Prometheus

The budget went up on this one. Kevin Sorbo is hired as Hercules and Iolaus crossover from the series Hercules. The special effects budget is ramped up as well, it must have been a matter of pennies as it seems to be a deliberate homage to Ray Harryhausen.

Prometheus is chained and his gift of healing is now lost to mankind. Xena realises this as several people ill people suddenly die. To free him Xena needs to get the sword of Hephaestus to break his chains. Hercules is also after the sword as well and both fight over it.

A fun episode with lo fi special effects.

I notice a lot of fans don't like this episode. I believe the main problem is Sorbo. Personally, as much as I don't like Sorbo, I find Hercules a great character and I love his scenes with Xena. I like how they were both willing to sacrifice themselves because they didn't want the other to get hurt. I don't think the relationship between the two is so much love as it is gratitude (on Xena's part) and deep mutual respect.

I'm not a fan of the Gabrielle and Iolaus kiss, but the dynamic between the two is also great and I love Gabrielle's story about finding the other half of her soul (a reference to her and Xena again?) Beautiful scene when Xena and Gabrielle part ways in the cave. Their looks and hand touches really show the depth of their emotions.

The effects in this episode are often. But for me, these old low-budget effects have some magic and flair, while today's cgi is invisible to me. I'm clearly a boomer xD.

I know Herc and Xena romanced each other in "Unchained Heart" and this episode. Yet I had a feeling since 1998 that Iolaus and Gabrielle did too. In May 1999 I saw that Iolaus and Gabrielle did indeed romance each other when I watched this.