Hercules and the Tapestry of Fate
After watching this episode, I haven't decided whether this was one of the best ones, or just a good one. It definitely wasn't a bad one. It started slow and so-so, but picked up steam as it went along. I'll have to watch it again.
First impressions & story highlights:
As the title might indicate it was a story that centered on the Tapestry that the Fates wove and cut... Good use of the Fates here, and helped to flesh out their roles in mythology for the viewers.
The tale follows a unique adventure involving Herc & Icky [lots of air-time for Icky :-)]. They want to attend the "Orpheus: Never Look Back" concert [funny gag concerning the tragedy of Orpheus' lover Eurydice who, after leading her out of Hades, he looked back before it was the right time and she was condemned to Hades forever].
Anyhow, Herc & Icky are too late, 'cause Adonis just purchased the last two tix. Distraught over this turn of fate, the two mope about missing the Concert Event of the Millenium [sort of the Woodstock or Herc-A-Palooza of 1000 BC]. Phil suggests that Herc use his influence with his dad, Zeus. Icky & Herc find that Zeus won't help them; too frivolous. [must be cool to have a pal with a father so powerful]. Anyhow, this leads to brightboy, Icarus, suggesting they monkey with the Tapestry of Life. Herc & Icky travel to the Fates' lair and run into fates. Turns out one of them actually has a *eye* for Herc, so he distracts them while Icky seeks out the Tapesty Chamber. Here things start to get interesting...
Actually when I first saw the title my thought was, "Oh this must be the Arachne (Vicki Lewis) episode." As it turned out I was right, but the way she was used was not at all what I was expecting. The original myth tells of how Arachne won a competition in weaving with Athena, but because of her haughty arrogance as punishment, she was transformed into a spider, doomed to weave for the rest of her life. That's pretty much it where the legend is ends, so this episode apparently picks up on that theme by making her a giant spider-like monster which happens to be the guardian of the Fates' Tapestry of Life. Interesting.
Question: What the heck was that thing around Arachne's neck? I fear it was suppose to be some sort of brassiere or 'tube-top'... I certainly hope not... it came off as bizarre looking, and completely out of place.
Icky manages to elude Arachne, finds the Tapestry and begins to re-weave history to suit his own fancy. We soon discover the results of his *hack* job, and not all of them are what he expected! For instance, he makes Cassandra into a clone of Helen of Troy (Jodi Benson again :-), and her attitude is to essentially drool all over him. However, with Cassie & Helen now *best buds*, they both want Icky to kill Herc [or perhaps himself? really depends on your interpretation].
Together our heroes decide to repair Icky's damage to the Tapestry. They run into Arachne this time, and she succeeds in killing Icky. Of course this draws his soul into Hades and brings the whole escapade to Hades attention when Herc succeeds in rescuing and reviving his companion. Hades learns of their messing with the Tapestry and decides that the boys are onto something. Hades reweaves the Tapestry as a new means of Taking Over Olympus [big surprise...not]. He literally trades places (and hair) with Zeus. Hades is now Lord of Olympus (even married to Hera) and Zeus Lord of the Dead. It appears that only folks who have been directly involved in changing the Tapestry are fully aware of the changes, thus, Hades, Herc and Icarus only know the truth. Some of the other big changes are that Herc never became mortal (and is now the son of Hades), Phil is now a janitor, Icarus is an instructor at his own Flight School, and P&P have switched *heralding* roles with Hermes.
The rest of the episode is like a rollercoaster ride of fun. I loved seeing Icarus finally play the rescuing hero, and when he did the "Xena" yell I burst out laughing. Hades also had lots of good lines as usual. :-)
Some funny quotes:
[After the Tapestry is changed and Arachne is no longer it's
Guradian]: HERC: "So you're just a spider lady?" ARACHNE: "If
you don't mind, I prefer to be called a Freelance Web Designer." [legs
making "quote" marks] "Web Designer. Thank you so much."
**************
HERC: "You're a janit... err, Custodial Arts Inspector? PHIL: "I
prefer to be called a Scrub Monkey." ************** FATES: "Please!
We prefer to be called 'Pre-Determined Events Facilitators."