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Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

The Road to Calydon

Season 1, Episode 8, Aired Jan 30, 1995

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7.9

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A group of refugees in search of a safe haven came upon the ghost town of Parthus, where one of the group has stole a golden chalice from Hera's temple. The theft brought down the wrath of Hera, and only Hercules can protect the refugees.moreless

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Bruce Allpress

Old Man
GUEST STAR
John Sumner

Broteas
GUEST STAR
Norman Forsey

Tiresias

Kevin Sorbo

Hercules

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Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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hercules leads some immigrants away from a cursed town by hera to a safe one

7.0

"Good"

By doukakis, Jul 12, 2010

this episode was good but not as the previous episodes.So again hera cursed the people,at this episode doesnt irritates me that much cause hera cursed the place because of a zeus lover .Anyway,the episode has some good moments like the fight with the stymphalian bird,this scene keeps you in agony,the message of not judging the people and let the people decide about their destiny show us the big heroe's aspects of life.Tiresias is a good role for this episode and helps the episode keep going but i dont like to see him at a regular base as herc's sidekick.The episode is not so amusing,is less bright from the previous and there are many geographic mistakes,for example there are not sandpits at greek lands and the cities placed wrong according the geography.however is a good adventure.moreless
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Hercules comes to the aid of homeless villagers.

6.0

"Fair"

By rhondaweasley, Dec 07, 2008

In "The Road to Calydon", Herc finds yet another traveling-companion-of-the week in the form of a blind seer. This weeks girl-of-the-week is Jana and she has a little boy named Ixon. Though we initially think this is her son, it proves to be he's just a foundling she's adopted. Jana does "fall for Hercules" (she's probably the first even slightly romantic gal-of-the-week for Hercules since his wife's death), but the farthest she gets is a kiss on the cheek. The story is kind of blah and the sidekick-of-the-week not the best. I mean he was good and amusing at times (in his pure joy at making horrid predictions and seeing curses), but he wasn't as fun as Salmoneus and Iolaus. I think it was that the chemistry with Hercules wasn't on the way it is with those guys.

Anyway, the story revolves around figuring out why there's a curse on a group of traveling villagers seeking a new home. It turns out one of them has stolen a chalice from Hera's temple. The leader of the villagers, Broteas (who seems fond of Jana), doesn't like it when Herc interferes and blames him (the hated step-son of Hera) for their troubles. Jana initially trust in Broteas because the other villagers scorn her and he has not. It turns out she was raised in a Brothel and knew no other life initially. But she's seeking to change and when Hercules is sympathetic to her and doesn't make a move to "have his way", she becomes fond of him. Broteas (of course) proves to be the villain as the thief of the Chalice and cause of all the trouble.

This episode had fun moments. Hera's ground burrowing henchman were cool and the fight with the pterodactyl (I mean Stymphalian Bird), was a fun enough romp. Overall, however, the story wasn't as engaging as the previous two outings. Still, hardly the most boring episode of Hercules ever. Hera is also such an inactive villain that I can't wait for the appearance of Ares.moreless
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Hercules, travelling with a blind seer, comes across a group of travellers taking refuge in the cursed ghost town of Parthus, and leads them to the safety of Calydon, in this part average, part good episode, with the Stymphalian bird as the highlight...moreless

8.3

"Great"

By Jay-Spacedust, Aug 28, 2007

After two enjoyable episodes, this story is patchier. It has some average bits, and some very good bits; and as a result, I find it very hard to sum up.

This is another very Hera-centric tale, revolving around a group of travellers taking refuge in the deserted town of Parthus, and her vengeance over a chalice stolen from there. Hercules must lead them to the safety of the 'charmed' city of Parthus.

In this story, Hercules has another travelling companion, almost like the writers were trying out potential regulars. [Mild spoiler] There are several points in the story when it is suggested that Tiresias may be to do with the problems the travellers are experiencing, but these turn out to be red herrings [end of mild spoiler]. After Iolaus in 'The Wrong Path' (which first-time viewers could be mistaken for thinking was his final appearance) and Salmoneous in 'Eye of the Beholder' (ditto), here Hercules meets up with Tiresias, a blind seer. Tiresias is actually the first travelling companion to return in the series, appearing in the next episode, 'The Festival of Dionysus' too. The character never fully caught on, though, and was never seen again after that story.

The obligatory moral element of the episode is Jana and her young son. It is never made overly clear (she mentions that she was raised in a brothel), but she seems to be a prostitute who gave birth out of wedlock.

Hera's henchmen of the week are bone covered warrior beasts that travel under the ground. This is accomplished by quite simple but reasonable effects. While not the show's most memorable foes by any extent, they are interesting.

Of course, the highlight of the episode is Hercules' battle with the giant Stymphalian bird, accomplished as with many of the shows monster effects, especially early on using part CGI and part model work. As with previous monsters in the series, the effects are mostly very good, especially for a television show on its moderate first season budget. I did notice that the bird seemed to change from brown to green in a few shots though!

I found this a very hard episode to sum up and rate. It is not one of the series' best offering, but at the same time it is far from the bottom of the barrel there were some episodes later on that I found hard to care about at all. Some parts of it are very average, but some other parts of it are good. Not as good as the previous two episodes, but some enjoyable sequences pull it up a bit.moreless
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The road to being bored.

6.7

"Fair"

By SleepTight, Jun 27, 2006

The third episode of Hercules was pivotal but failed to leave a big impression behind.

Herra is getting tiring very early on, with only some eyes and bad lightning effects she makes up for a terrible villain.

This episode was just like the pasts, Hercules has a mate to travel along, some blind old creepy guy. He meets a chick that falls for him and some annoying people with a curse.
The leader of their tribe stole something which makes Herra send some skeletons after them (ooh, creepy!, not)

The casting in this episode was once again terrible, but the episode was pivotal. The big dino monster seemed pretty cool. Also the lead girl was far from being a bad character and the episode wasn't entirely boring.

Still, this show is on an early stage and really has to progress because so far it hasn't been very interesting or anything at all.
The episode is still quite enjoyable if you have nothing else to watch.
But I can't say much happened in it or that it deserves to be re-watched either.
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (3)
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- Tiresias is the same blind seer that in "The Wrong Path" told Hercules about Iolaus' death.
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- Talos: Olyean was a prisoner in the Azanian salt mines!
  
  While there was ancient Roman influence in Azania, there are no known ancient prison salt mines there. Azania is thought to be located in Eastern Africa, near Somalia and Tanzania, and the Nubian Kingdom of Kush (located in modern day Egypt and Sudan). The major sub-Saharan salt mines were actually located in Mali, which is in West Africa.
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- This marks the third episode in a row where Hercules runs into people making offerings to and worshiping Hera.
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QUOTES (13)
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- Hercules: Well, that crazy old man is right. Hera has damned this place, and you've only had a taste of the evil she can do. Now, get everyone packing and get them out of here.
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- Hercules: How does their future look? Tiresias: Exactly the way it should. No more curses. Hercules: I'll bet that breaks your heart. Tiresias: People are still gonna suffer! I see a sandstorm approaching Thrace! No! No! It's not sand! It's locusts!
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- Hercules: Is this what you want?! To see good food burned while you starve?! That's what I thought. Now, go ahead and eat it this time! Feed your stomach, not Hera's fire.
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- Hercules: No! No sacrifices! Olyean: But he's a greedy pig! He deserves to die! Man: Yeah. Hercules: No, let him live like an idiot. It's worse than have him dying like a dog.
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- Tiresias: I might agree with you if it wasn't for this brilliance I have for knowing the truth. And the truth is there's a pox on this place! Scurrilous malediction! Hercules: You'll have to excuse him. He gets carried away sometimes.
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- Hercules: I don't put much stock in reputations, Yours or mine. Jana: You mean, you don't kill ten monsters every day? Hercules: Nah. Only one or two small ones.
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- Hercules: What's wrong? Tiresias: Nothing's wrong. That's the problem. Hercules: What about all the gloom and doom you were predicting earlier? Tiresias: Wishful thinking. I see a clear path and sunny skies from now on. Hercules: That just kills you, doesn't it?
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- Hercules: I don't want to see this crowd beat you to a pulp. That's all. Tiresias: Tou really worried about me? Hercules: No. If anyone's gonna beat you to a pulp, I want it to be me.
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- Tiresias: You got a name, young fella? Hercules: I didn't think I'd have to tell you. Tiresias: Testing me, eh? All right. Have it your own way... Hercules. Hercules: How did you know? Tiresias: Told ya. I see everything. Now, perhaps you'll believe me when I tell you we shouldn't be taking this road. Nothing but trouble down there.
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- Tiresias: Nights like this stir my very soul. This is no ordinary storm. This is evil, my friend. The coming of doom. The rage of almighty Hera, herself! Hercules: You sound pretty sure about that. Tiresias: Of course, I'm sure. I see everything! And judging from what I see tonight, there's plenty of suffering on the horizon.
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- Tiresias: (laughing) More doom and gloom!
  Hercules: Enough already. You know half the day you've predicted two earthquakes, a lion attack, an outbreak of Elurian fever and you've got three people convinced they're pregnant.
  Tiresias: Well, four. That red-headed woman over there...
  Hercules: (interrupting) Two of them are men!
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- Hercules: (Asking Tiresias to quit predicting trouble) I don't want to see this crowd beat you to a pulp, that's all. Tiresias: You really worried about me? Hercules: No. If anyone's going to beat you to a pulp I want it to be me.
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- Hercules: (to one of Hera's minions) Hmm. Ugly, dressed funny, smell bad. You must work for Hera.
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NOTES (2)
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- This episode marks the third sidekick in as many episodes in a row. The first being Iolaus, the second being Salmoneus and the third being Tiresias in this episode.
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- The seer Tiresias was originally meant to be a regular character on Hercules, but they only end up using him in the first season of the show.
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ALLUSIONS (5)
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- Tiresias: People are still gonna suffer! I see a sandstorm approaching Thrace! No! No! It's not sand! It's locusts!
  
  There was a little documented infestation of locusts (which are not common to the area) in Thrace in B.C. times.
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- Hercules: It's a charmed city. It's protected by Apollo. There are no curses there.
  
  In Greek mythology, Apollo was the god of the sun, medicine, the arts and much more. He is considered to be one of the most important gods and had one of the most followings.
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- Mythology: Cadmus When Hera's head minion grows more minions by sowing rat skulls, it hearkens back to the myth of Cadmus sowing the Dragon's teeth and growing a race of giants at the founding of Thebes.
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- Mythology: Tiresias The blind seer Tiresias was famous in Greek mythology. He was the one who predicted that Oedipus would slay his father and marry his mother. Tiresias was also changed into a woman for a time by the Gods as a punishment for impiety, but eventually was returned to his original male form.
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- Mythology: Hercules' 12 Labors One of the real Hercules' 12 labors was to drive away the Stymphalian Birds, who were said to have bronze feathers that came loose and became deadly missiles.
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