After Zeus fights and sends the Titans to the Underworld, he becomes the ruler of Mount Olympus, home of all Greek gods. Hades is sent to rule the underworld, but he makes plans to throw Zeus out of Mount Olympus with the Titans' help. The three Fates warn him that his plans would be endangered if Hercules, Zeus and Hera's newborn child, is still around by the time he tries to take over Mount Olympus. Hades sends his minions Pain and Panic to turn Hercules into a mortal and kill him, but they fail in their attempt and leave him on earth with his divine strength to be raised as a human. Hercules grows up but later learns he is the son of Gods, and in order to return to Mt. Olympus he must turn into a "true hero".While the film is considerably Bowdlerized from the original myths, there really was no alternative if you want to make a family film out of Greek Mythology. The result was a widely praised (except in Greece) film, which is considered by many to be one of the Canon'sfunniest installments along with Aladdin and The Emperor's New Groove. Plus, it's one of the only times Everyone Hates Hades hasn't ruined a work, mainly due to how genuinely likeable and funny he is. For myth buffs, keep the MST3K Mantra in mind, and you'll find a solid, funny film with a lot of literal Mythology Gags that show that they did, in fact, do the research - they just couldn't make said research work in a G-rated family film without bumping the rating up a few notches. That said, the film is arguably the most Parental Bonus-laden film in Disney history; after all, in what other animated film is Oedipus mentioned as a passing gag?Unfortunately, due to a combination of following two divisive films in the canon and still not being up to snuff with the earlier Renaissance installments, it was only a modest success at the box office - audiences felt it was too samey to Musker and Clement's last film, Aladdin. This, however, didn't stop it from being featured heavily in the Kingdom Hearts franchise, with Colliseum battles in the first installment, and a more full plot centering around the Olympus Colliseum in Kingdom Hearts II.Over a year after its release, the film spawned a cartoon that ran both in syndication and on Disney's One Saturday Morning on ABC, from 1998 to 1999. It was a Midquel series that presented Herc's life in High School and had him hanging out with fellow Greek characters Icarus and Cassandra. It also presented a plot hole in that Hades was still trying to get him killed, despite the fact that in the movie he didn't know Herc was still alive until he was an adult, but that didn't seem to matter much to the viewers.
The film features examples of:
open/close all folders
Original Film
Abusive Precursors: The Titans, the portrayal of which was in some ways very close to ancient Greek Theology (ancient beings defeated by Zeus and imprisoned in the Underworld, their powers were very broad as well) and in some ways very different (the original Titans were deities Not So Different from the Olympians and the parents of several of them, rather than near mindless elemental monsters).
Added Alliterative Appeal: One of the lyrics for Zero to Hero is "and this perfect package packed a pair of pretty pecs!"
Adorkable: Herc himself fits this, especially as a youngster. Even as an adult, he's still sorta awkward.
Adult Fear: Surprising? Check Zeus and Hera's reaction when they discover baby Hercules is no longer in his crib and they have to watch another couple raise him from afar at the beginning.
The crew of the movie said that Hades was going to be dark, scary, and menacing, but Woods took a different route than the other auditions and the original plan, and they loved it so much they rewrote the character and, by extension, the script.
Blessed with Suck: Herc's super-strength, when combined with an adolescent's typical clumsiness.
Bond Villain Stupidity: It's never really mentioned why Hades doesn't just open a can of divine whoopass on Hercules himself. He's clearly shown to be powerful enough and seemingly immune to any physical attack Hercules can throw at him while he's still mortal. Maybe he's worried Zeus will suspect him, but that doesn't hold up at the end of the movie when he's still trying to get Hercules out of his hair literally minutes before he mounts an attack against Zeus.
Bowdlerise: Big time. Besides a total change of Hades' personality, Hercules is the son of Zeus and Hera. Of course, for a kid's movie... there isn't much alternative.
Book Ends: During the beginning of the movie after Pain and Panic kidnap Hercules, turn Him mortal, and then try and fail to kill Him. Panic runs around worrying that "Hes not gonna be happy when He finds out about this." And Pain says "You mean if He finds out" Panic: "If! If is good!" They pretty much have the same conversation after Hercules punches Hades into The River Styx.
Borrowed Catch Phrase: While still on a high after his date with Meg, Herc jokes with Phil some, even mimicing his voice.
Broken Bird: Megara. She pledged service to Hades to save an old boyfriend's life - only to have said boyfriend run after another girl shortly afterwards. OUCH.
She's also implied to have had some run-ins with boys who don't understand the word "no".
Big Friendly Horse: Pegasus, who was a gift to Hercules from his father at birth. Described by Zeus as having the heart of a horse and "the brain of a bird", he acts pretty dog-like throughout the movie. Besides the flying, Hercules and Phil get their faces licked by him several times throughout the movie.
Burning with Anger: Hades, literally. He goes from blue to bright red flames. When he loses it completely, his whole head and arms become fountains of fire.
Call Back: During the beginning of the movie after Pain and Panic abduct Hercules, turn him mortal, and then try and fail to kill him. Panic runs around saying "Hes not gonna be happy when he finds out about this!", to which Pain responds "You mean IF he finds out." Panic is calmed by this, saying "IF! If is good!" They have the same conversation after Hercules punches Hades into The River Styx.
Chronic Hero Syndrome: Subverted in that Herc is doing heroic deeds only to gain acceptance into godhood, but later starts to realize that he should be doing good just for good's sake.
Curse Escape Clause: If Hercules proves himself worthy, he can rejoin the gods.
Thanks to Exact Words, Hercules can get out of his deal of giving up his strength to Hades in exchange for Meg's release: Hades had promised he wouldn't hurt Meg, so when she pushes him out of the way of the falling pillar, thus bringing her to harm (and sacrificing her life), the deal is broken and Herc gets his strength back.
Curtain Camouflage: "What could be behind curtain number one?" His little sandeled toes are even poking out under it.
Cut Song: Hercules had a ballad called "Shooting Star", and there was an alternate, slower song for Meg called "I Can't Believe My Heart."
Hercules: Aren't you a damsel in distress? Megara: I'm a damsel, I'm in distress, I can handle it. Have a nice day!
Deadpan Snarker: Phil, Megara, Hades... you get the general picture.
Deal with the Devil: Megara - she sold her soul to save her boyfriend... who promptly dumped her. Also, Hercules. He gave up his Super Strength to set Meg free. This worked out for him just about as well as could be expected...
Despair Event Horizon: Hercules comes close to this after giving up His strength to save Meg from Hades only to have Hades reveal that Meg was working for Him. He was fully prepared to commit suicide by allowing a giant cyclops to beat Him and eat Him until Phil came back and gave Him a pep talk
shoot. This is also an in-joke to the fact that both Herc and Scar are animated by Andreas Deja.
Death's Hourglass: This film has one with the Fate Sisters and the threads of life: if the thread of life gets cut, said person dies, and their listless soul ends up on the River Styx.
Disneyfication: A crapload. Most noticeably, Herc's original Big Bad was Hera trying to kill him because he was the product of Zeus' adultery with a mortal. Then again, if they didn't remove/change that part, how on Earth would the script as a whole pass?
Disney Death: Megara. She is literally crushed by a pillar before Hercules lifts it up to free her, and as he returns after saving Mount Olympus, we see her thread of life get cut and her hand goes limp. This is one of the rare times Disney has ever shown an actual dead body on screen, as Herc weeps over her pale, limp, lifeless, and yet totally undamaged corpse, cradling it in his arms.
And before that, in the middle of the film, it happens twice in the same scene during the epic fight between Hercules and the Hydra; once the audience within the film thinks he's swallowed, the next time they think he's crushed.
Disney Villain Death: As a god, Hades can't die, but he is defeated by being punched into the River Styx, where the souls of the dead dogpile on him. He can't fall to his death, so he falls into a bunch of other people's.
Played straight with the Cyclops.
Diving Save: Meg pushes Hercules out of the way of a falling pillar.
Does Not Like Shoes: Aphrodite. Makes sense, as she's the Goddess of Beauty.
Does This Remind You of Anything?: Hades and Megara's interaction really makes you think of an abusive boyfriend with a girlfriend who is having trouble getting away from him.
Or, her gay best friend trying to console her about her issues with men.
Eaten Alive: Hercules. The hydra eats him. It's clear he's still alive because A) he cuts off its head from inside and B) the film's only about halfway through.
Then there's Zeus' thunderbolts. "Now watch your old man work!"
Everybody Hates Hades: Although, in fact, the fans love him. Disney actually got something right but heavily exaggerated. Hades certainly wasn't the Big Bad like in this film; but he wasn't regarded with the same amount of respect as his siblings. (See the article)
Fauns and Satyrs: Obviously, Phil the Satyr. His appearance is of the later renaissance version, but his nymph-chasing, wise cracking bad looks are in fact taken straight from classical depictions of satyrs.
Faux Affably Evil: Hades again. His casual buddy talk is a veneer for viciousness.
Megara. My friends call me Meg. At least they would if I had any friends.
Genre Savvy: Hades at the end is offered Hercules's life for Meg's. It occurs to the car-dealer-type villain that it's maybe just a little too good to be true - but he's not given much time to think about it.
Most of Hades' dialogue, references to Oedipus, just to name a few...
Within the first two minutes:
"I'd like to make some sweet music with-" "Our story actually begins long before Hercules..."
Though the fat muse's nickname for Herc takes the cake:
English version: Hunkules. Icelandic version: Sexikles.
Don't forget Phil's reaction to the 'sundial seller'.
The way Pain and Panic react to Hades when he finds out they didn't do the job right.
Pain and Panic: OH MY GODS!!!
Notable because Disney would never get away with "Oh my God."
Pain's whole "my intentions were pure, I really was attracted to you!" thing.
Look at how Hercules finds out Nessus is a sir. In fact, Most of Nessus' scene.
In the scene with the nymphs, Finnish!Phil claims to be, and I quote, a "nymphomaniac".
The Muses call Hercules "their favorite flavor" in the song Zero to Hero. It's okay, though, because then it shows Hercules drinking the Hercules sports drink of Ancient Greece.
Meg: "You know how men are; they think 'no' means 'yes', and 'get lost' means 'take me, I'm yours'."
You have to pause to see it, but during the Zero to Hero song, there's a shop named "Aphrodite's Secret" next to Hercules'...
Meg getting flirty with Hercules: "No weaknesses whatsoever? No trick knee? Ruptured... disks?"
God of Evil: Hades is portrayed as one, contrary to Greek Mythology.
Goofy Print Underwear: When Hercules announces to a small crowd of distressed people that he's a hero, one of the men realizes the "goat man," Phil that's with him trained Achilles. Phil tries to beat him up and ends up biting his toga, revealing white underwear with red spots. This may qualify Phil under the All Animals Are Dogs trope since that's a very dog thing of him to do.
Go Seduce My Archnemesis: After Hercules kicks the collective asses of every monster Hades sends at him, he decides to send Meg in to seduce him in order to find out what his weakness is. Predictably, she falls in love with him instead. However, this actually provides Hades with the answer to what Hercules' weakness is.
Hades: Meg, listen. Do you hear that sound? It's the sound of your freedom, fluttering away, forever! Meg: I don't care, I'm not going to help you hurt him! Hades: [sighs] I can't believe you're getting all worked up over some guy. Meg: This one is different. He's strong, he's caring, he would never do anything to hurt me... Hades: He's a guy! Meg: [smugly] Besides, O Oneness, you can't beat him. He has no weaknesses! He's gonna... [she turns and sees Hades smirking at her] Hades:I think he does, Meg. I truly think he does.
Gorn: By Disney's standards, the part where Hercules slices the Hydra's head off and you actually get to see the bleeding stump (it bleeds a translucent green liquid though, so it's not quite as gory as it sounds). Further reduced in severity by the revelation that the Hydra isn't really hurt by this. Hercules then goes nuts cutting heads off, to the point that it loses any grossness it might have had.
Phil: WILL YOU FORGET THE HEAD SLICING THING!
Gospel Revival Number: Basically, anything that the Muses touch. Charlton Heston didn't stand a chance.
Grade System Snark: When Hercules defeats the River Guardian and sends him flying (with just a headbutt!) to rescue Meg, Phil loudly says several congratulatory remarks, ending with, "Not bad, kid!" This is directly followed by him muttering underneath his breath, "Not what I had in mind, but not bad."
Greek Chorus: Literally! They even provide the page picture.
Half-Hearted Henchman: Pain and Panic are clearly with Hades because they are terrified of Him, they have no problem lying to Him, and after Hercules punches Him into The River Styx they clearly do not miss Him. Panic is only worried about how angry Hades will be. And Meg is only working for Hades because she sold her soul, and is paying off a debt. Though once she falls in love with Hercules she turns on Hades.
Hair-Trigger Temper: Hades, who over the course of the movie has constant difficulty keeping his smooth demeanor with his generally-annoyed-at-everything attitude leading to a tendency to snap into a rage at the slightest provocation. Minor explosions are common, major meltdowns are a sight to behold. Bonus points for having his hair literally go off when he gets angry.
Happily Married: Unlike the mythology, Zeus and Hera are quite happy together. Hercules' human parents qualify as well.
Harpo Does Something Funny: After James Woods was cast, the script was essentially re-written to allow for his ad-libbing. Most of the dialogue between Hades and Megara was simply made up.
According to one commentary they pretty much just pulled the pages containing most of Hades' dialogue out and threw it away.
Let's just say it - in this movie, James Woods comes off almost as well as Robin Williams in Aladdin. Not quite as good (and a rather different type of humor), but at least in the same league.
Heroic Build: Hercules, following his training with Phil. Just look at the picture!
Heroic BSOD: Hades does this to Hercules after convincing Him to give up his strength for 24 hours and then revealing that Meg was working for Him. He physically humiliates Hercules by throwing a dumb bell on top of Him. It was only after Meg found Phil and brought Him back to give Hercules a pep talk that He got past this
Heroic Sacrifice: Twice, from each side of the Love Interest relationship: first Meg pushes a falling pillar out of the way to save Hercules (thus abrogating Hades' deal in which he said he wouldn't hurt her, and giving Herc his strength back) and costing her her life, then Herc gives up his life to Hades to rescue Meg's soul (an act of such selfless heroism it restores his godhood).
Impossible Hourglass Figure: Four of the Muses and Aphrodite - especially Aphrodite given that she's the goddess of love and has a waist so tiny she could practically wrap one hand around. It's sort of explained by the fact that they're goddesses. Artemis and Megara have Hartman Hips.
Ink Suit Actor: In addition to short, portly Danny DeVito as the short, portly Philoctetes, you've also got Hermes, who shares the same features and trademark shades of his voice actor Paul Shaffer, best known as David Letterman's bandleader.
Let's Get Dangerous: Zeus. On his free time, he's a loving father and husband, spends time joking with everyone and attempts to be a good big bro for Hades; in fact, he's much more lovable than the original Zeus, but once the Titans attack and Hades proved to be a backstabber, we quickly see where Hercules' strength come from and why you don't mess with the King of the Gods.
Lighter and Softer: The take on Greek mythology present in the film, in addition to being Sadly Mythtaken, is much lighter and more family-friendly. Without it, the film would have turned out an R-Rating.
Also applies in the context of Disney Animated Canon. Of the 90's Disney movies, this film was considerably lighter and more of a slapstick comedy, especially compared to its darker and more epic predecessors (The Lion King, Pocahontas) and successors (Mulan, Tarzan).
Multiple Head Case: The Hydra, while trying to eat Herc, accidentally attacks the other heads or knocks into them. Not to mention that all the heads are fighting over who gets to eat him.
Justified that it only had one head a few minutes ago - growing extra heads takes some getting used to, you know...
Non Sequitur Thud: When Phil tries to whisk Hercules back to training after finding he was playing hooky with Meg:
Phil: (Gets smacked off of Pegasus by a tree branch and lands on his skull behind bench, raises arm in protest, slurred) That's IT! Next time, I'm driving... (arm collapses)
Orphean Rescue/To Hades and Back: Hercules travels to the Underworld in order to rescue Meg's spirit and reunite it with her body, thus getting his godhood back.
Papa Wolf: Zeus tries to be this, but it is to no avail the first try.
Panty Shot: Rare male example, as Hercules has a really, really short toga.
Parental Abandonment: One of the only films in the entire Disney canon to avert this trope and avert it hard. Herc not only has his immortal parents watching from on high, he has a pair of mortal adoptive parents who love him very much.
Parental Bonus: It's a Disney film; what did you expect?
Phosphor-Essence: The gods glow. At the end, Hercules starts glowing when he regains godhood.
Physical God: It's Greek Mythology, what do you expect?
Pietà Plagiarism: This is played twice: once when Hercules cradles Meg's corpse in his arms, and once when he, restored to godhood, holds her listless spirit.
When Phil beats up that one civilian for making fun of his training of Achilles, he says "I'm gonna wipe that freaking grin off your face!" For television broadcasts, "freaking" is changed to "stupid".
Pragmatic Villainy: Hades' main reason for wanting Hercules dead is a prophecy says he's The Chosen One who'd defeat his scheme. Otherwise he'd have left him alone. Ironic that his attempts created a Self-Fulfilling Prophecy.
This is further shown in the crossover with Aladdin. Here Hades doesn't take it personally when Aladdin first defeats Pain and Panic. Needless to say Jafar was shocked:
Jafar: "That's it? Aladdin humiliated you! Don't you want your Revenge?
Hades: "How about I rule the cosmos first, and then I'll take it?
Fates: In 18 years, precisely, the planets will align, ever so nicely... Hades:Oy, verse.
Punctuated! For! Emphasis!: "I've got 24 hours to get rid of this bozo, or the scheme I've been setting up for 18 years goes up in smoke, and you. Are wearing. His. MERCHANDISE!?!"
Running Gag: "Two words - (insert three [or more or less] words - in a place where two words could have been used).
Interestingly, when Phil says "I am retired”, the Greek translation is “Είμαι συνταξιούχος,” which is two words.
Sadly Mythtaken: The Fates in the movie seem to have more in common with the three Grey Sisters, most notably including the single eye among them.
There are only five Muses in the movie, not nine.
The hydra also starts out with one head - and it wasn't even recognizable as a hydra until it grew many heads.
Hera is Hercules' mother. Of course, it wouldn't be very parent-friendly to say "He's the son of Zeus and some mortal chick that Zeus knocked up".
Philoctetes was never a satyr or heavily involved in the Hercules myths (his only claim to fame with the half-god was lighting his funeral pyre and gaining his bow and arrows as a reward).
Hades was never aGod of Evil in the religions of Ancient Greece and only dealt with Hercules a couple of times (such as his Trial to retrieve Cerberus). Hades was more the custodian of the afterlife and a True Neutral whose only concern was balancing the books and was pretty much Above Good and Evil most of the time.
Megara was never assaulted by Nessus (that would be Herc's second wife, Deianeira; Megara was killed by Herc himself after Hera made him loopy).
Thalia, the short plump one, seems more sassy than most.
Say My Name Trailer: Of course, the last one is Hades saying "Jerkules" (but with the voice of one of Herc's mocking classmates, from the collapsing agora scene).
Scenery Porn: Mount Olympus and Hades (The Underworld, not the villain) simply look amazing.
Shout Out: One of the Muses' sculpture incarnations during "I Won't Say (I'm In Love)" should look very familiar to fans of the Haunted Mansion ride at the Disney Theme Parks.
There is a sign that says "Over 5,000,000,000 and 1 served", a nod to the Mc Donald's Corporation.
Herc's origin story bears a striking similarity to the backstory of Superman.
The female pegasus that Pain and Panic disguise themselves as to lure Pegasus away resembles a My Little Pony, right down to having a symbol(in this case a heart) on its flank.
A seductress is sent to find out a seemingly invincible hero's weakness... Samson and Delilah, anyone?
Shown Their Work: The sheer number of references to actual Ancient Greek Religion makes it clear that the writers did, in fact, do the research.
Shut Up, Hannibal!: Swiftly delivered to Hades from Herc after climbing out of the pool.
Stealth Pun: Gospel is a genre related to praise and worship of a higher power. What better way to augment the story of Hercules than with a set of Gospel Revival Numbers? Also referenced in the Title Drop of the Muses' (three-part) opening number, "That's the gospel truth."
The Stinger: Stick around after the credits and hear the lamentations of Hades.
Totally Radical: They gave Meg, one of the more complicated and interesting Disney love interests, dialogue like "Been there, done that" and "Don't even go there." It... hasn't aged well. Phil also mentions having "been around the block before with blockheads just like you" to Hercules. He means he's trained people like Herc already, but...well, he's a satyr, and it's Ancient Greece.
Fridge Logic: Meg has served time in the Underworld so her dialogue may be somewhat out-of-date.
Pain, under the disguise of the little boy that Hercules rescues from the giant boulder says to Herc "Jeepers, Mister, you're strong!", on which Panic hangs a rather snarkylampshade.
Too Dumb to Live: You are fighting a giant serpent. You chop off its head, and three more grow back. What do you do next?
A.) You stop chopping and find another way to kill it.
B.) Idiot Ball You continue chopping until it grows a hundred heads, all trying to devour you.
"A" is obviously the better choice, right? RIGHT?
Tsundere: Megara has to qualify as an example. Look at "(I Won't Say) I'm In Love" for a perfect example of a tsuntsun-to-deredere switch.
Right before Training Montage, during the song, it looks like the trope is about to be played straight with the lines "Askin' me to jump into the fray/My answer is two words:" setting it to rhyme with something like "No way." Then he's zapped by lightning and the trope remains subverted.
Phil: [charred and smoking] O-kay.
The Latin Spanish dub is funnier because it was the only time he actually got the count right.
Ungrateful Bastard: Meg's former lover. She gave Hades her soul for him, and he repays her by running off with someone else.
Use Your Head: "Not bad! Not exactly what I had in mind, but not bad."
Viewers Are Geniuses: Most viewers are amused that Phil says he's going to say only "two words - I am retired!" which in English is of course three words. But the joke beneath the joke is that the equivalent phrase in Greek is Είμαι συνταξιούχος - which actually is only two words.
Villainous Breakdown: Hilariously subverted after Hercules survives the River Styx and frees Meg's soul from Hades.
What the Hell, Hero?: Phil calls out Hercules for being too distracted by love to see that Meg is using him. Hercules takes a flying leap to avoid the hint, takes his rage out on Phil and disowns him as his trainer, leaving Phil to mumble one last admonishment and leave him to his darkest hour.
A non-combat version applies to Icarus, which allows him to adjust to new situations (unless he's very jealours, and then acts irrational). Sometimes based on Rule of Funny—the Zeus-a-palooza had him enjoying himself while with tacky stuff around him. Icarus even takes it Up to Eleven when he portrays Hades for a one-man show, making Hades wonder "Do I really sound like that?"
A combat version applies to Hercules when he had the Alladin crossover: realizing Jafar and Hades wanted them to rush at each other without knowing the truth (they were set up to believe each one took the best fried of the other), Hercules know they can't blindly rush into the Underworld to save Abu and Icarus without a plan. Phil smiles, "YES! He CAN be taught!" Herc dons Alladin's clothes and rides Carpet, while Al rides Pegagus while wearing armor that easily falls off to let him be agile again. Once Herc is "trapped in stone" he breaks out to reveal his armor.
Been There Shaped History: Most of the episodes dumped Hercules into various Greek myths, such as replacing Phaeton (Apollo's son, who failed miserably at driving the sun chariot) and facing the Minotaur alongside Theseus (which he actually did in some versions of the myths). Thus, Hercules became responsible for practically everything in Greek mythology before he even became famous. It Makes Sense in Context.
Berserk Button: As revealed in Aladdin crossover, Hercules HATES being called "Jerkules".
Blood Knight: Nemesis, demi-goddess of vengeance. Comes with the territory.
Boot Camp Episode: The series has Herc and Icarus infiltrate Spartan Military Academy to save Adonis, who has to go through basic training in accordance to family tradition. Ironically, Cloudcuckoolander Icarus warms up to the military lifestyle.
The Cameo: In "Hercules and the Bacchanal", Ursula can be seen at the convention Phil goes to.
Sebastian and one of Ursula's eels appears in the Atlantis episode.
Cassandra Truth: With the Trope Namer being a main character, this is a given.
Cassandra: I joke and they listen. But if I foresee a shower of boiling lead, no one even puts on an umbrella.
Casting Gag: A recurring villain on the show was Echidna "the mother of all monsters" voice by Kathy Lee Gifford. In one episode, Hercules accidentally used one of Zeus's thunderbolts to destroy the mountain imprisoning her husband Typhoeus, voiced by her old talk show partner, Regis Philbin.
Merv Griffen appears as a gryphon with a talk show.
Crossover Cosmology: Hercules encounters Egyptian and Norse gods. The Olympian gods also become Roman godsnote Notably, Bacchus is never referred to as Dionysus at all, they even like their new Roman names (except Hades, see Shout Out). The Fates also moonlight as the Norns.
It's also possible for a dead Arab genie to go to the Greek underworld. (Then again, it being possible for genies to die at all is a deviation from mythology.)
In Hercules and the Big Lie, when Icarus is searching for the flower that can cure the disease Catastrophia, he utters the phrase "pluck and run."
In Hercules and the Underworld Takeover, Athena and Ares are having one of their characteristic arguments, and Athena dismisses Ares, saying, "oh, go polish your spear." Younger viewers are unlikely to think anything of it, as it makes logical sense with Ares being the god of War, but since Athena hates Ares and means it as an insult, an unfriendly double entendre is apparent.
Godly Sidestep: At the end of one episode, Zeus is about to give the meaning of life on a chat show. However, they run out of airtime just before he states it.
Icarus Allusion: Icarus himself appears. Naturally, he has a permanent tan and lightning bolt-shaped hair (except when he, Herc and Adonis are drafted to the Spartan Army; Icarus gets a crewcut and starts going gung-ho).
Fridge Brilliance / Bilingual Bonus: 'Tri' means three, and 'via' means street or way. Trivia is mentioned as also being the god of where three streets meet.
Jerkass: Adonis. He can't qualify as a Jerk Jock if he's too lazy to play sports.
How sad... because in Greek Mythology, Icarus, son of Daedalus, flew too close to the sun using artificial wings of wax and feathers, and fell to his death. It's mentioned that he did fly too close to the sun, thus the hairstyle and (purportedly) the general loopiness. (The opening of the TV cartoon had him "flaming out" and being caught by Herc and Pegasus.) He also says he "learned his lesson" and uses the wings for more lower-level gliding.
Large Ham: Hades. Also Icarus when getting into character AS Hades for the Drama Festival.
Missing Episode: At least four episodes were removed from rotation following 9/11, most notably Hercules and the Hostage Crisis which involved terroists taking over Prometheus Academy.
Never Heard That One Before: During the Aladdin crossover, Al calls him "Jerkules" during their fight. "You know, everyone thinks they're being clever when they call me that..."
Oh Crap: Aladdin gives out this expression in the Aladdin crossover when he realizes that he and Hercules made a big mistake in fighting each other.
Old Superhero: Achilles' death was retconned so that when his heel was hit he was instead crippled, and we see him as a weakened old man.
Rebellious Spirit: Electra is very anti-establishment, but Zeus only knows exactly what that is or what her real issues with it are (she and the kids like her are a heavy-handed Take That at Goths). All we know is she's happy they get detention, hates heroes as "enforcers of the established order" and can command Furies to appear whenever she's mad, leading them to attack those who annoy her.
Riddling Sphinx: The Sphinx is a quizmaster, voiced by game show host Wink Martindale. His riddle was "What does a man do standing up, a woman sitting down, and a dog on three legs?" The answer is shake hands.*
This is a reference to the induction ceremony for the Turtle Club, a real-life Brotherhood of Funny Hats, where the inductee is given a series of supposedly lewd riddles and has to give the correct, family-friendly answer to each one.
Sadly Mythtaken: Aside from the usual stuff, a number of gods that weren't in the movie make appearances some using their Roman names (Bacchus, who was Dionysus in Greece, Cupid, who was Eros). In particular the god Trivia stands out, presented here as a god of useless knowledge, where Trivia was actually the Roman name for the goddess Hecate, who makes a separate appearance of her own in the series. The only thing they got right was that he was the god of where three roads meet, which is among Hecate's schticks.
Series Continuity Error: Although the series takes place during the time period when Hercules is training with Phil, Hades seems to be already aware of him and actively trying to kill him. In the movie, Hades doesn't learn that Hercules is still alive until shortly after Hercules finishes his training.
Ship Tease: Bacchus kisses the muse Thalia on the cheek in "Hercules and the Bacchanal".
Straw Feminist: Tempest has her moments. Understandable since she's an Amazonian princess.
Super Strength: In both the movie & TV series, Hercules has shown to be a very strong being, just like the original. He can lift anvils as if they were nothing & wreck pillars with his bare hands.
Weapon Jr.: One episode has Hercules training with a "junior javelin" despite wanting to use a real one. At the end, Athena offers him any weapon in existance to beat the villain with. Having learned his lesson he asks for the training weapon, wins and turns down the offer of an actual javelin from the woman he impressed.
Weird Sun: The sun is on a chariot driven by Apollo.
2 reviews 