icarus (parennial 'alsoran').
I liked how Hades picked Icarus to be his instrument of defeat for the gods. Takes Icky to the Underworld to groom him for a role playing Hades.
ICARUS: "That's right. Ick's my name, Schtick's my game. Badda-bing! Badda-boom!"
HADES'pet names for Icarus: 1) "That pain in my flame kid." 2) "The kid with the sunstroke"
Later at the academy, Herc chatting with Cassie about noticable changes in Icarus' personality (not knowing about his recent visit to the Underworld).
HERCULES: "Hey, umm... Cassandra... Have you noticed anything different about Icarus?"
CASSANDRA: "A comprehensive list could take weeks."
Pitting Icarus (playing Hades) against Hercules (playing Zeus) was a stroke of genius on Hades part, it made his scheme all the more devilish, and subtle to the players (well, at least to Icarus).
BTW, Icky acted as though this was the first time he's met Hades... does this mean the episode is out of chronological order, or is it in fact the first meeting between them? Seems to me they met before, or at least were in the same room together at one point. Anyone?
Homer (Dan Castellaneta) makes another brief appearance as a reporter.
I wasn't thrilled by the alliterative transformations by P&P. It seemed too contrived.
The fact that only Herc's foot fell asleep in the presence of the stone was plausible considering his demi-status.
I liked that this episode required Herc to use his brain instead of his bronze again. Herc's presentation as a "thinking hero" in this series is a very good message.
I noticed that Apollo and Artemis both appeared in the audience (perhaps because it was twilight or dusk).
This was a fairly good episode.
Rich (xephyr)