Written by Noreen Tobin and Gene O'Neill
Directed by Robert Radler
This episode provides examples of:
- Adaptational Villainy: Similar to Hercules and Xena – The Animated Movie: The Battle for Mount Olympus, Mnemosyne is portrayed as openly vicious and having aided her brothers in the war against the Olympians. She's prepared to kill Hercules on sight just for being a son of Zeus and only refrains because Dahak poses a threat to her future ambitions.
- Bad "Bad Acting": "Iolaus" claiming to have reasserted control and urging Hercules to strike him dead.
- Balance Between Good and Evil: Zarathrustra explains that all things possess the impulses to create or destroy, such as how water can save a thirsty man or drown him. He says that the world exists in a state of harmony so long as the balance is maintained, but Dahak's actions (such as killing the Sumerian gods and the Druids) have been progressively weakening it. If his Thanatos Gambit succeeds, the balance will permanently be broken in evil's favor and plunge the world into chaos.
- Berserk Button:
- Dahak tries to goad Hercules into losing his temper in front of civilians by condemning him for his supposed crimes, including murdering the Druids. Hercules remains calm as can be, though Morrigan almost loses it.
- Dahak is certain that the sight of Morrigan dead on an altar will drive Hercules into a murderous frenzy.
- Call-Back:
- Hercules gets through to Jason by referencing how they practically grew up together and how he attended Jason and Alcmene's wedding.
- In addition to Druids, the death of the Sumerian gods is mentioned as another way Dahak has disrupted the Balance Between Good and Evil.
- Cliffhanger: "Let the exorcism begin."
- Continuity Nod: Pretending to be Iolaus, Dahak references the first time Jason found the Golden Fleece (which was shown in the Young Hercules Pilot Movie).
- Darkest Hour: Dahak's plan is meant to force Hercules to either plunge the world into chaos or be forced to do nothing while he conquers the world. The only way out is performing an exorcism, but the only one who knows how do that simply witnessed the ritual a long time ago, so there's no guarantee of success.
- Demonization: Taking advantage of Hercules's lengthy absence from Greece, Dahak convinced the locals that Herc went insane and found a way to kill the Olympians, thus driving them away. By the time he gets back, Hercules is denounced as a traitor and madman. Even Jason falls for it, though he's quickly talked out of it.
- Divine Conflict: The episode reveals that the Titans were challenged for control of Earth by Dahak. They narrowly defeated him and sealed him away, but the struggle left them weak enough for the Olympians to then rise up.
- Easily Condemned: Hercules, Greece's most famous and beloved hero, is demonized as a crazed madman out to kill the Olympians. Though some of this can be justified by Dahak taking advantage of Herc's lengthy absence and long-stated opposition to the gods, it still comes across as a bit too easy, given Herc's history and lofty reputation. Even Jason falls for it, though he is quickly reasoned with.
- End of an Age: With Dahak's ultimate plan leaving few options for Hercules, Zarathrustra is left wondering if mankind has simply had its turn and if a new era is about to begin. Hercules isn't ready to call it quits yet, though. Dahak tells Nebula that he will be building a new world by first destroying the old one.
- Evil Laugh: Dahak is prone to this. It's even how the episode ends.
- Fake Defector: Nebula fakes siding with Dahak in order to take him by surprise during the big fight.
- Faking the Dead: With materials provided by the other prisoners, Jason fakes hanging himself in his cell. Once the guards open the door to check on him, he takes them by surprise, locks them inside, frees the other prisoners, and leaves to meet up with Hercules.
- Flashback: Touching the coffin, Zarathrustra sees Dahak enterining Iolaus's body and breaking free of the bandages.
- Foreshadowing: The Olympians are in hiding. Though Ares will appear in the next episode, the whereabouts of the others won't be addressed until a little later.
- Friendship Moment: Hercules gets through to Jason by reminding him of their long history as friends. It works.
- I Am X, Son of Y: Hercules does this to get Mnemosyne's full attention.Hercules: Sorry to drop by uninvited. I'm Hercules, son of Zeus.
- Imposter Forgot One Detail: Dahak continues trying to convince Hercules that he is Iolaus, saying he spent a lifetime watching him fight the Olympians and can't believe he's defending them now that he has the power to kill them. Hercules reminds Dahak that the real Iolaus would know that his deeds were never about getting rid of the Olympians, just stopping them from interfering with humanity.
- It Amused Me: Subverted in the reconverted temple. When Hercules starts to realize how easy their fight is going, Dahak claims he's just trying to give him a fighting chance out of pure amusement. Herc doesn't buy it for a second.
- It Sucks to Be the Chosen One: Zarathrustra says evil is drawn to Hercules because he is the perfect union of man and god.
- Kick the Dog: The part that stings Hercules the most about being demonized.Hercules: Olivia, you were my mother's best friend. You know me.
Olivia: I don't know who you are anymore. I'm just glad Alcmene isn't here to see what you've become.
Hercules: [to Dahak] This is round one. [walks away] - Leaking Can of Evil: Mnemosyne was imprisoned in a lava pit. She is able to move about the cavern and talk with any visitors, but she's otherwise trapped.
- Morton's Fork: As Zarathrustra notes, Dahak's plan is to force this on Hercules. If Dahak is struck dead while possessing Iolaus, the Balance Between Good and Evil will be broken in evil's favor. If Dahak is left alone, he will slowly conquer the world with an ever-growing army of followers.
- My Greatest Failure: One thousand years ago, Zarathrustra was a willing and devoted servant of Dahak. He was to be used for the same ritual that Iolaus was, but at the last moment, he felt compelled to resist and thus prevented Dahak from entering the world. Dahak retaliated by murdering his wife and children and cursing him with immortality so that he would never be reunited with them. Zarathrustra hopes that by stopping Dahak now, he will be released from his curse and reunited with his family.
- Neck Lift: Dahak does this to Nebula after she betrays him.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Dahak talking about how he wants to return to the days "before the Olympians graced the skies" is what gives Hercules the idea to seek out a Titan for advice. He quickly learns how to restrain Dahak.
- Noodle Incident:
- Zeus imprisoned Mnemosyne in the lava pit, during the war against the Titans.
- Zarathrustra says he once witnessed an exorcism and adds it wasn't pleasant.
- Not Good with Rejection: Dahak concedes he overreacted when Nebula rejected him. Nebula plays to this as part of her Fake Defector plan.
- Pragmatic Villainy: Mnemosyne tells Hercules where to find the Stone of Creation because, as she says, Dahak coming to power means she'll never have the chance to get revenge against Zeus.
- Properly Paranoid: In the temple, Hercules realizes Dahak is letting him win as part of a larger plan because their fight isn't as hard as it should be.
- Race Against the Clock: Mnemosyne tells Hercules how to use the Stone of Creation to restrain Dahak, but she warns it will only last until sunset. This becomes more of an issue when Hercules (warned what will happen if he kills Dahak) opts for an exorcism, which will take time to pull off.
- Red Eyes, Take Warning: Dahak when ordering his followers to attack Hercules, Jason, and Zarathrustra.
- Screw This, I'm Outta Here:Hercules: What have you done with the Olympians?
Dahak: The real question is, what have they done with themselves? They left before I arrived, but don't worry. I'll find them. - Shut Up, Hannibal!:Dahak: If you don't kill me now, I'll take the whole world soul by soul!
Hercules: Oh, lighten up! [activates the Stone of Creation] - Sins of Our Fathers: Mnemosyne is more than willing to roast Hercules for Zeus imprisoning her in the lava pit. She only refrains when Hercules tells her that Dahak has returned.
- Take a Third Option: Hercules can't kill Dahak while he's possessing Iolaus or let him run free, so he wants to attempt an exorcism in order to separate him from Iolaus.
- Thanatos Gambit: Dahak's long-term plan hinges on Hercules killing him while in Iolaus's body. Doing so would send Dahak back into his realm, but it would also damn Iolaus (an innocent soul) to the same fate. The Big Good doing this would permanently break an already weakened Balance Between Good and Evil.
- Unwitting Pawn: Dahak tricks most Greeks with his god of light con, advancing his own agenda by turning them against Hercules. He privately tells Hercules that they are such sheep.
- Villain with Good Publicity: With Hercules away for so long and the Olympians having fled, Dahak (pretending to be Iolaus) styles himself as the god of light bringing prosperity and protection back to Greece. By the time Hercules and friends arrive, the god of light has many willing followers.
- Villainous Crush: Dahak actually did fall for Nebula and is completely taken by surprise over her not really siding with him.
- Weakened by the Light: Perfect light channeled through the Stone of Creation leaves Dahak restrained.
- Who Wants to Live Forever?: Zarathrustra was cursed with immortality by Dahak so that he could never see his family again.
- Wounded Gazelle Gambit: During their first fight, Dahak fakes Iolaus regaining control so that Hercules can strike him down. Hercules realizes the truth, saying it's all way too simple.
- Xanatos Gambit: Hercules and Zarathrustra observe how Dahak wins if his Thanatos Gambit succeeds and how he'll be free to corrupt more souls if Hercules refrains from killing him.
