Ep 16. Let the Games Begin

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys season 2 episode 16 titled "Let the Games Begin" sees the return of Iolaus. Iolaus has been away in Athens training for the Panathenian Games. The Games bring together competitors from all over Greece to compete in various events, and Iolaus has his heart set on winning the chariot race.

However, things take a turn when Iolaus realizes that he is up against some tough competitors, including Prince Alexander, who is favored to win. To make matters worse, Iolaus learns that Prince Alexander has been cheating in all of his past competitions, and he is determined to make sure that he doesn't cheat his way to victory again.

Meanwhile, Hercules is dealing with his own problems. He is approached by King Melkos, who is worried that his kingdom is under threat from a group of bandits who have been terrorizing his people. Hercules agrees to help and sets out to defeat the bandits.

As the day of the Games approaches, Iolaus discovers that Prince Alexander has hired a group of thugs to sabotage his chariot. With the help of Hercules, Iolaus sets out to stop them and save his chances of winning the race. The two friends devise a plan to catch the saboteurs in the act, but things don't go as planned, and they are forced to improvise.

When the day of the Games finally arrives, Iolaus is nervous but determined. He manages to make it through the first round of the chariot race and is one of the final competitors. However, his chariot is damaged during the race, and he is forced to abandon it. With no other options, Iolaus uses his wits to come up with a new plan and takes a gamble that could either win him the race or cost him everything.

Meanwhile, Hercules is busy fighting off the bandits and manages to single-handedly defeat them. He returns to the Games just in time to watch Iolaus make his final run. The race is intense and comes down to the wire, but Iolaus manages to pull out a win, much to the excitement of the crowd.

As the episode draws to a close, Iolaus celebrates his victory with Hercules, and the two friends realize that they make a great team. The episode ends on a positive note as the two friends ride off into the sunset, ready to face whatever challenges come their way in the future adventures.