Be Deviled

Having escaped from prison, Arciana and a group of prisoners search for a powerful weapon, the Sword of Hera. Hercules and Iolaus set out to stop them – only to encounter a Serena lookalike along the way. She explains that an old (and dead) enemy of Hercules – Xerxos – has returned and with the great power of her dark realm. "Serena" offers Hercules the power to defeat him, but it comes with a dangerous catch. On top of that, Xerxos has a special interest in Arciana.

Summary
SUMMARY

Disclaimer

 * Xerxos' goose was cooked during the production of this motion picture.

Background Information

 * Though credited and referred to as "Serena" throughout the episode, the character suggests that Hercules and Iolaus should call her "Sin."
 * When Hercules remembers Serena, clips from "Encounter", "When a Man Loves a Woman" and "My Best Girl's Wedding" are played.
 * When Sin says to Hercules, "You've kept so many from entering my domain," she's paying noticable attention to Iolaus – which displays an obvious implication.
 * Though repeats of the series aired in the United States on the Sci-Fi Channel for years after Season 5's conclusion, the network never aired this or any of the other Season 6 episodes.
 * At the end of the episode, Hercules and Iolaus refer to the latter being dead and his being possessed by Dahak – which was seen in "Darkness Rising", "Let There Be Light" and "Redemption".
 * Instead Xerxos first appearing in a forge with two smithies, it was to be in a swamp with snake hunters. The hunters would've been strangled to death by snakes (because of Xerxos' doing, of course).
 * Instead of Xerxos, it was to be Callisto (with a reprise from Hudson Leick) returning from the dead and facing Hercules again. The Arciana character was also meant to be Callisto's sister, who would've been revealed not to have been killed in Cirra by Xena's army as long thought. The overall plot, otherwise, would've been the same as what came to be. However, because Callisto became set to appear "Fallen Angel" (the XWP fifth season premiere), it was decided to go with a completely new character rather than have her appear in (airing) back-to-back episodes.
 * As the episode implies more than once, Sin was intended to be the Devil of Christianity. The final product, however, is more murky. While there are some implications that she is the Devil, it is stated that she has a connection to Hades (who can send souls to Sin's realm if he chooses).
 * Sin is able to read Iolaus' mind and send him a telepathic message. Paul Robert Coyle believes this idea came from director Mark Beesley.
 * Sin was not written with Sam Sorbo in mind, at first. In fact, early on, the character was written as being portrayed as a man. Also, the name at this time was "Diabalos."

Guest Stars

 * Jeremy Roberts as Xerxos
 * Katie Wolfe as Arciana
 * Sam Sorbo as Serena/Sin

Other Cast

 * Bill Florian as Head Guard
 * John O'Leary as Gravetender
 * Dennis Hally as Headmaster
 * Syd Mannion as Hera Priest
 * Tony Billy as Con #1
 * Des Wallace as Con #2
 * Danny Phillips as Hera Worshipper
 * Kerynn Walsh as Villager
 * Siaosi Fonua as Smithie #1
 * Slade Leef as Smithie #2
 * Kurt Holsted as Young Xerxos
 * Gerry Eller as Xerxos' Mother
 * Michael Phillips as Magistrate
 * Alexandra Tydings as Aphrodite [archive footage]