Ep 12. The Gauntlet

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is an American television series that aired from 1995 to 1999. It was a popular show that focused on the adventures of the mythical Greek hero Hercules, who went on various quests and battles to save people from evil forces.

Season 1 episode 12 of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is titled "The Gauntlet". In this episode, Hercules travels to the town of Aegina in response to a plea for help from his old friend Iolaus. The small town has been taken over by a group of ruthless bandits who are terrorizing the locals and stealing their food and supplies. Iolaus is one of the few remaining citizens who hasn't succumbed to the bandits' rule.

When Hercules arrives, he finds that the bandits have been forcing the locals to participate in a deadly game called "The Gauntlet". The game involves an obstacle course that the contestants must traverse while being attacked by the bandits. Those who survive and reach the end win a prize, while those who fail are killed.

Hercules decides to enter the game in order to disrupt the bandits' plans. He teams up with Iolaus, who has experience with the Gauntlet and knows its secrets. The two of them manage to make it past the first few obstacles, but they soon realize that the bandits are cheating by changing the game's rules on the fly.

Despite the odds stacked against them, Hercules and Iolaus continue to fight their way through the Gauntlet. Along the way, they meet several other contestants who have been forced to participate. These include a young girl named Rena, who is competing to win food for her sick mother, and a warrior named Angrif, who is seeking revenge against the bandits for killing his family.

As the game progresses, Hercules and Iolaus discover that the bandits are not just using the Gauntlet as a means of keeping control over the town. They are also searching for a powerful artifact hidden somewhere within the course. Hercules realizes that the artifact could be used to cause great harm if it fell into the wrong hands.

With this new information, Hercules and Iolaus make it their mission to not only complete the Gauntlet, but to find the artifact before the bandits do. The final stages of the course become increasingly difficult, and they are forced to use all of their skills and abilities to overcome the obstacles.

In the end, Hercules and Iolaus emerge victorious from the Gauntlet. They find the artifact and destroy it, preventing it from falling into the bandits' hands. With the artifact destroyed and the bandits defeated, the people of Aegina are finally able to live in peace.

Overall, "The Gauntlet" is an exciting episode of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys that showcases the hero's bravery and skill. The episode's themes of friendship, perseverance, and the fight against oppression make it a memorable addition to the show's first season.