Written by Melissa Rosenberg
Directed by Anson Williams
This episode provides examples of:
- Accidental Hero: The mummy ends up saving Anuket's life by feeding on Sokar.
- Badass Boast: Hercules finds himself in a cramp cell with the mummy.Sokar: Well, one of you will make room for the other. I'm betting on him.
Hercules: That's a bad bet. - Big Bad Wannabe: Sokar dreams of claiming Anuket as a bride and ruling over all of Egypt. He believes the mummy being infused with Hercules's life force will make that a guarantee.
- Big "NO!": Sokar, as the mummy begins to feed on him.
- Continuity Nod: The House of Horrors includes wax replicas of the Minotaur and Proteus.
- Deliberate Values Dissonance: As someone who typically buries the dead in the ground, Hercules admits he finds the whole concept behind mummies to be rather creepy. He does apologize, though, when Anuket says that's one of her ancestors he's talking about.
- Early-Bird Cameo: One of the wax replicas is of Bacchus, who would make his official debut later that same night on Xena: Warrior Princess.
- The End... Or Is It?: The mummy is left trapped in wax, but his hand suddenly starts moving.
- Enemy Rising Behind: As Sokar is about to try again to kill Anuket, someone can be seen walking towards him.Salmoneus: Uh, Sokar, you might want to—
[The mummy grabs on to Sokar] - Everyone Has Standards: When Anuket accuses Salmoneus of working for Sokar and lying about that, Hercules points out Sal is not a thief and usually not a liar.
- "Eureka!" Moment: Hercules says he just fought off some poorly dressed slaves. Anuket says her slaves are always well-dressed before realizing that Sokar is also in town and looking for the mummy.
- Evil Laugh: Salmeonus indulges in this when talking up his wax museum.
- Eviler than Thou: Sokar was considered a threat back in Egypt, but he's nothing compared ot the mummy and ends up having his life force fed upon.
- Halloween Episode: It's Hercules vs. a mummy in a town celebrating a mask-wearing festival and where Salmoneus is preparing his House of Horrors wax museum. The episode also premiered the same night as "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" on Xena, making for a double bill of Halloween fun.
- He Knows Too Much: The thief that sold Salmoneus the mummy later tells Sokar everything, but as he heard Sokar's Motive Rant, he's taken away to be made into a wax statue.
- If I Can't Have You…: Seeing his chance to claim her gone, Sokar attempts to murder Anuket. Keb is wounded trying to stop him, while the mummy interrupts the second attempt.
- Implacable Man: The mummy takes repeated haymakers and kicks from Hercules as if they were nothing.
- Last Request: Mortally wounded, Keb says all he wants is to die a free man. Anuket grants his request before he dies.
- Little "No": Anuket, as Sokar looms over her with a knife.
- Living Legend: Even villains from Egypt know of Hercules's reputation and how he's a half-god.
- Mummy: The featured mummy generally looks like the usual fare, but he's also strong enough to take on Hercules, can absorb a human's life force, and is surprisingly fast.Salmoneus: What happened to the foot-dragging classic we all know and love?
- Noodle Incident: The region's former king was a man named Cecrops, whose reign came to an end because of Hercules.Sokar: Well, you mean Hercules killed him?
Salmoneus: Well, technically, Cecrops tripped over the cliff, but he blamed Hercules for his downfall and vowed to exact revenge even from beyond the grave. - Oh, Crap!: Salmoneus over encountering the mummy.
- Punch! Punch! Punch! Uh Oh...: Hercules tries swinging from a suspended cage in order to work up enough force to knock the mummy back, but the impact doesn't cause the mummy to budge an inch. Herc's repeated kicks don't do any better, nor do his later punches.
- "Scooby-Doo" Hoax: While searching for the mummy, Hercules is confronted by the supposed ghost of King Cecrops. Hercules is immediately dubious, especially given how the "ghost" doesn't know the details of his own demise. Hercules deduces it's both a magician's trick done with mirrors and Sokar's way of keeping him distract.
- Shout-Out: "Walk like an Egyptian!"
- Slavery Is a Special Kind of Evil: Hercules repeatedly chastises Anuket for keeping people as property. Keb's death causes her to realize this is wrong, and she promises to work towards ending slavery in Egypt.
- Tempting Fate: In the cell, the mummy gets Hercules in a chokehold and just tightens his grip. An incredulous Hercules asks if he knows any other moves. The mummy immediately slams Herc's face up against the bars.
- Undying Loyalty: Though a slave, Keb is genuinely loyal to Anuket and is mortally wounded protecting her.
