"Hercules and the Odyssey Experience" is the 48th episode of Hercules: The Animated Series that aired on February 19, 1999.
Summary[]
Cassandra's father Vic gets Hercules a ticket for Odysseus' traveling museum. Given Hercules is a big fan of the Odyssey and a fellow student of Philoctetes, Odysseus asks Herc to spend time with his shy and awkward son Telemachus. Hercules thanks Odysseus for signing his scroll as Odysseus jerks his head towards Telemachus as a reminder. Hercules then invites Telemachus to come along with him and Vic to check out Odysseus' ship, and there they meet ex-crew members of the Argo, Bootes, and Lynceus, returning from Hercules and the Argonauts. Vic accidentally opens the bag of wind from King Aeolus, and the ship ends up out at sea, forcing the guys to try to get home.
The group encounter a number of threats, including the dangerous and beautiful Sirens, cyclopes, and the Passage between Scylla and Charybdis. Throughout the journey, Telemachus learns to be confident in himself. At the Passage, when it's revealed to him that his parents are in danger as they had ironically came to rescue him, Telemachus shouts to Hercules that, "My parents are being sucked into Charybdis!" Hercules encouraged him to rescue them with, "It's up to you to save them, Telemachus. You can do it!" And it helps Telemachus find the self-confidence to rescue them. Hercules takes on Scylla and manages to trap it in a cave.
After Telemachus rescues everyone, Hercules pulls them all to safety. Odysseus goes on to tell Telemachus how proud he is, "You'll have to tell me all about your odyssey." Zeus then appears revealing he'd been looking for Hercules for some time, "Can I give you a lift?" He then recognizes Odysseus and compliments him on his scroll, "It's the hot read on Olympus." Odysseus thanks him and introduces Telemachus to him. Zeus replies, "You must be very proud." Odysseus, gazing at Telemachus, answers in the affirmative.
The episode ends with Zeus asking Odysseus, "Doesn't he just give you fits sometimes?" Odysseus tells him, "Don't even get me started." as Zeus takes them back home.
Cast[]
Hercules - Tate Donovan
Odysseus - Steven Weber
Telemachus - Justin Shenkarow
Vic - Fred Willard
Lynceus - Larry Miller
Bootes - Steven Wright
Chipacles - Mike Connors
Homer - Dan Castellaneta
Zeus - Corey Burton
Trivia[]
- The trio of Cyclops are modeled after the Three Stooges.
Gallery[]
