Herc and the newly resurrected Iaolus are visited by an Angel from the Christian Mythos.
This episode capped off what was one of the best seasons of Herc - This was the season, Iaolus dead, Herc alone - Sometimes he traveled with others, and sometimes with "Iaolus II" - Which I never really understood, having missed the few episodes of the Dayhok arc that dealt with Iaolus. But the point being, Herc TRAVELLED, in Season five, Hercules was finally on his best and most incredible Legendary Journeys.
But here in this episode, which I actually assumed was the series finale! Iaolus is back, and Herc has to deal with a genuine Judeo-Christian ANGEL - Not just an Angel, but an ARC-Angel! I do not remember, if the angel is named as Michael, after this episode, he appears in the Xena 'Verse in the 5th and 6th seasons.
I thought when I originally saw this episode when it was first-run, that the HerculeXena franchise was at its peak, our stable of HercXena characters at its most beloved, Raimi's "Renaissance" production company at its best, all actors, stuntees, CGI and practical effects workers, all top and working at Peak Performance.
I fondly remember this episode, with jaw agape as Herc proves to the ArcAngel that Iaolus deserves to Live, and with bittersweetness as Iaolus is finally restored to full "life"
...I just naturally assumed, this was the last Journey, but there was a short 5th season.
I miss these shows SO much, they were something to look forward to. These shows brought so much work to New Zealand, made that small country several times larger. With heavenly locations within walking distance practically, Milieus like Greece, Heaven, Olympus, The Elysian Fields, Hade's Domain, the Hydra Caves, Thank God that Peter Jackson was able to use the groundwork already laid by Raimi and Tapert, the actors were on hand, the locations had been proved as viable.
Get Ready for "The Lord of Xena's Ring-thing" - Cos it was just natural that that show built upon the visual feast laid out for us here, in HerculeXena- Land.
