Written by Paul Robert Coyle
Directed by Mark Beesley
Callisto is recruited by Hope to kill Hercules in the past.
Tropes
- Aesop Amnesia: Ares really should've remembered from last time that Callisto is more trouble that she's worth.
- Alas, Poor Villain: Ares is devastated by Strife's death.Ares: [craddling Strife] He wasn't so bad. He tried hard. He... he was just no good at his job. [to Callisto] You didn't have to do this!
- Arc Welding: The two-parter brings Hercules and Iolaus into the Dahak arc that had been developing over on the third season of Xena: Warrior Princess. The supply of Hind's blood established in "Stranger In A Strange World" ends up becoming important to the storyline, too.
- Batman Gambit: Ares and Callisto free the Sovereign, knowing that Hercules will eventually encounter him during a rampage and be in a position to get sent through the gateway to the Netherworld. What Ares doesn't know is that the plan is to manipulate him into getting Hercules out of the way and providing Callisto with a supply of Hind's blood before she travels back in time to change history.
- Berserk Button: Ares over the Sovereign confusing him for his god of love counterpart.
- Boyfriend-Blocking Dad: A local king flips out over his daughter eloping with a guy that he insists isn't good enough for her. He almost makes a deal with Ares for weapons forged by Hephaestus, though Hercules intervenes before it's too late (and destroys the weapons for good measure).
- Break the Badass: Ares is terrified to be face-to-face with the spawn of Dahak.
- Covered with Scars: As a result of the pyre, Hope has been left with nasty burn scars all over her body. She's rather blasé about it.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Ares rather effortlessly wipes the floor with Callisto, but then Hope intervenes to rejuvenate her. Then it's Ares who gets clobbered.
- Death Seeker: Callisto teamed with Hope so that Dahak could end her life in return.
- Didn't See That Coming: Hercules immediately suspected that Ares released the Sovereign in order to claim the pendant full of Hind's blood, but he was completely stunned that Callisto was also involved.
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": The Sovereign flies into a rage when a random civilian calls him by his real name.
- The Dreaded:
- Dahak's name is never once spoken aloud, but it's clear that even Ares fears him, and he's not alone in that regard.Ares: The one great evil is here. It's part of that creature that was with her. Oh, we've sensed him. Everyone on Olympus has. This... this force of darkness spells the end of all of us: gods and man alike.
- Conversely, Iolaus thinks that Dahak and Hope fear Hercules, saying they're going to a lot of trouble to get rid of him while leaving everyone else alone.
- Dahak's name is never once spoken aloud, but it's clear that even Ares fears him, and he's not alone in that regard.
- Dumbass Has a Point: Strife implores Ares to see that Callisto is just playing him. Ares is aware that Callisto has an ulterior motive, but he opted to play with fire rather than keep her at arm's length.
- Genius Bruiser: Rather than rely on his fists, Hercules foils the Sovereign's rampage with brains. While he acts as a distraction, he has Iolaus stand by to throw some narcolepsis dust to knock the Sovereign out.
- Greater-Scope Villain: Dahak.
- Hero with Bad Publicity: In the past, Alcmene is dismissed as a two-timing harlot that got knocked up while her husband was getting killed in war.
- Heroic Sacrifice: After the Sovereign gets sucked back into the Netherworld, Iolaus almost follows. Hercules gets sucked in partly as a result of taking the time to throw him to safety.
- Hope Crusher: Pun aside, this is Hope's motivation for seeking out Callisto and hatching a new plan.Hope: Your greatest challenge is ahead.
Callisto: And that would be?
Hope: To rid the world of its greatest hero: Hercules. - Immediate Sequel: The episode begins with reused footage of Solan and Hope's shared funeral, meaning quick cameos of Xena, Gabrielle, and Ephiny.
- It's Been Done: Hope wants to go against Hercules, but Callisto mocks her for attempting what so many before her tried and failed to do.Callisto: And you want to kill Hercules. It's been tried! I can't believe you have disturbed me for this!
- Lampshade Hanging: Callisto points out that Ares is always running the risk of angering Zeus with his attempts to kill Hercules when he could just trap the half-god somewhere.
- Mirror Match: Hercules and the Sovereign twice, first a brief clash at the village and then a prolonged fight in the Netherworld.
- Mirror Universe: It's mentioned that Other World's Callisto is a virgin priestess. Our Callisto really doesn't want to know the details.
- Not Quite Dead: Hope survives the events of Xena S 03 E 11 Maternal Instincts.
- Open Mouth, Insert Foot: As Ares berates him for constantly losing to Hercules, Strife cracks wise about not being the only one in the room that's scared of crossing Zeus. He realizes mid-sentence that this was a mistake, and then Ares punches him.
- Opt Out: Hope is certain that the other gods will know about Callisto's time traveling and that they will be too scared to intervene because of the Hind's blood pendant. Ares certainly is, so Iolaus goes instead.
- Other Me Annoys Me: The only thing both Hercs have in common. The Sovereign hates his counterpart for trapping him in-between worlds and for being a selfless hero dedicated to helping others. Hercules is disgusted that his counterpart is a ruthless, sadistic monster.
- Psychopathic Manchild: Hercules's opinion of the Sovereign for trashing the village.
- Real Life Writes the Plot: The two-parter was written in response to Kevin Sorbo's health problems. The idea stemmed from a proposed alternate ending to "Stranger In A Strange World" (Hercules also trapped in-between worlds) that they were unable to do because the completed episode had already been sent out. This ends up applying to Xena: Warrior Princess, as well, due to the two-parter tying into the Dahak arc that had begun over there and bringing the Hind's blood supply into the storyline.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech:The Sovereign: You're an idiot, you know that?
Hercules: You know nothing about me.
The Sovereign: Oh, yes, I do. Oh, yeah. See, I've watched you in here. You should make people worship you, tremble in fear. But what do you do? Oh, you help them out, solve their puny problems. You're pathetic.
Hercules: Maybe you're the one who's pathetic. You ever think about that? Are you so happy with your own life? - Running Gag: Hercules is still working on the wall around Alcmene's home.
- Sacrificial Lion: Strife was killed off in order to rasied the stakes in the Dahak arc.
- Sadist: The Sovereign hates the mainstream world because everyone is at peace and relaxed, especially in the presence of someone that looks like their beloved hero.The Sovereign: You people should fear me! HIDE FROM ME! Tremble at the sight of me! All I get are happy faces. I hate happy!
- Shapeshifting Seducer: A pregnant Alcmene is certain that Amphitryon had appeared before her the night her son was conceived. Viewers know that it was really Zeus in disguise.
- Suddenly Shouting: "DISAPPOINTED!"
- Terminator Twosome: Iolaus finds himself in this situation, going back in time to protect a pregnant Alcmene from the all-powerful Callisto.
- This Cannot Be!: Ares's reaction to Iolaus saying that Strife is dead.
- This Is Gonna Suck: After Callisto stabs Strife with a dagger covered in Hind's blood, the ground starts shaking everywhere.Hercules: Something terrible has happened.
- Unwitting Pawn: Ares suspected that Callisto had an ulterior motive, but he had no idea that she was working for Dahak and Hope.
- Villain Has a Point: The Sovereign questions why he should bother helping Hercules, who would simply leave him trapped in the Netherworld.
- Written-In Absence: In the past, Iolaus asks where Iphicles is. Alcmene says he's off with friends.
- "You!" Exclamation: The Sovereign when confronted at the village by Hercules.
