All that Glitters

Season 2, Episode 2, Aired
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Episode Summary

The beautiful Voluptua persuaded the legendary King Midas to create the Touch of Gold gambling palace. Hercules and Salmoneus visited the palace, where they discovered corruption and avarice. Hercules was even tricked into fighting soldiers as part of a show. When Midas had an ethical change of heart, Voluptua's henchman Segallus roughed him up and incarcerated him. To free the king and his daughter, Flaxen, Hercules beat a succession of adversaries in the boxing arena and defeated Segallus as well. Inspired, the townspeople revolted against Voluptua and destroyed the palace.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (2)

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  • Hercules' helps King Midas defeat the Golden Touch.

    5.0
    "Mediocre"
    By rhondaweasley, Dec 07, 2008 Report Abuse
    The second episode, "All that Glitters" is about King Midas and features Salmoneus as Hercules' companion of the week. It also stars Jennifer Ward-Leland (Micheal Hurst's wife) as the villian Voluptua. Herc has a girl-of-the-week in the form of the beautiful Princess Flaxen. King Midas has apparently started a Gambling "Palace" called "the golden touch" and the place is slowly destroying his kingdom as everyone works for the palace or is losing money at it (turns out even his own daughter is a dancer there). But when Hercules comes to talk him out of it, he discovers the king really isn't in charge. Then Hera gets involved and... well... you know... hates step-son, grants evil follower an evil weapon to destroy him. With the exception of Salmoneus' running gag with a bearded lady who wants him, there isn't much about this that sticks. In fact, beyond the fact Sal is always funny and a welcome addition to the episode it runs kind of flat all around. And while I don't mind the plays on the "modern issues", things like the whole Princess-is-a-stripper thing, with Hercules convincing her to leave "the bussiness" just don't work for me. Especially in Herc's world. The episode wasn't bad, but one of my least favorites in all. The one good thing I can say is Jennifer Ward-Leland is another one of the brilliant actors and changelings of the Herc/Xena world as it's hard to believe this is the woman who will play the incredible Boadicea in the Xena season 3 episode "The Deliver" and Zehra in Season 4's "The Play's the Thing".moreless

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  • Hercules and Salmoneus visit King Midas' gambling palace, only to find that it has got out of control with sadistic entertainment after it was taken over by a villainess and her henchman, in this average installment...moreless

    7.0
    "Good"
    By Jay-Spacedust, Oct 28, 2007 Report Abuse
    As we move more into the second season, we start to move from the fresh-feeling stories of the first season into more production-line episodes.

    Of note is that villainess of the piece Voluptua prays to Hera, one of the last instances of Hera being used as she was phased out for a wider rang of nemesis to be used in the series.
    Incidentally, Jennifer Ward-Layland, who plays Voluptua, is the wife of Michael 'Iolaus' Hurst.

    Although it's an interesting spin that they put on King Midas in this episode, I feel that they could have had more scope and more fun using him with his traditional ability of turning things into gold.

    I don't dislike this episode, but I didn't find it the most grabbing of stories. Once you've seen it once, it doesn't have much re-watchable value, whereas some other episodes can be watched over and over again. I also think it might have fared slightly better tucked deeper into the season, not so near the beginning.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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  • Notes

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    • Jennifer Ward-Lealand is the real-life wife of Michael Hurst (Iolaus). Edit
    • Apparently King Midas' "Ironheads" and Joxer the Mighty go to the same haberdasher, because they wear the same style helmet. Edit
    • Disclaimer: No Stuffed Elephants were harmed during the production of this motion picture. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Segallus: This man claims to be Hercules. Voluptua: So prove it- do something strong. Edit
    • Flaxen: (when Hercules questions her seductive dance routine) It's not the end of the world. My father shakes hands and I shake... Hercules: (interrupting) I get your point. Edit
    • Salmoneus: (teaching Hercues how to gamble at cards) Now watch closely. This is how it's done. Hit me. (The dealer punches him) Hercules: Well, you did ask for it. Salmoneus: That's not how we play where I come from! Edit

  • Allusions

    ADD ALLUSIONS
    • Third Boxer: I float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Famous quote from the Heavyweight Champion boxer Muhammad Ali. Edit

    • Salmoneus: Luck be a lady tonight!

      This is a song from the broadway show Guys and Dolls that was later made into a movie, and Frank Sinatra sang it as well.

      Edit
    • Hercules: (smelling a drink) Lotus leaf nectar- doesn't that make you forget? The Lotus Eaters were a race visited by Odysseus (Ulysses) on his ten year voyage home from the Trojan War. His crew succumbed to the seduction of the drink, and forgot their desire to return home, but Odysseus refused to indulge. Edit

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