Hercules and the Prince of Thrace
This was a very enjoyable episodes, even though it really only focused on the relationship between the selfish, self-centered Adonis and the selfless and heroic Hercules.
Some opinions:
I liked the door-hanger gag found buried where Adonis was having his pool dug. The gag included a picture of a person sleeping and the words "Please do not disturb" in English, Spanish and Greek.
Possibly a faux pas on the writers' part, Adonis tells his complaining workers, "Didn't my father give you a generous health plan just last year?" How could this be since the idea of hospitals and doctors only began two episodes ago with the onset of Hippocrates! (Hades' suggestions to Hippocrates about Golf, time-off, no more house calls, and HMOs was a very funny joke at the end of THAT episode). Oh well.
Gaia, Mother Earth (actor???) was visually way cool. I like that earth morphing thing. Despite her temperment, it was reminiscent of Mother Willow from Pocahontas, but much more dramatic!
The tete-a-tete between "Bob" the Narrator (Robert Stack) and the Muses is a real treat every episode. This time "Bob" was one-up on the girls since they were still working off an old script (singing about the tale of King Midas judging the music competition between Apollo and Marsyas the satyr). I'm not always thrilled by some of thier songs, but having a great love for R&B and Gospel, I think their place in the series (as well as the movie) was a genius stroke of inspiration. I even forgive the loss of the four missing Muses. Its nice that "Bob" and the Muses are not in every single episode...this gives them and the audience a breather, but since their contributions to the episodes where they do appear is short and piognant, its not likely they will be over- exposed and overused. Besides the give the program rhythym and pace, and an entertaining way to side-bar.
I REALLY enjoyed the visit to the Delphine Oracle, where Kerri Kenny did a fantastic job as a member of the "Oracle Friends Network" (Kudos!!!!). Bloatox the Centaur from "Techno Greeks" and the Cyclops from "World's First Doctor" have bit parts in this segment (nice continuity of minor characters).
Nereus (Thomas Lennon) is a great character. I liked the *implied* reference to him as the "Old Man of the Sea" by placing him in the Elysian Sunset Rest Home" and having his room painted with a sea motif! (someone did their homework). Also, he was a genuine metamorph, as per Nereus' real myth. :-) I hope we see him again.
Atlas (Thomas Lennon) was also a great character, though I was a bit miffed by the end result of this quest. I mean, isn't the Golden Apples of the Garden of Hesperides one of Herc's famous 12 Labours? This tale reduced the deed to a minor diversion, rather than it's proper place in Herc's history. Where were the Hesperides (Atlas' daughters) or the dragon, Ladon, who guards the tree? Oh well...creative license, right? Anyhow, Atlas deserves a future revisit! :-)
Sadly, in this episode Pegasus (my favorite character) was injured. :-( Nothing permanent, but the way it happened was brutal.
One final complaint, at the end, Adonis says to Herc, "Thank you Hercules. You've been a prince. Of course you understand that's just a figure of speech. I mean.... really." I know that being a Prince is a matter of image and pride for Adonis, but Herc is indeed a Prince, and not just of a mortal city (like Adonis), but of all Olympus!!! Adonis really has no idea how out- classed he is by Herc! I mean... really!
This expose' into the personality of Adonis was very funny, and he was pushed into more punishments than just the Gaia curse (of death)... He had to pay-off all of the visitors to the Oracle several times, his threat against the Oracle falls short, he must grovel for Herc's help, and he learns to act selflessly.
Now for an expose' of Helen of Troy! :-) (hint, hint!)