Hercules & the Girdle of Hippolyte (A Review)
This episode was good on many levels. Of course there was much about the plot that was predictable, such as we all knew that Herc was going to learn a lesson in good PC gender attitude, but the way it all played out was, well, wonderful.
Right from the start, *BAM!* we catch herc in intense action. Immediately I wondered, "Is he daydreaming again in class; on a true adventure; or is he in a training session with Phil???" Of course, subtle clues came forth, then Phil's horrible falsetto "damsel in distress" voice was heard, and I knew.
After that, I must admit that when Phil gave his sexist lecture about the maniquin, and that heroes don't save "dudes in distress.... only damsels." I cringed. I guess I am very much apart of much of our modern culture, but only because I believe in such things as equality of the genders, which really brought the impact of what Phil was saying to the forefront. Yikes!
The Home Grecomonics class scene was great! I loved seeing the Home Grec instructor Grace Euphrosyne again. Cassandra's lines were great as usual. Geez, I wonder why Cassie lets Icarus continue to call her his "honey" and act as though they are an *item.* Maybe she just accepts it as part of her *curse.* :-)
Of course the best part of this episode was that it was a Tempest episode. The attitude of the Amazons is PERFECT. I loved everything about all the scenes involving the Amazons. I cracked up when I realized that Queen Hippolyte (Jane Curtin -Kudos!) was wearing her undergarment on the outside (in a most Madonna way! ;-). King Darius (Emeril Lagasse III) was also enjoyable, and served as a perfect foil to his wife's unbending demanding disposition. Strangely though, after watching the episode again, I got the feeling that in this case he really replaced Phil as Herc's teacher.
Something I'm not sure how I feel about concerns one of the most sacred beliefs of the Amazons: Men are 'personae non gratae.' In other words, Darius should not be there, and Herc should have been killed rather than taken prisoner and given over to Darius. Though, I guess it was *cute* to see the perceived role-reversal being played out.
Some good use of sight-gags. Example, when the camera focused on a pretty butterfly sailing past Tempest who draws her sword and appears to be whacking away at it. However, we quickly learn that it was a *woman?*-eating plant which was her real target.
Tempest's "trial" was played out very much like the Herc trial at the beginning of the episode... lots of good parallels between Herc & Tempest.
I recognized the voice of the, uh, talking plate that was going to crush Herc & Tempest, but I couldn't place it... I was surprised and delighted to learn it was RuPaul's! I guess his character was called a "Rock Guardian."
Like I said, the end was essentially predictable, but I loved the fact that Herc AND Tempest learned the same lesson, as did Hippolyta... It seems that Phil was left out of this lesson learning session... maybe that means something for a later episode? Anyhow, I'm glad Tempest will continue to attend the Prometheus Academy.
I was bothered by the animation in the "loop" where Herc was skating down the hill on a log, and by the strange leap in continuity from the giant bear traps to Herc's coming up from a *sewer*?? Something was missing.
TRIVIA: In the myth of the Girdle of Hippolyte, it is really one of the 12 Labors of Hercules. According to one version Herc kills the Amazon Queen to obtain it, though in another she freely gives it to him. Here again, as with the Golden Apples, we have one of Herc's 12 Labors eluded to.
RICH (xephyr)
AMAZON: "I really need a vacation.... or a boyfriend." :-)
*******
HIPPOLYTE: "Ready for the challenge?"
TEMPEST: "I'm at the pinnacle of my feminine fighting form!"
HIPPOLYTE: "Good! Now you must endure the entire night in the trecherous
Amazonian wilderness. By the light of the moon you must find your way to
Girdle Rock. You will face woman-eating beasts, skin-melting vegetation,
and spine-snapping traps. If dawn finds you alive you will be truly worthy
of wearing ....the Golden Girdle."
Later... TEMPEST: "Come dawn's light I shall be Golden
Girdled!"
HIPPOLYTE: [serious look of concern] "Tempest."
TEMPEST: "Mother?"
HIPPOLYTE: [stern as ever] "Fail and you shame us all!"
TEMPEST: *ahem* "Understood."
TEMPEST: "Thanks, mom."