Written by Robert Bielak
Directed by Gus Trikonis
Serena is murdered and Hercules is to blame, causing Iolaus, Xena and Gabrielle to help clear his name.
Tropes
- Batman Gambit:
- After Xena seemingly kills Hercules and Iolaus, Ares and Strife appear. They gloat about forcing Hercules into killing Serena to not only break his spirit but also turn Xena towards evil again. It is then revealed that Hercules and Iolaus are very much alive and only faked their deaths to find out who really did it.
- Ares has a two-pronged one running. Rather than have Serena killed right away, Ares has Strife play subtle mind games that affect Hercules's temper. The public outbursts go a long way towards convincing the villagers that he's gone mad and murdered Serena. Also, in addition to being rid of his half-brother, Ares reveals he was also manipulating things to force Xena back into his service.
- Being Good Sucks: Zeus never once doubts that Hercules is innocent, but he had to wait for the heroes to prove it before he could directly intervene and restore Herc's strength. The most he could do in the meantime was offer Hercules shelter while in disguise as Veklos.
- Better as Friends: Xena acknowledges how she and Hercules are well-past the point they could've become a couple.
- Big Bad Wannabe: When discussing his reward for all this, Strife again makes it clear he wants to raise his profile and be more than just the war god's nephew.
- Big Damn Heroes:
- At the loom of the Fates, Ares is about to cut Hercules's thread, but Zeus angrily orders him to stop.
- As the mob overwhelms Hercules and Iolaus, Xena arrives.
- Strife has Hercules on the ropes, but Veklos suddenly appears to help Herc up. A surge of energy restores Herc's strength, and the old man is revealed to be Zeus.
- Big "NO!": Invoked by Xena as part of the heroes' plan, after Iolaus seemingly kills Hercules.
- Bittersweet Ending: Hercules is exonerated and restored to full power, but Serena is dead and his relationship with Zeus is more strained than ever.
- Bond Villain Stupidity: Justified. With Hercules a mere mortal now, it would be substantially easier for Ares to kill him outright or at least send someone to do it rather than engage in his lengthy plan, but getting rid of Herc is only one objective; the other part is forcing Xena back into his service and that is contingent on Hercules being framed for murder. Additionally, as demonstrated at the loom of the Fates, any of the gods trying to kill a de-powered Hercules still earns a confrontation from a very angry Papa Wolf.
- Break the Badass: In the Fates' chamber, Ares is noticeably unnerved when Zeus confronts and yells at him.
- Calling the Old Man Out:Zeus: Son, you know I can't undo what the gods have done.
Hercules: I don't want to hear about the other gods! I mean, this is twice now that you've turned your back on me and my family!
Zeus: It's not that easy. I have other responsibilities.
Hercules: Since when have you been responsible for anything? When? - Clear My Name: Hercules, accused of killing his wife Serena.
- Continuity Nod: Xena thanks Iolaus for helping Gabrielle recently.
- Crossover: With Xena: Warrior Princess. It's also the first time that Gabrielle appears in the show.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: After grasping that he's up against a de-powered Hercules, Strife has the upperhand and gladly exploits it. When Zeus restores his Super-Strength, however, Hercules delivers an even more vicious beatdown.
- De-power: Hercules is still depowered, to the point that he struggles in combat against normal foes.
- Didn't See That Coming: The heroes had deduced that Ares was behind the Frame-Up, but Xena is openly surprised that Strife was the one who killed Serena.
- Disney Death: It appeared that Xena had killed Iolaus, who appeared to have killed Hercules, but it is later revealed that the two faked their own deaths to get a confession out of Strife and Ares.
- Don't Ask: Hercules's response to Iolaus asking how the chat with Zeus went.
- Due to the Dead: Hercules holds a memorial for Serena. Iolaus, Xena, and Gabrielle attend.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Under his breath, Ares chides Zeus for how his dalliances always get in the way of his duties.
- Facepalm: Ares when the restored Hercules begins pummeling Strife.
- Faking the Dead: The heroes' plan to get Ares and Strife to reveal their plan to the public. With some carefully placed goat skin, Iolaus seemingly kills Hercules during a confrontation, to which Xena seemingly kills him in a rage in response. It works, though an annoyed Iolaus points out the hole in his jacket and says Xena cut it a little close.Gabrielle: Well, it had to look real.
Iolaus: Another couple of centimeters, it would've been real! - Five-Second Foreshadowing: When Veklos demands Ares play fair, he and Strife suddenly become apprehensive. They know Veklos is really Zeus in disguise.
- Forgot About His Powers: Hercules beats up Strife even when the former doesn't have his strength. Ares had to remind him that as a god Strife should be wiping the floor with Hercules.Ares: Fight him, you pathetic little fool. You're a god. USE YOUR POWERS!
- Green-Eyed Monster: After learning at a tavern that Hercules got married, Xena storms out and heads for the new couple's home. Gabrielle openly suspects this of Xena, much to the irritation of the Warrior Princess.
- Grief Song: Xena sings her famous song while Hercules mourns the death of his wife.
- "Hell, Yes!" Moment: The other heroes when Zeus restores Hercules's Super-Strength.
- Heroic BSoD:
- Hercules, as he mourns Serena.
- Iolaus is left by the prospect of Hercules being branded as a wife-killer and rotting in prison.
- He's Back!: "Strife, I'm back."
- Honor Before Reason:
- Hercules insists on not hiding from the mob, despite not having his strength anymore. He ends up suffering for that.
- Iolaus contemplates confessing to the murder so that Hercues will be spared the shame and humiliation of imprisonment.
- I Lied: Ares's response to Iolaus calling him out on breaking the previous episode's deal.
- Just Between You and Me: When Xena starts questioning how he pulled it off, Ares openly defies this by saying he'll keep that secret to himself. Strife, however, gladly boasts about what happened and gives the whole game away to the heroes and various onlookers.
- Megaton Punch: The restored Hercules's first act is to punch Strife into a barn on the other side of the courtyard.
- Mirthless Laughter: When Hercules enters the barn, Strife can be heard doing this before Herc throws him through a wall.
- No-Holds-Barred Beatdown: Strife pummels a powerless Hercules, but it's absolutely nothing compared to the beatdown that a restored Herc gives him. Strife is left begging for Ares to intervene.
- Noodle Incident: Ares takes Strife to the sight of the Battle of Torrance, describing the bloody scene brought about by Xena's army.Ares: She led her army through her opponent's infantry like flies. Limbs were scattered everywhere! It was beautiful.
- Not-So-Harmless Villain: Strife reveals that he was the one who murdered Serena in her sleep.Xena: You killed her.
Strife: Yeah, like I said, it was easy. - Papa Wolf: Ares's attempt to cut Hercules's thread of life gets him a reminder of his place in the pecking order and why the protection rule isn't to be violated.Ares: Zeus!
Zeus: Who gave you permission?!
Ares: This has already been dealt with. The other gods have voted.
Zeus: And I wasn't informed?! - The Power of Friendship: After the Frame-Up begins, Iolaus doesn't doubt Hercules for a second. Xena and Gabrielle are naturally in his corner, too.
- Properly Paranoid:
- Zeus openly doubts that Hercules did anything wrong here, all while staring intently at Ares.
- After being brought up to speed, Xena immediately deduces that the gods are at work.
- The Reveal: The old man helping Hercules was Zeus in disguise.
- Required Spinoff Crossover: Xena and Gabrielle drop by. It is notably the last major crossover when both shows were running concurrently; any later appearances by Xena and Gabrielle will be counterparts from parallel universes or alternate timeline rather than as themselves. According to Rob Tapert, there would've been more major crossovers between the shows in following seasons, but the studio balked at the extra expense required for one show's leads to appear on the other.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: Unlike other fights in the series, the pummeling from the mob leaves Hercules with severe injuries and barely conscious. It takes quite a bit of effort from Xena to patch him up.
- Tempting Fate: Atropos warns Ares that he can't cut Hercules's thread of life, due to Zeus's protection. Ares ignores her, and Zeus immediately pops in to yell at him.
- We Will Meet Again:Hercules: Ares, this isn't over yet!
Ares: No, it isn't. [teleports away] - You Have Failed Me: Ares could've stopped Hercules from pummeling Strife right away, but he clearly hangs back to punish his nephew for revealing the plan and causing Herc's power to be restored.
