Hercules has a nasty surprise for his birthday when Xena's mortal foe Callisto makes a deal with Hera to escape the afterlife and drug Herc's family, in a plot to kill the half-god in return for her freedom.

A suspected murderer is trapped under a rock fall in a mine. Can Hercules convince the man to confess before he dies?

Hercules is washed up on the strange island of Atlantis, a technologically advanced place where an outcast psychic is predicting the island's impending doom, but no-one will listen to her.

The pirate captain Nebula tried to bury her stolen trunk of jewels in a seaside cave. But the horrifying Arachne, half spider and half woman attacked her. When Hercules and Iolaus showed up, they joined forces with Nebula to try and destroy Arachne before she could destroy them. Arachne swooped down from the ceiling of the cave and snatched Iolaus. Finding his friend wrapped in a cocoon, Hercules took on the spider-woman. During the fight he held up a reflective shield, and when Arachne saw her own image, she backed away in horror, right into a flaming cocoon.

Hercules must help a young girl's dream come true by becoming her dance partner to help her win the competition. Problem is Hercules cannot dance. Enter Widow Twanky, to teach Hercules some moves.

When Salmoneus and Autolycus were mistaken for the murderers of King Pholus, they disguised themselves as performers in the widow Twanky's all girl dance troupe. Autolycus promptly fell for the voluptuous Cupcake, while Salmoneus earned the unwanted affections of their pursuer, the late king's greedy brother Gekkus. Things got worse when the two men were forced to perform the Hootchi-Coochie-Jiggle-Wiggle in the buff, although Twanky was thrilled. The final showdown with Gekkus on stage was perceived by the audience as part of the show, Cupcake helped Autolycus and Salmoneus overcome Gekkus, who was hauled away as the king's killer.

After an earthquake shook Los Angeles, the writers and producers of Hercules discovered their star, Kevin Sorbo, had disappeared. An emergency staff meeting was called in the show's production offices. Many solutions to the problem were suggested and rejected. Unable to find a suitable replacement to play Hercules, the writers and producers got into a brawl. Then Ares and Strife appeared, pleased at the pandemonium their earthquake had caused. Just before the show could be cancelled, Kevin Sorbo showed up, fresh from rescuing people throughout the area. Sorbo was in fact Hercules, just pretending to be a mortal actor.

Discord shot Hercules with Artemis' bow, turning him into a pig. Then she sent the hunter Colchis after Hercules, but the pig jumped from Iolaus' arms and ran off. After a butcher caught him and threw him into a meat wagon, hercules was befriended by a female pig, Katherine. Autolycus and Iolaus rescued the two pigs from a slaughterhouse, where hercules communicated with his friends through Fleevio the parrot. Retreating to Alcmene's home, they eventually got the drop on Discord. Iolaus shot the mischievous goddess with Artemis' bow, turning her into a chicken, and Hercules returned to normal.

As Alcmene's health failed, Hercules recalled the time years ago when the Parthans invaded Caylan territory. Young Hercules, Jason and Iolaus joined King Eteocles and fought bravely to repel the invaders, but the King was killed. Many more died before Hercules and Jason were able to make an offer of peace, asking King Stavros to share the disputed land with the Caylans. Stavros was impressed by their bravery and agreed ending the conflict. Back in the present , Alcmene passed away and was buried by hercules and his friends. Suddenly his father, Zeus, confronted an angry Hercules.

While Iolaus paid a visit to his mother, Hercules explored Olympus. He was hurt to learn the real reason his father had brought him there: Zeus needed protection from Hera and the other gods, who were conspiring against him. But Hercules couldn't turn his back on his father. Then Zeus allowed Hera to rip away his godhood in order to save Alcmene's spirit from eternal hell. Hercules went to the dark side of Olympus, where he overcame Apollo and Hera in battle. Zeus' godhood was restored, Alcmene returned to the Elysian Fields, and Hercules became a half-mortal again.

Nebula took Hercules and Iolaus to Sumeria, where the angry gods were leveling cities. To remedy the situation, King Gilgamesh took Hercules with him on a series of physical trials in a pyramid, where they retrieved a chalice of sacred nectar. But Gilgamesh betrayed Hercules by drinking the nectar and crushing the cup, becoming a disciple of the demon Dahak. Next, Gilgamesh tried to scarifice a warrior heart -- Nebula's. But Iolaus, who was in love with Nebula, saved her by taking the dagger himself. Hercules destroyed Gilgamesh, but he was too late for Iolaus, who died in his arms.

Bronagh, leader of the Celts on the island of Eire, told Hercules he was their ""Chosen One"" -- chosen to lead the Celts to freedom. But the gods of Eire didn't like the Celts worshipping Druids, so they sent Morrigan, a demigod assasin, to destroy the Druids. However, when she killed the Druid guardian of justice, she unwittingly took his place. Hercules, who finally stopped blaming himself for Iolaus' death, defeated Morrigan in battle, but the Druids explained that if she died, the spirit of justice would die with her. They disappeared, leaving Hercules to care for Morrigan.

Studio head B.S. Hollinsoffer ordered the producers and writers to a retreat at Camp Wannachuck, where he hoped they would come up with some better ideas for Hercules episodes. Kevin Sorbo, who was really Hercules, arrived at the retreat and offered touching stories about Hercules and a noble death for Iolaus. He also saved his co-workers from three attempts on their lives, all perpetrated by Hollisoffer in disguise. The studio head had been working with Ares in exchange for his own network. Realizing the god of war really existed, the writers then wondered whether there might be a real Hercules.