Plot: What’s it about?
Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) has faced an endless parade of vicious enemies, from brutal humans to spiteful gods to horrific creatures. Even when he was pushed to the limits of his power, he always emerged victorious and in truth, stronger for the fight. He has experienced loss however, with tragic moments and sad farewells, but never one that crushed his spirit. But now, Hercules has to cope with the greatest loss he has ever been dealt, one that can never be undone. A material loss could be replaced, a physical loss could be healed, and even a spiritual loss could be mended with time, but this loss is permanent. Hercules has lost a very, very close friend, someone who he trusted, protected, and loved with all of his heart. His mind races as he tries to deal with the intense grief, while his heart almost stops, unable to continue after such immense loss. As much as he wants to push ahead and forge on against evil, even Hercules cannot overcome this sense of despair. He does travel, but not so much to battle the dark minions, instead to try to escape his own feelings. He encounters all kinds of folks as usual, some who offer him help and guidance, others who wish to exploit his weakened state. A voyage like none he has ever been on, this trek will push Hercules further and demand more of him than ever before. But when the end of the road arrives, will he be better for the journey? Or will he still be unable to cope, unable to lend his hand to the innocent, maybe even unable to continue to life?
This is a series that sparked numerous spin offs and imposters, as Hercules: The Legendary Journeys made campish adventure fun again. The show was never great by normal standards, instead fans loved the over the top action, outlandish dramatic turns, and of course, the ladies loved star Kevin Sorbo. Although he shot to fame with this series, Sorbo was never able to capitalize on his success. After a failed run at the movies, Sorbo once again found a comfortable role in the television world, on the sci/fi hit series Andromeda. But his claim to fame is with Hercules, where he not only flexed his muscles, but showed off his comic skills. That is when Sorbo is at his best, when he can combine action sequences with camp humor. But when the show makes more dramatic demands on his skills, the laughs still come. Even so, the show’s bad moments are just as much fun as the good ones and in truth, who would watch Hercules for emotional depth? The real draw is the monster of the week, as Hercules does battle with assorted creatures, villains, and mystical forces. The best episodes are when Hercules encounters other mythical elements, as these help sustain the atmosphere within the show’s world. The worst episodes focus not on monsters, but on character development, as the dramatic side of the series has always been lackluster. This sixth season represents the final run for Hercules and while not the best season, it is a step up from the horrible fifth season. A fitting end to the series, in my opinion. As always, Anchor Bay has given us a wonderful treatment, so at least that adds some value to this release.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in full frame, as intended. This series has not looked that good on DVD to this point, but I had hopes that the fifth season would be a step up. I was right in that the season looks better, but it still has a fair amount of flaws. Not to the extent of the previous seasons, but some issues remain. I found grain and debris to be less of an issue, but the prints still look worn at times. I found contrast to be good, though some scenes look a little washed out, but most appear solid. I never detected any serious black level problems, but I did want to mention those trouble spots. The colors look bright and bold throughout, especially in the outdoor scenes, where more hues can be seen. I do think this season could have looked better, but at least it looks passable here and I do think fans will be satisfied.
Audio: How does it sound?
As with the previous seasons, the episodes have been given new Dolby Digital 5.1 mixes, which sound awesome and add a lot to the experience. I wasn’t sure what to expect from the audio, but the surrounds are used to create some excellent atmosphere. This show has a lot of fights, chases, and other action elements, so the surrounds are used often to immerse the audience. So when the swords clang, the arrows fly, and the horses run, you’ll feel as if you’re right in the middle of all it, thanks to some well crafted, powerful use of the surrounds. Yes, it all comes across as a little gimmicky at times, but so does the show, so it all balances out. There is ample subtle presence however, so don’t think this is an all over top soundtrack effort. The dialogue remains clean and always audible also, so no vocals are lost in the shuffle.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This collection has fewer discs than the previous seasons, but that is due to the shorter run, only eight episodes, not a lack of bonus materials. As usual, Anchor Bay has included audio commentary tracks with all kinds of cast and crew members, who share their thoughts on this final season. As if that wasn’t enough, the same cast and crew members return in new interviews, so insight abounds in this release. The third installment in the series on the show’s special effects is also found here, not to mention a special behind the scenes look at the final episode’s shoot. This release also includes a collection of still photos, a look inside the show’s wrap party, and a group of alternate title sequences.
