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
Episode Summary
EDIT
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
-
GUEST STAR
Jeremy RobertsDerkus 'Derk' Petronicus
-
GUEST STAR
David FitchewCourt Officer
-
GUEST STAR
Charlotte PenningtonSister
-
Kevin Sorbo
Hercules
Watch Online
Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions
See All-
TRIVIA (2)
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.
-
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".
-
-
QUOTES (2)
ADD QUOTES-
Derk: (Just before he knocks Hercules out) Thanks for saving me.
-
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.
-
-
NOTES (4)
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.
-
Listen closely in this episode to the bald pirate. The character had to be completely revoiced. The voice you hear is actually Michael Hurst.
-
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.
-
Disclaimer: No flesh-eating sandrays were harmed during the production of this motion picture.
-
-
ALLUSIONS (0)
ADD ALLUSIONS- ADD ALLUSIONS from this episode.
-
What's your favorite Hercules episode
10/22/117
-
hercule season five question theory
04/19/112
-
Claire Stansfield/Alti was in Hercules?!
10/08/102
-
Actor Glenn Shadix passes away
09/08/102
-
Massive Xena and Hercules Database!
08/09/101
-
Full Circle
S 6 : Ep 8
Aired 11/22/99 (44:27)
-
A Wicked Good Time
S 6 : Ep 7
Aired 11/15/99 (44:26)
-
City of the Dead
S 6 : Ep 6
Aired 11/8/99 (44:29)
-
Hercules, Tramps & Thieves
S 6 : Ep 5
Aired 11/1/99 (44:29)
Related Shows
-
-
tv
Dark Knight -
-
-
tv
Conan
Season 3 Episodes
See AllEp 22
Atlantis
Ep 21
A Rock and a Hard Place
Ep 20
War Bride
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 10
The Lady and the Dragon
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 1
Mercenary
-
gabfan31 EDITOR
User Score: 2831
-
BuffyAnneLove TRUSTED
User Score: 2068
-
cloud1701
User Score: 3506
-
misstrious
User Score: 202
-
ksmith2208
User Score: 186
-
Jay-Spacedust
User Score: 155
-
crtoddity
User Score: 86
-
SirStack
User Score: 84
-
trfan
User Score: 62
-
TimDrakeRobin
User Score: 43
More
Less
