Mercenary

Season 3, Episode 1, Aired
EDIT

Episode Summary

The mercenary Derk had committed murder, and Hercules was bringing him to Sparta to stand trial when a terrible storm wrecked their boat. Stranded on a desolate island, Hercules must fight and stealthily outdo Derk and as a band of pirates who has been chasing them both.moreless
8.9
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Great
34 votes
  • Your Rating: 10
    "Perfect"
  • Your Rating: 9.5
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 9
    "Superb"
  • Your Rating: 8.5
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 8
    "Great"
  • Your Rating: 7.5
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 7
    "Good"
  • Your Rating: 6.5
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 6
    "Fair"
  • Your Rating: 5.5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 5
    "Mediocre"
  • Your Rating: 4.5
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 4
    "Poor"
  • Your Rating: 3.5
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 3
    "Bad"
  • Your Rating: 2.5
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 2
    "Terrible"
  • Your Rating: 1.5
    "Abysmal"
  • Your Rating: 1
    "Abysmal"
Rate It

Watch Online

Netflix
Subscription

Cast & Crew

See All EDIT

Fan Episode Reviews (1)

See All

  • The third season opens with this great adventure directed by Michael 'Iolaus' Hurst, as Hercules is shipwrecked and badly injured with an escaped mercenary. The pair also have to contend with poisoned water, pirates, and giant underground monsters...moreless

    9.7
    "Superb"
    By Jay-Spacedust, Nov 26, 2007 Report Abuse
    The third season kicks off with this terrific adventure, the first of the series to be directed by Michael Hurst, best known as Iolaus (who does not appear in this episode).

    Jeremy Roberts is great as mercenary Derk, who starts off seeming like the typical heartless bad guy, but over the course of the story starts to show that he may not be all bad after all.

    The writers were obviously influenced by the cult movie 'Tremors' (1990) and it's countless straight-to-video sequels when they came up with the giant sandray-like monsters that live under the ground and nearly gobble Hercules and Derk up.

    [mild spoiler] The final stages of the story, as Hercules agrees to let Derk briefly return home to visit his family, and then of Derk being sentenced to execution before escaping, let the episode down slightly. I would have much rather have just seen Herc and Derk finally row their way off of the island in the pirates' boat and end there, leaving the rest up to our imaginations, at most saving the rest for some kind of sequel. But that is my only small niggle with an otherwise excellent adventure. [end of spoiler]

    This is one of my favourite episodes of the series, especially from the mid-to-later seasons. It's one of those that I can watch again and again. A shame that not all third season episodes would be of this quality.moreless

    DO YOU AGREE?

    0 0
 

Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

See All

  • Trivia

    ADD TRIVIA
    • Nitpick: In one scene they focus on a possum. Possums are only native to Australia, North America and South America. They are not found in Europe. Edit
    • This is the first appearance of sand sharks, which also appear in the later episode "War Wounds" and the Young Hercules episode "The Beasts Beneath". Edit

  • Notes

    ADD NOTES
    • This is the first episode to have a Flat Earth caption screen on the closing credits - episodes that feature heavy CGI work from this point onwards carry the caption. Edit
    • Listen closely in this episode to the bald pirate. The character had to be completely revoiced. The voice you hear is actually Michael Hurst. Edit
    • Kevin was always begging them to show more blood and signs of stress on Hercules, because he thought it was ridiculous for his character to fight off an army without being mussed. This is one of the few episodes where they show Hercules badly injured throughout the entire episode. Edit

  • Quotes

    ADD QUOTES
    • Derk: (Just before he knocks Hercules out) Thanks for saving me. Edit
    • Derk: (Seeing half of a man hanging from a tree) I know he didn't get up there without legs. Hercules: No. My guess is he left them with whoever was chasing him. Edit

  • Allusions

Show Forums

See All
Last Activity
Replies

Watch Hercules: The Legendary Journeys Full Episodes

See All

Related Shows

Season 3 Episodes

See All
Ep 22
Atlantis
Ep 21
A Rock and a Hard Place
Ep 19
The End of the Beginning
Ep 19
End of the Beginning
Ep 18
Reign of Terror
Ep 17
Les Contemptibles
Ep 16
The Lost City
Ep 15
Judgment Day
Ep 14
When a Man Loves a Woman
Ep 13
Encounter
Ep 12
Surprise
Ep 11
Long Live the King
Ep 9
A Star to Guide Them
Ep 8
Prince Hercules
Ep 7
The Green-Eyed Monster
Ep 6
Monster Child in the Promi...
Ep 5
Not Fade Away
Ep 4
Mummy Dearest
Ep 3
Love Takes a Holiday
Ep 2
Doomsday
Ep 2
War Bride
Ep 1
Mercenary
Ep 1
The Lady and the Dragon

Contributors

Become a contributor
More
Less

TV Listings

Full Listings
BROWSE | Shows | Videos | News | Listings | Forums | People | Photos | TV.com Blog

CBS Entertainment | About TV.com | About CBS Interactive | Jobs | Advertise

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. | Privacy Policy | Ad Choice | Terms of Use