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Episode Summary

Hercules was in the middle of a fight with bullies when Autolycus stopped time. Autolycus had stolen the Chronos Stone from King Quallius' palace museum. Suddenly he traveled five years back in time. Hercules witnessed the first meeting of Ares and Serena, the Golden Hind Hercules had married and lost. When Ares tried to kill her, Hercules forced the god of war to spare the Hind's human half. Later, when he and Autolycus returned to the present, Hercules had a bittersweet encounter with Serena, now a happy wife and mother. She had no longer died tragically, but history had changed, wiping out everything they shared together.moreless
8.3
out of 10
EPISODE RATING: Great
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  • Autolycus steals the Cronus stone, which whisks himself and Hercules five years into the past. While Autolycus and his past self plan to steal the stone over again, Hercules is reunited with Serena, still alive in this time-line. A fair episode...moreless

    8.4
    "Great"
    This time-travelling tale is quite a good episode, although not a classic.

    The episode is directed by James Whitmore, Jr., a veteran both actor and director of popular shows such as 'Magnum, p.i.' and 'Quantum Leap'. His only work on 'Hercules: The Legendary Journeys', he makes a fair job of directing the episode.

    There are many paradoxes that stem from this episode; when Autolycus comments on one, Hercules just shrugs it off, and it is best to just do the same! Much of the confusion is explained away that after Hercules and Autolycus have returned to their proper time, the people around them will not remember anything of their time travelling intervention, but there are still some paradoxes left open.

    By far the most niggling thing about this episode is that Serena / The Golden Hind is suddenly played by a different actress Sam Jenkins was apparently too busy on another project to film this episode, although some sources suggest that she was reluctant to don the Golden Hind make-up again. There are changes of actors (Zeus, Nemesis, etc.) throughout the series, but I found that this one being so very close to the original trilogy (and such a fan favourite story), that the sudden change really stuck out and didn't fell right at all.

    The best scenes of the episode are definitely from Bruce Cambpell, as Autolycus argues and squabbles with his past self. The scenes are really funny, and it's easy to forget that they are one and the same character.

    As I say, not a classic, but still a reasonable episode.moreless

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • Trivia

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    • Goof: After the Hind is shot by Ares, a tennis shoed foot can be clearly seen. Edit
  • Notes

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    • The spiked door in King Quallus' castle is the same as the one used in the episode "Surprise". Edit
    • Grant McFarland, who played the hunter Shellus (who asks Serena to help his brother), would later play Ming Tzu in the Xena episodes "The Debt pt I" and "The Debt pt II". Edit
    • Although it is not explictly stated in the episode itself, promotional material for this episode states that the Chronos stone takes Autolycus and Hercules five years into the past. Edit
  • Quotes

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    • Hercules: (catching Autolycus with his latest stolen treasure) That's the Chronos Stone. You better hand it over. It was never meant for mere mortal hands. Autolycus: Not so fast! I may be mortal, but I'm hardly mere! Edit
    • Younger Autolycus: What happens to me that turns me into you?! Autolycus: You know, it's a wonder I ever survived my reckless youth to become the master knave that I am. Younger Autolycus: I'd hang myself if it would just put you out of my misery! Edit
    • Younger Autolycus: (to Autolycus) Jerkules is your partner?! What kind of Goody Two Shoes did you turn into?! Edit
  • Allusions

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    • Ares mentions that the Hercules of his time is searching for the Erymanthean Boar. Capturing this boar was one of Hercules Twelve Labors. Edit
    • Autolycus is disguised as a statue of Hermes, who is the God of Thieves, among other things. Autolycus also remarks about the mercury dust of his disguise, which is an allusion to Hermes' Roman name Mercury. Edit
    • When Hercules meets the two Autolycuses at the campfire, the past version calls his future counterpart a "goodie two shoes" and starts dancing around singing "Mr Goodie Two-Shoes" in mockery. The future Autolycus knocks him out and says "I'm not that good." This is exact dialogue from Bruce Campbell's movie Army of Darkness where his character, Ash, is fighting his evil double. Ash, however, blows his evil doppelganger's head away with a shotgun. Edit
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