Ep 5. Outcast

In Hercules: The Legendary Journeys season 2 episode 5, titled Outcast, Hercules and his faithful sidekick Iolaus come across a village that is being terrorized by a group of thugs who are demanding protection money. The village is poor and the people are unable to pay, causing the thugs to turn to violence. Hercules and Iolaus decide to help the village and put a stop to the thugs.

However, they soon learn that the leader of the thugs is Hercules' old childhood friend, Koulos. Koulos was once a kind and honorable man but has since become corrupted by the power he wields as the leader of the thugs. Hercules is torn between his loyalty to his friend and his duty to do what is right.

Meanwhile, back in the village, Hercules and Iolaus meet a young boy named Cory who is an outcast and is shunned by the other villagers because of his physical deformity. Hercules sees himself in the young boy as he too was an outcast when he was young because of his immense strength. This connection between Hercules and Cory serves as a subplot throughout the episode.

As Hercules tries to persuade Koulos to give up his life of crime, Koulos becomes increasingly distrustful of Hercules and believes that he is trying to undermine his authority. Tensions rise between the two former friends as they clash over their differing ideologies.

The episode culminates in a battle between Hercules and Koulos in which Hercules tries to reason with his friend and make him see the error of his ways. It is a dramatic and emotional battle as Hercules grapples with the fact that he may have to kill his old friend in order to protect the village.

Throughout the episode, there are also light-hearted moments of humor, particularly in the scenes with Iolaus who provides comic relief with his quirky personality.

Overall, Outcast is a compelling episode of Hercules: The Legendary Journeys that explores themes of friendship, loyalty, and what it means to do the right thing. The episode features impressive fight scenes, emotional moments, and a satisfying conclusion. It is a great addition to the series and is sure to be enjoyed by fans of the show.