Written by Lisa Klink
Directed by Chris Long
This episode provides examples of:
- Beneath the Mask: While pretending to be Iolaus, Dahak acts all friendly and fun-loving, but he proves how truly depraved he is when Nebula rejects him and later when Hercules refuses to fall for his con.
- Beware the Silly Ones: Dahak revels in acting all goofy when first confronting Hercules, but that's just him being Faux Affably Evil. When he's not playing around, he leaves Nebula to die in a fire that he caused, slaughters the Druids, and almost kills Herc's friends twice.
- Call-Back:
- The Celtic village is doing repair work for the damage caused by Caesar's invasion. This forces Bronagh to deal with his lingering resentment towards Morrigan.
- Hercules tells Morrigan about Dahak's last attempt to enter the world. Dahak later cites this moment and Herc's failure to revive Iolaus when explaining how he came to possess Iolaus's body.
- Came Back Wrong: Subverted. Dahak's plan is to make Hercules think Iolaus performed a Face–Heel Turn after dying and agreed to be the host for the promise of power. Hercules openly doubts this.
- Cliffhanger: Dahak escapes and makes his way to Greece. Hercules, Morrigan, and Nebula make a pact to stop him or die trying. Cue the midseason break.
- Commonality Connection: On the idea of settling down with Morrigan, Hercules seeks advice from Mabon and the two discuss this. Mabon notes that, despite their different backstories, both grew up as outsiders for being half-gods.Mabon: You were raised a half-among mortals; she a half-mortal among gods. Similar wounds cause similar scars. What heals one wound—
Hercules: Heals another. - Continuity Nod: Agenor apologizes to Hercules for his harsh words the last time they saw each other.
- Dead Person Impersonation: Dahak actively tries to convince Hercules that he is Iolaus gone bad, though Herc doesn't buy it for a second. In the flashbacks, he successfully conned Nebula into thinking he was Iolaus (though she thought she was just daydreaming) by playing the part more sincerely.
- Death of a Child: Mabon is among Dahak's victims.
- Died in Your Arms Tonight: Mabon dies in Herc's arms.
- Disappeared Dad: Morrigan reveals she was taken by her mother to live with the Celtic gods and last saw her father on a beach. She regularly went back to that beach in the hopes of seeing him again, but after so much time had passed, she figures he's long dead.
- Due to the Dead: Hercules took the time to bury each of the Druids before informing Morrigan of the whole story.
- The End... Or Is It?: Invoked in-universe with Dahak's exposition story. He hammily announces his entering the world is the end of the story before adding that it just may be the beginning.
- Evil Is Hammy: Dahak gladly hams it up while pretending to be Iolaus.
- Exorcist Head: "Let's take her for a spin, shall we?"
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: After Hercules arrives too late to the scene.Hercules: Who did this?
Mabon: He's from outside this world, a thing of evil and incarnate darkness.
Hercules: [realizing] Dahak. - Foreshadowing:
- Herc's prophetic dream includes Nebula screaming in a fire, which is how he knows to go to Sumeria.
- Dahak has multiple opportunities to kill Hercules (starting with being there in the cave while Herc slept), but he never does so and instead goads Herc into trying to kill him. "Let There Be Light" reveals Dahak has a Thanatos Gambit to break the Balance Between Good and Evil and that only Hercules can make it work.
- Forgiveness: Bronagh struggles with working alongside the woman that murdered his sister. Hercules urges him to let go of his rage and demonstrate mercy for both of their sakes. It takes some doing, but he does and agrees to tend to Brigid while Morrigan is away.
- Hope Spot:
- Hercules has gotten over his grief and seems ready to settle down with Morrigan. Then he has a nightmare of a figure dressed in black slaughtering the Druids and tormenting Nebula.
- Dahak's exposition lampshades how Hercules thought he had at least prevented him from entering the world, and the demon's only too happy to demonstrate how wrong he was.
- During the big fight, it looks like Iolaus has finally asserted control, but it's just another con by Dahak.
- "I Know You're in There Somewhere" Fight: Subverted. Hercules urges Iolaus to assert control, and Dahak lets him think it's working before laughing in his face.
- If I Can't Have You…:Nebula: It's over.
Dahak: NOOOOOOOOO! IT ISN'T OVER 'TIL I SAY IT'S OVER! [regains his composure] Now, it's over. [tosses a fireball into her bed] - It's All My Fault: Morrigan blames herself for the Druids' deaths because she wasn't there to protect them. Hercules pointing out that Dahak would've killed her, too, doesn't shake her of this.
- Last of His Kind: Morrigan is the last Druid alive.
- Never Trust a Trailer: The promo made no secret of Iolaus being back, but instead played it as Came Back Wrong. This was done to avert Trailers Always Spoil, as no mention is made of Dahak, thus preserving the real twist.
- Not in Front of the Kid: Before Bronagh really lays into Morrigan for her past, Hercules tells Brigid to go play with the other kids.
- Not So Stoic: Mabon says he has made peace with what's about to happen, but just before dying, he admits to Hercules that it hurts and that he's scared.
- Oh, Crap!: Hercules when realizing that Dahak is going after Nebula again.
- Once More, with Clarity: Agenor explains to Hercules what has happened since he left Sumeria, including Nebula's increasingly erratic behavior and seeming to talk to someone who wasn't there. When Nebula tells the story, we see that Dahak was constantly appearing to her but preventing others from seeing him.
- Opening Shout-Out: Dahak begins his exposition with one.Dahak: It's the story of a time long ago.
- Please, Don't Leave Me: Mabon's Last Request to Hercules. Herc stays by his side to the end.
- The Power of Friendship: Hercules never once questions Iolaus's loyalty and is certain that Dahak is lying about his best friend going bad.
- Real After All: Nebula sees that "Iolaus" is real when Hercules grabs him.
- Sanity Slippage: Thinking she's just been hallucinating Iolaus, Nebula snaps after nearly dying in the fire.
- Stealth Hi/Bye: "Hercules... boo!"
- This Is Gonna Suck: After hearing Nebula's side of the story, Hercules looks nervous and heads down to where Iolaus's body was stored to confirm his suspicions.
- This Is the Part Where...: After Hercules helps the others get to safety.Dahak: [laughs] I get it. This is the part where you say, [in Herc's voice] "This is my fight, Dahak. Leave them out of it."
Hercules: Not bad, but your delivery lacked a certain punch. [wham!] - We Will Meet Again: Hercules hesitates after "Iolaus" urges him to kill now before it's too late.Dahak: [laughs] I knew you couldn't kill me. You're still holding on to what we were. Well, it's time to grow up. It'll be a whole new day in Greece, buddy!
- Wham Episode: Dahak has entered the world in Iolaus's body and has killed the Druids.
- Wham Line: "Then stay here with me. We could make this our home together."
- Wham Shot:
- After Hercules dozes off, he suddenly sees images of fire, Nebula screaming, and dead bodies.
- The coffin being empty and a familiar face suddenly standing behind Hercules.
- What Is This Feeling?: Morrigan struggles to process her grief over the Druids because she's never experienced this kind of loss before.
- Would Hurt a Child: Dahak had no problem mortally wounding Mabon and leaving him to bleed to death.
- Xanatos Gambit: "All Dahak needed was a warrior heart. So, when little Iolaus sacrificed himself for the fair maiden Nebula, Dahak had everything he needed!"
- You Are Too Late: Hercules has a prophetic dream about the Druids being killed. After waking up, he races to their location, only to find most of them are already dead and Mabon mortally wounded.
- "You!" Exclamation: Bronagh when Morrigan appears at the village.
