Beginning with the murder of his wife and children by his step-mother Goddess Hera, the show launched Hercules tale of revenge in the same style it and its shared programmes would stay true to till the end, massive cheese. Hercules and his friend Iolas saved villagers from a range of mythical creatures with much of that Raimi-Tapert humour sewn into the fabric of the show before it launched an arguably more successful spin-off in Xena. Xena followed the tale of the warrior princess turned from evil to good on a tale of redemption with her own sidekick Gabrielle. Then, there's the Ryan Gosling one.
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Ran: 6 Seasons (1995 till 1999)
Episodes: 5 TV Movie and 111 Episodes
In ancient Greece the half human son of Zeus lives a quiet life having given up his adventuring days until his family is murdered by his step-mother Hera. Setting out for revenge the show follows his journeys. Despite that set up a tongue was firmly in cheek as a low budget slapstick tone was hit, the show regularly aiming light in its delivery. The main storyline tweaked as Hercules moved on from villain to villain but the formula was broadly the same throughout. The show never received a proper send off as it was cancelled after Sorbo played hardball over a contract that would have seen him continue in the role for Season 7, 8 and 9. Instead, the network pulled the plug just eight episodes in to the sixth season and the journey ended.
Xena: Warrior Princess
Ran: 6 Seasons (1995 till 2001)
Episodes: 134 Episodes
Though the show maintained the same cheesy style as Hercules, it at times wasn't afraid to delve into darker territory to show the trials Xena would face in her road to redemption. Over the course of its run the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle became more central whilst the overall arc became more and more like a televised God of War without the violence and she took on God after God. In time it proved more successful and popular than the show that had born it.
Young Hercules
Ran: 1 Season (1998 till 1999)
Episodes: 51 Episodes
Following a young Ryan Gosling as Hercules during his training days, the shows main aim focused around Ares attempts to thwart his half-brother. Despite its quick cancellation the show was able to create a large volume of episodes very quickly to suit the needs of Fox Kids, the channel it was intended for.
Share your thoughts and memories of Hercules and Xena!
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys
Ran: 6 Seasons (1995 till 1999)
Episodes: 5 TV Movie and 111 Episodes
In ancient Greece the half human son of Zeus lives a quiet life having given up his adventuring days until his family is murdered by his step-mother Hera. Setting out for revenge the show follows his journeys. Despite that set up a tongue was firmly in cheek as a low budget slapstick tone was hit, the show regularly aiming light in its delivery. The main storyline tweaked as Hercules moved on from villain to villain but the formula was broadly the same throughout. The show never received a proper send off as it was cancelled after Sorbo played hardball over a contract that would have seen him continue in the role for Season 7, 8 and 9. Instead, the network pulled the plug just eight episodes in to the sixth season and the journey ended.
Xena: Warrior Princess
Ran: 6 Seasons (1995 till 2001)
Episodes: 134 Episodes
Though the show maintained the same cheesy style as Hercules, it at times wasn't afraid to delve into darker territory to show the trials Xena would face in her road to redemption. Over the course of its run the relationship between Xena and Gabrielle became more central whilst the overall arc became more and more like a televised God of War without the violence and she took on God after God. In time it proved more successful and popular than the show that had born it.
Young Hercules
Ran: 1 Season (1998 till 1999)
Episodes: 51 Episodes
Following a young Ryan Gosling as Hercules during his training days, the shows main aim focused around Ares attempts to thwart his half-brother. Despite its quick cancellation the show was able to create a large volume of episodes very quickly to suit the needs of Fox Kids, the channel it was intended for.
Share your thoughts and memories of Hercules and Xena!
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