Once a Hero

It's the tenth anniversary of the quest for the Golden Fleece, and Hercules and Iolaus head to Argos to celebrate with their fellow Argonauts. However, they find that their old leader, Jason, is a changed man – agonizing over the murder of his children, drinking heavily and losing control over his kingdom. Jason also claims to be being plagued by a demon that no one else ever sees. When their gathering is spoiled by the Blood-eye cult stealing the Golden Fleece, the Argonauts pursue to reclaim it. Unfortunately, Jason's instability and a traitor among their ranks threatens the quest.

Summary
SUMMARY

Disclaimer

 * We gratefully acknowledge the lifelong inspiration Ray Harryhausen has provided on our journey through Filmland.

Background Information

 * The Skeleton warriors were inspired by a sequence from 1963's Jason and the Argonauts, which was worked on by Ray Harryhausen.
 * The way some of the Skeleton warriors act and sound is reminiscent of the ones from Sam Raimi and Robert Tapert's Army of Darkness, which – of course – was in itself inspired by Jason and the Argonauts.
 * This episode has Jason as the king of Argos. All other episodes (as well as Young Hercules and the spin-off), however, had him as royalty of Corinth instead.
 * Jason mentions Hercules' family dying, which occurred in "The Wrong Path". Also in reference to that episode, Hercules mentions the "wrong turns" that he took afterwards and his eventual decision to "do something with my life that would have made my wife and children proud."
 * Jason as originally portrayed was much older than Hercules and Iolaus. This would be retconned by Season 4 (as well as by Young Hercules and the spin-off) to portray him as more as their peer.

Guest Stars

 * Michael Hurst as Iolaus
 * Jeffrey Thomas as Jason

Other Cast

 * Peter Feeney as Castor
 * Edward Campbell as Artemus
 * Tim Raby as Archivus
 * Willa O'Neill as Phoebe
 * John Sumner as Domesticles
 * Anthony Ray Parker as Valerus
 * Mark Nua as Otus
 * Lathan Gaines as Marcus
 * Belinda Todd as Priestess
 * Campbell Rousselle as Thug
 * Paul Norell as Falafel