Hercules finds an opportunity to attain godhood when Loki, the Trickster God of Norse Mythology, offers him the opportunity to become the God of Thunder.
This episode contains examples of:
- All Myths Are True: Here it's revealed that not only are the Greek Gods and the various monsters of Classical Mythology a thing, but the Aesir of Norse Mythology real as well.
- An Aesop: Take no shortcuts to greatness. Greatness must be earned.
- Cast of Expies: It's noted that some of the Norse Gods bare a startling resemblance to the Greek Ones. Loki is in the same blue-shade as Hades, Odin's curly hair looks like Zeus', Hermod looks like Hermes, Thor looks like Apollo, Fenrir and the Ice Giants are a stand-in for the Titans and The Norns are definitely The Fates pretending to be someone else.
- Composite Character: Here it's revealed that The Fates are also The Norns from Norse Mythology, though they deny it.Phil: I'm tellin' yah, they're double-dippin'.
- Distracted by the Sexy: While Phil tries to dissuade Hercules by bidding for the role of Thunder-God, Loki talks him into with by describing the Valkyries and how keen they would be to meet him.
- Dumb Muscle: Hero Rule #9 is "Giants are Dumb", though they are too dumb to trick with quick maneuvers.
- Failed a Spot Check: It doesn't occur to Hercules that Loki's flattery might have had an ulterior motive until Atropos (posing as a Norn) points out that he is called a Trickster God.
- Fantastic Racism: Loki seemed mildly annoyed when Phil called him a "Barbarian."
- Genre Savvy: Odin is quick to tell Loki "no funny business" when he makes a point that Divine Intervention is against the rules of the competition. It doesn't stop Loki from doing it anyway and succeeding.
- Hell of a Heaven: While Valhalla is described as a wonder to behold, when they get there it doesn't look that much different from a frost-covered inn in the Grim Up North. The ghostly warriors that live there don't seem to mind it too much though.
- Hypocritical Humor: Jorgen and Sven comment on Hercules' "drafty" attire, but the many vikings and Norse Gods are shown wearing region-inaccurate tunics too.
- Logical Weakness: Being Snowlems, Hercules defeats the Ice Giants by holding the sun up to them.
- Misplaced Accent: Jorgen and Sven sound more like they belong in Minnesota than in Scandinavia in any era, though this could be a Shout-Out to the "Minnesota Vikings" football team.
- Mythology Gag: On top of the Norse Gods baring a resemblance to the Greek Gods, the events of Ragnarok bare an odd resemblance to when Hades freed the Titans in the movie.
- Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: Hercules accidentally breaks Fenrir free of his ice prison when he throws Mjölnir at Loki.
- Prophecy Twist: The prophecies of Ragnarok apparently state that Thor must wield Mjölnir to defeat Fenris, which is why Loki sought to manipulate events by making Hercules the Norse God of Thunder on the reasoning that this means Thor wouldn't wield the hammer himself. Ultimately, while Thor reclaims his title and hammer, Hercules is the key to defeating Fenris and Loki; as Odin subsequently observes, the prophecy stated that Thor had to wield Mjölnir for the Gods to prevail, but nothing said that he had to hit anything with it.
- Rhymes on a Dime: After Phil partakes in the Mead of Poetry, he speaks in verse for most of the episode.
- Sadly Mythtaken: A whole new mythology means a whole new swath of details to get wrong.
- The Valkyries serve Phil the Mead of Poetry, a drink that Odin would only give to his fellow gods and accomplished bards and skalds. Sacred Hospitality or not, it would be unlikely that he would just let any satyr that shows up have any.
- In mythology, Mjölnir was made custom for Thor by dwarves. He never had to fight for the title of "God of Thunder" with any competitors. Also, Mjölnir was notable for having a small handle, but here the handle is more well-balance, though it would certainly be small in Thor's hand.
- Now the events of Ragnarok: in Norse Mythology, Fenrir was bound with a magic ribbon made by dwarves, not in ice (and he didn't have ice breath, neither). Loki didn't free Fenrir; he freed himself. Loki would have been imprisoned under the Earth at this time, Ragnarok being the thing that freed him. Surtr or Jormungander are absent, and everyone was meant to die in the ensuing conflict.
- Screaming Warrior: Thor speaks in perpetual shouting.
- Unwitting Pawn: Loki has Hercules bid for the title of God of Thunder because he knows how green-horned he is, ensuring that Ragnarok goes off without a hitch without Thor to beat Fenrir.
