When I first saw this episode, about a decade ago now, to be honest it didn't do much for me at all. Now, re-watching it years later, I've come to quite like it.
The Hind is played by Sam Jenkins, the future wife of Kevin Sorbo, who had already played a different character a few episodes previously, in 'Prince Hercules'.
Although Hercules has encountered his half-brother Ares in more 'abstract' forms in a few previous episodes, this is the first time he has appeared in the series as played by Kevin Smith, who had already played Ares in a few 'Xena: Warrior Princess' stories.
This story also introduces Joel Tobeck as minor God Strife. With all due respect to Tobeck, I never took to Strife at all. He speaks, similar to Aphrodite, with 'humorous' (!) modern lingo, and for me sums up how the series was moving towards more purely comedy-based characters.
The story is reasonably interesting. I couldn't deduce if we were not supposed to realise that Serena and the Hind were one and the same until it was revealed mid-episode I personally worked it out straight away.
I think one of the reasons that this story works is that it has its roots in actual mythology (albeit tweaked to suit the story) as opposed to the many silly mish-mash of stories of the season.
Although this wouldn't make my top ten episode list, I have grown to quite appreciate this episode. The story is concluded next episode.moreless
Episode Summary
EDIT
Prince Nestor wanted the golden horns and hooves of Serena, the beautiful half-woman half-deer known as the Golden Hind. Nestor also wanted to kill Hercules with an arrow dipped in the Golden Hind's blood, and that was a plan Ares could embrace. After Hercules freed the Hind from a thorn wall trap, Ares presented the blood-stained thorns to Nestor. But Hercules evaded the prince's arrows, and Nestor was killed in one of his own traps. Out of danger, Serena and Hercules acknowledged their love for each other and hoped to find a way to stay together.moreless
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GUEST STAR
Timothy James AdamSoldier #1
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GUEST STAR
Graham LauderTrapper #1
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GUEST STAR
Rodney DunningLieutenant
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Kevin Sorbo
Hercules
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Michael Hurst O.N.Z.M.
Iolaus
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
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TRIVIA (2)
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Goof: When Nestor is running through the forest toward the trap that will end is life at the end of this episode, the camera dips for a brief second and we see the red sneaker of the cameraman running along behind him.
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Nitpick Once Iolaus is healed by the Hind, Iolaus says he feels fine and all he wants to do is eat. Hercules comes in and the two of them discuss Iolaus meeting Serena. When Hercules stands up to leave, the floor inexplicably shakes him.
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QUOTES (4)
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(Iolaus throws Hemnor towards Hercules) Iolaus: Herc, catch this! (Hercules lifts Hemnor over his head) Hemnor: Don't! Hey, I'm one of the good guys! Hercules: You are? Hemnor: I'm Hemnor of Surnea. I've come to ask your help! Hercules: Oh. (he puts Hemnor down)
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Hemnor: My village lives in terror, in fear of a monster that lives in the forest. Hercules: A monster? Iolaus: Yeah, we do monsters. Wait, it's not slimy though, is it?
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Hercules: (referring to Ares) He's using you to draw me here, to draw Nestor here! Serena: Well then, I guess that's another debt of gratitude that I owe him. Hercules: Excuse me?! Serena: I have finally found someone... who touches me.
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Strife: (seeing Hercules and Serena kissing) He's won! My big chance, gone! I could have been a contender. Ares: Stop thinking in the short-term. This is working out just right. (laughs evilly)
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NOTES (5)
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Sam Jenkins (who plays Serena/Golden Hind) is Kevin Sorbo's wife in real life. They met when Sam guest starred in the earlier episode "Prince Hercules".
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This episode marks the first appearance of Joel Tobeck as Strife. He would appear several more times playing the role on Hercules and Young Hercules, but Strife never appeared on Xena.
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This isn't the first time Iolaus was mortally wounded and healed by a Golden Hind. The Golden Hind Helene healed Iolaus in the Young Hercules episode "Iolaus Goes Stag".
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Although Hercules has encountered Ares in more abstract forms in previous episodes, this is the first time in the series that he is played by Kevin Smith, though he has appeared in three previous episodes as Iphicles, and appeared as Ares on five previous episodes of Xena.
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Disclaimer: The Golden Hind was not harmed during the production of this motion picture. To order a Hind of your own call 1-800-555-HIND.
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ALLUSIONS (4)
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In Greek mythology, there is no god named Strife. There is a goddess of strife though: Eris. She is sometimes seen as the daughter of Cronus and Nyx, and sometimes of Zeus and Hera. Her Latin name is Discordia, which is where we get the goddess Discord (who would later appear on both Hercules and Xena).
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The Ceryneian Hind was an animal sacred to Artemis. It had golden antlers like a stag and hooves of bronze or brass, and it could outrun an arrow in flight. There were five of its kind, four of which draw the chariot of Artemis, while the fifth roams free. The capture of the hind was one of The Twelve Labours of Heracles.
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Strife: I could have been a contender! This is a reference to a famous line spoken by Marlon Brando in the film On the Waterfront.
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Hemnor: It's kind of a doe. Iolaus: A deer? Hercules: A female deer? This is a humorous twist to the well known song "Do-Re-Mi" from the musical The Sound of Music.
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