Written by George Strayton and Tom O Neill
Directed by Bruce Campbell
The Archangel Michael has been sent to unleash the four horsemen of the apocalypse
Tropes
- Back from the Dead: Iolaus
- Berate and Switch: Michael has a little fun with Iolaus before sending him off, claiming to chastise him for his supposed betrayal.Michael: You are expelled from this realm and condemned... to continue your life at Hercules's side.
- Big Damn Heroes: Hercules interrpts a virgin sacrifice at the last moment.
- Call-Back: Hercules having to take Iolaus's hand echoes the attempt to separate him from Dahak. Iolaus also profusely apologizes for the whole experience with the demon.
- Deadpan Snarker: Ares remarks he really hates Hercules and Iolaus's tendency to snark at every turn, especially at his expense.
- Easily Forgiven: When Iolaus starts apologizing about what happened with Dahak, Hercules reassures him it's not an issue.
- Enemy Mine: Ares joins Hercules and Iolaus if only to prevent losing too many lives.
- Et Tu, Brute?: How Ares feels about the War Horseman deflecting a blast back at him.
- Evil Versus Oblivion: Why Ares teams up with Hercules and Iolaus. Michael's power substantially dwarfing his own makes him skeptical of surviving what's coming.
- Good All Along: Michael was just testing humanity. He congratulates Hercules for passing the test and gives Iolaus a new lease on life.
- Hero of Another Story: Iolaus is one of the Light's guardians and briefly alludes to some of the fantastic things he's seen.
- Horsemen of the Apocalypse: Michael is releasing them one after another in order to bring about the end of the world. According to Iolaus, they were the original guardians of the Light and rebelled when others were added to their ranks.
- Humans Are Bastards: Why humanity is facing the Horsemen. The whole thing turns out to be a Secret Test of Character, but the test was deemed necessary for a reason.Iolaus: Look around. People have changed. There hasn't been a night in over a thousand winters where someone hasn't been robbed, beaten, or killed. And believe me, someone is keeping track.
- Humanity on Trial: The general idea is that humanity has already been found guilty, which is why Michael's at work. Hercules refuses to give up, which is actually what the Light wants.Michael: Mankind has squandered its gifts. Time and time again, it has chosen to turn its back upon the Light and so the time has come to purify the world.
Hercules: I am not going to let you punish everyone for the crimes of a few. - Humble Hero: When Michael congratulates him for passing the test, Hercules reminds him that Iolaus risked his soul to warn him in the first place. Michael commends this humility.
- I Warned You: As Ares continues to resist, Michael tells him to just stop embarrassing himself. After Ares throws an axe, Michael catches it and says this trope before letting the Horsemen blast him away.
- Innocuously Important Episode: Michael would go on to be a recurring character over on Xena: Warrior Princess.
- Late to the Realization: It takes Ares a moment to remember that Iolaus is supposed to be dead.
- Man Hug: Hercules and Iolaus upon being reunited.
- No-Sell: Ares's energy blast means nothing to Michael. Hercules fares even worse.
- People Puppets: While expressing his frustration to the heroes over starving soldiers being unable to fight, Ares forces one starving guy to act out what it looks like.Hercules: We don't have time for your puppet show, Ares.
- The Power of Friendship: Michael points out that Hercules and Iolaus's friendship is also what renewed the Light's faith in humanity. He remarks the world would be a better place if more had the same sense of devotion and loyalty that the two heroes have for each other.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Ares acknowledges how he doesn't want the world destroyed any more than the heroes do.
- Rewatch Bonus: In light of the whole thing being a Secret Test of Character.Michael: Weigh your decision carefully, Hercules. It will determine your destiny.
- Secret Test of Character: The whole thing is revealed to have been a test to see if humanity deserved another chance, with Hercules being the primary subject. Hercules putting himself on the line to protect Iolaus is considered proof that all humans have the capability to do the same.
- Shout-Out: "Well, well, the Dynamic Duo together again."
- This Cannot Be!: Hercules is really having trouble processing how he was able to pull Iolaus out of a lake.
- We Need a Distraction: Iolaus and Ares keep the Horsemen busy, while Hercules faces Michael alone.
- Wham Episode: Iolaus returns to life.
- Wham Line: "Hercules! Need your help. End of world."
- Wham Shot: Iolaus appearing in the fountain.
- The Worf Effect: Not that Ares wasn't already reduced to Butt-Monkey status in this season, but still, a reminder that he used to be the Big Bad of past seasons. Here, he was easily defeated by Michael the Archangel, forcing him and Hercules to team-up.
