Into the Sunset

Well, it's over with. The final Legendary Journey has been produced, displayed and digested (like the Thanksgiving dinner that preceded it).

I have to admit to a bit of misty-eyed nostalgia as Hercules and Iolaus headed off across the dunes in that final shot. It felt right, somehow, to go out the way they did, side by side, more adventures waiting for them just over the next rise.

And at the same time, I didn't want it to end. I got into the series a little late, and I feel kind of disappointed that I was only along for such a brief part of the ride. Still, I have a whole bunch of tapes -- with episodes I haven't seen yet -- so I guess the ride isn't quite over for yours truly.

I'm finding it hard to put words to just what the show means in the grand scheme of things. Part of the difficulty, I suppose, arises from the fact that the sister series, Xena, has overshadowed her older brother. In some ways, I suppose that's understandable. After all, Xena has shattered cliches, turning them on their ear in wonderfully subversive fashion. Its place in the annals of television history is assured.

But what about Hercules? I think it deserves a place right alongside. The series in some ways embraced the cliche, while at the same time twisting it to suit the purposes of Rob Tapert and the rest of the production crew. It laid the groundwork for what was to come, and compared to other action-fantasy fare, it rose head and shoulders above the competition.

I remember when the show premiered on The Action Pack. I didn't watch it though. I was more interested in the adaptation of the Tekwar books, which in my mind were pretty bad. I had little interest in any of the other shows presented. And now I'm sorry that I didn't give Hercules a chance back then. I have since picked up the original movies on video, and watching them now I can see that even when they were first playing around with the concept, the foundation for one of the best examples of television fantasy was being laid.

I got into Hercules, not surprisingly, by way of Xena. It was locally aired right before the Warrior Princess, and I caught it every now and again, but I didn't go out of my way to see it. Towards the end of Hercules fourth season, both shows changed time slots from late Saturday until late Sunday, and there was nothing else of interest on at the time. Needing to stay up for my Xena fix, I began watching this other show.

Like I expressed earlier, I'm sorry I didn't give it a chance sooner. But I'm glad I eventually found it, and I'm glad that the series is being made available on video so that I can get caught up with all the adventures of Hercules, Iolaus, Autolycus, Salmoneus and the rest. They have in many ways become friends, and I will miss their regular appearances on my television each week.

At times like this I realize just how wonderful both shows really are. Hercules has walked off into the sunset for the last time. It won't be too long before Xena and Gabrielle ride off into that same unknown future. We don't often realize what we have until it's gone. I urge everyone to take the time to appreciate the wonderful thing we have going with this incredibly talented cast and crew.

Maybe I do get too weepy and nostalgic at times like this, but in all honesty, I wouldn't have it any other way. My thanks go out all who contributed to the wonderful experience that was Hercules: The Legendary Journeys.

This is the story of a time long ago, a time of myth and legend, when the ancient gods were petty and cruel and plagued mankind with suffering. Only one man dared to challenge their power...

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