November 29, 1999
Dear sirs:
I'm a long-time _Hercules: The Legendary Journeys_ fan, having enjoyed the series for most of its six-year run. This is the first time I've ever been inspired to write a letter regarding it.
I'll be the first to admit it may be a little silly to write this letter at this time. The series is over, and, in fact, it's the final episode that prompted me to write.
After six years of watching Herc and Iolaus dashing around righting wrongs, promoting second chances, and generally giving a damn about their fellow man, the series ends with our heroes poking fun at Ares. Okay; they've been doing that for years. I don't mind that.
But they hurt his feelings. And even that I wouldn't mind so much, but the next line is, "Does it matter?"
Well.
Yeah. It does.
I mean, isn't that an awful lot of what the series has been about? Granted, Hercules was an often-corny, over-the- top fantasy series, but it's always had a lot of positive messages and themes: judge the consequences of your actions. Try not to hurt people. Try to do well by others. Even the final episode was rife with those themes, with Zeus and Hera's reconciliation, Evander's learning to help others with his powers, and perhaps most especially, Hercules giving Zeus a break, after all these years. Given their rocky relationship, that's not an easy lesson for Hercules to learn.
And then after _that_ lesson in forgiveness, we have it thrown in our faces that Hercules and Iolaus don't think it matters if Ares' feelings are hurt.
Sure, Ares is a pain in the ass. Sure, he's been Herc's nemesis since the beginning. Sure, he's played as not being the brightest bulb in the lot. And sure, I've got a soft spot for him; Ares is one of my favorite characters.
But that doesn't mean it doesn't matter if his feelings get hurt.
I don't want you to think that I'm laboring under the impression that Hercules is the Second Coming, preaching happiness and goodwill towards all men. It was a TV show about a guy who was literally more than mortal, bigger than life. Better Than Us. It was entertaining and silly, often absurd, but it had a strong foundation in the idea that _people matter_. That's a kind of novel idea in a lot of today's entertainment media.
So in the end, I'm really disappointed with the writers and producers of Hercules. After six years of a fun show with a grain of moral integrity, a final cheap shot at Ares' expense feels like a backstab. I'm actually surprised at _how_ disappointed I _am_; probably if it hadn't been in the series finale -- at the _end_ of the series finale -- the line wouldn't have bothered me at all.
But it was, and so that's my final impression of the series: everything you've said over the last six years, all the lessons learned and ideas presented . . . don't matter.
The series is over; the line can't be unsaid and the impression can't be undone. It's a shame; _The Legendary Journeys_ deserve better than that.
Since nothing else _can_ be done, I'm writing to express my disappointment, in the hopes that next time -- perhaps for Xena: Warrior Princess -- a little more thought might go into the series finale.
Sincerely,
Catherine E. Murphy