While lamenting the loss of his mother Alcmene, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) is visited by his father, Zeus (Roy Dotrice). Bitterly resentful of Zeus for having abandoned him, Hercules finds no solace in the meeting and is shocked when Zeus proposes that he join him in ruling the gods of Olympus. Hercules ponders the offer, remembering a time when being nearer to his father would have meant the world to him...
Back in the past, young Hercules (Ian Bohen) and young Jason (Chris Conrad) are walking through a marketplace when they happen upon a beautiful young woman, Ariadne (Charmaine Guest), who is being harassed by a bunch of hoodlums. Hercules and Jason rush in to protect her and are soon joined by Apollo (Scott Michaelson), who comes streaking through the air riding a sunbeam like a boogie board. The handsome young god careens towards the gang and begins knocking out punks left and right with the bottom of his beamboard. The remaining thugs take off. Sliding sideways to a stop, Apollo, who is also a son of Zeus, greets young Hercules like the long-lost brother he is, claiming that he's heard a lot about him from Zeus and Hera. Soon, Apollo invites Hercules to meet some of his friends. Hercules, Apollo and Ariadne jump onto the sunbeam and head to Apollo's temple where beautiful mortals mingle with the brat pack gods. Hercules is awestruck and suddenly, insecure. So when Apollo offers him ambrosia, food of the gods, he takes a taste and is instantly transformed into a full god. Hercules takes on a subtle radiance like all the other gods in the room and saunters through the temple with new-found confidence, showing off his new god tricks to Ariadne.
Back in the present, Hercules is again visited by Zeus who puts pressure on him to come to Mount Olympus, insisting that Hercules can do much more for humanity as a god than as a mortal. But Hercules tells his father he needs more time to reach a decision.
In the past once again, young Hercules is showing off his godly powers to young Jason, who remains unimpressed. The two become angry with each other and soon Hercules is sulking on a hilltop when Apollo appears. Apollo tells him that everyone, including close friends, will resent his godhood so he should just have fun with it. The two gods then take off for the castle parade ground where Jason is addressing a small group of soldiers he's decided to dispatch across the border to take out a band of raiders. Invisible to all mortals, Hercules watches as the also invisible Apollo trips and pushes Jason, embarrassing him in front of his brigade. Suddenly the two become visible and are caught in the act. Hercules feels terrible and tries to apologize, but Jason dismisses him. As he walks away fuming, Hercules is confronted by his father Zeus for the very first time and is overwhelmed by the power of his presence. Zeus chastises him for having eaten the ambrosia, proclaiming that he was never destined to be a full god. Hercules walks away from the encounter he's dreamed of throughout his young life, filled with sadness.
Returning to the marketplace, Hercules finds Apollo wreaking havoc on the mortal residents. Jumping on his sunbeam, he out-boogies Apollo to keep him from inflicting further damage. Angered by Hercules' actions, Apollo challenges his half-brother to a fight to determine who is really top god. Hercules accepts on the condition that if he wins, Apollo will leave the mortals alone for good. Before the contest, Hercules meets with Zeus and asks him to take away his godhood. Zeus agrees after warning his son that he'll be no match for Apollo without godly powers. When Hercules arrives at Apollo's temple, he finds the young god high up in the rafters with a terrified Ariadne tied to a post beside him. Apollo has taken Ariadne hostage in order to make the competition a bit more "interesting." The two begin fighting high up on the girders and for a while, it looks as if Apollo has the edge. But Hercules refuses to stay down and when it becomes clear that no one will win, Apollo gives up and vanishes. Suddenly, the rope holding Ariadne breaks free and she plummets towards the ground. At the very last moment, Hercules summons up enough strength to leap from his perch, snag a line in mid-air and catch her.
Back in the present, the adult Hercules faces his father Zeus and announces that he's come to a decision -- he believes he can best serve mankind as a god on Mount Olympus. With that, he turns to his closest friends, Iolaus (Michael Hurst) and Jason, says his goodbyes and follows Zeus into the light.
Starring: Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Michael Hurst (Iolaus)
Guest Starring: Roy Dotrice (Zeus), Chris Conrad (Young Jason), Scott Michaelson (Apollo), Ian Bohen (Young Hercules), Jeffrey Thomas (Jason), Charmaine Guest (Ariadne), Ranald Hendriks (Momus), Clinton Elvy (Punk)
Teleplay by Jerry Patrick Brown
Story by Paul Robert Coyle
Directed by Charles Siebert