Ep 29. Hercules and the Hero of Athens
- October 17, 1998
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(20)
Hercules: The Animated Series is a kids' cartoon based on the popular Greek mythological figure Hercules. In season 1 episode 29, titled "Hercules and the Hero of Athens," the gang is tasked with helping out the city of Athens.
The episode starts with Hercules, Icarus, and Cassandra flying towards Athens on Pegasus. Upon reaching the city, they meet Euryale, one of the Gorgon sisters, who is attacking the city with her pet Hydra. Euryale demands that the city surrender to her, claiming that she will rule Athens as its rightful queen.
The citizens of Athens are terrified at the sight of the monstrous creatures and are unsure of what to do. Hercules steps in to save the day and starts fighting the creatures. He is met with fierce resistance, but he manages to hold them off.
To Hercules' surprise, he is suddenly aided in battle by a mysterious hero donning a golden armor and wielding a sword. The hero is revealed to be Theseus, a legendary hero who is widely known for slaying the Minotaur. The two work together to take down the Gorgons and Hydra, and Hercules is impressed with Theseus' bravery and combat skills.
After the battle, the citizens of Athens praise Hercules and Theseus for their heroism. However, tensions rise when it is revealed that the city has been divided into two factions - one group wants Theseus to be the city's ruler, while the other group wants Hercules to take command.
Theseus and Hercules are not interested in ruling over Athens and try to talk some sense into the people. They both argue that the people of Athens should be free to choose their own leaders and that picking one hero over the other would only lead to more conflict. After a lengthy debate, the citizens of Athens agree to hold an election to determine who their new leader will be.
The episode ends with a democratic election taking place. The people of Athens vote for a wise elder named Solon to be their new leader, much to the relief of Hercules and Theseus. As the two heroes fly away on Pegasus, they both agree that their adventures in Athens taught them a valuable lesson about the importance of democracy and peaceful coexistence.
In conclusion, "Hercules and the Hero of Athens" is a fun and action-packed episode of the Hercules animated series that teaches kids about the principles of democracy and the importance of peaceful conflict resolution. With its colorful cast of characters and exciting battle scenes, this episode is sure to entertain and educate children of all ages.