Hercules steals an urn from the treasure vault in one of Ares' temples that the god had stolen from Zeus. The demigod hopes his effort to retrieve his father’s treasure will get him to take notice of his existence. A giant red snake that guards Ares' treasure vault chases after the demigod as he makes his way out. Hercules outwits the beast, causing it to decapitate itself after it slithers past a huge, swinging blade.
In Corinth, members of the Loax gang rob a jewelry stand. Cradus, the leader of the gang, criticizes one of its members, whose name is Iolaus, for not stealing enough loot. Iolaus' chance for redemption comes moments later as Hercules struts into town with the urn. Iolaus tries to take the treasure from the demigod, leading to a scuffle in which the two teenagers topple over, causing the urn to open up. It releases a chaotic twister that rampages through the town. Luckily, Hercules manages to tame it back into the urn.
Tired of watching her son nearly get killed in his constant attempts to get his father’s attention, Alcmene decides to send Hercules to Cheiron's academy. Cheiron is a wise Centaur that has a reputation for molding great heroes. Alcmene thinks he can help Hercules find his place in the world.
The first person Hercules meets at Cheiron's academy is Jason, the son of King Aeson of Corinth. He introduces Hercules to his training partner, who turns out to be Iolaus. In return for being put on probation after the jewelry heist, Iolaus was forced to attend Cheiron's academy. The two don’t get along at all.
Jason receives an urgent message that says his father is ill. He has to return to Corinth at once. Hercules and Iolaus tag along. On their way, Hercules tells his traveling companions that his father is Zeus. The road to Corinth becomes deadly when a fully-armed charioteer tries to run the threesome down. Once they reach Corinth, Jason is horrified at the rows of crucified bodies that adorn the city walls. Once the threesome enters the royal palace, they are greeted by a man claiming to be the King's long-lost brother Pelias. Jason had always thought his uncle dead, but Pelias claims he was lost at war. When Pelias begins boasting about the fact that he will become the new King of Corinth if Aeson dies, Jason tries to attack him. Pelias banishes Jason and his companions from the city.
To save King Aeson, Hercules suggests they set sail for Corcinia and retrieve the mythical Golden Fleece -- a vestment made from the fur of a ram that is said to have the power to resurrect the dead. Despite the question of whether the Golden Fleece actually has that kind of power, the cadets have no other choice if they want to save Jason’s father. They return to the academy and sign up several other cadets for their crew. Yvenna, the new female cadet, is signed up after she reveals her uncle owns a ship called the Argo. Despite his intentions being of a good-willed nature, Hercules still has ulterior motives for obtaining the Golden Fleece. Like with the urn, it could be his chance to impress his father into finally taking a notice of him. Before the cadets set sail, Cheiron warns Hercules that if he is doing this for selfish reasons the mission will be a failure.
In Corinth, Pelias is visited by the goddess Discord, who calls him by his real name, which is Ares. Pelias is actually the god of war. Discord tells him about Hercules' plan to retrieve the Golden Fleece. Ares assures Discord that he has a few catastrophes planned to stop the cadets from reaching Corcinia.
While aboard the Argo, Hercules learns that Yvenna came to the academy to learn to be a warrior so she could rescue her village from an unsavory bunch. Later, the cadets face the first of Ares' promised catastrophes when they are lured to an island inhabited by a Siren. The Siren is really Discord, who causes Alcestor and Mikos to kill each other during a wild night of drinking and feasting. The survivors discover the dead bodies in the morning. Knowing that Hercules has ulterior motives for getting the Golden Fleece, Iolaus blames their deaths on the demigod. Later that night, the second catastrophe occurs when a huge tidal wave strikes the ship, sending Enyo overboard. Hercules begs his father for help. Zeus doesn't answer. Hercules realizes that Cheiron and Iolaus were right. He decides from this point on this mission is all about saving Jason's father.
When the Argo finally reaches the island of Corcinia, the cadets easily retrieve the mythical vestment from inside a pagoda. Talos, who is Ares’ giant, attacks the cadets as they try and leave. Although they manage to kill him by impaling him in the forehead with an elephant tusk, the brave Yvenna is lost in the fight.
The remaining cadets return to Corinth. King Aeson is saved by the power of the Golden Fleece. Defeated, Ares immediately snaps Aeson’s neck in half. He then stabs Jason in the heart with a dagger when the grief-stricken teenager lunges at him. Hercules attacks Pelias, who reveals himself to be his half-brother, Ares. The half-brothers spill their fight out into the courtyard, engaging in a climatic battle on top several unstable beams. Realizing Hercules is fighting a god, Iolaus risks his life to help him defeat Ares -- though they both know he’ll be back. Moments after, Hercules uses the Golden Fleece to heal Jason’s wound. In the end, Jason stays behind to begin his training so he can be crowned the new King of Corinth, as Iolaus decides to return with Hercules to Cheiron's academy.
Starring: Ian Bohen (Hercules), Dean O'Gorman (Iolaus), Chris Conrad (Jason), Johna Stewart (Yvenna), Kevin Smith (Pelias/Ares)
Guest Stars: Meighan Desmond (Discord), Nathaniel Lees (Cheiron), Rachel Blakely (Alcmene), Michael Hurst (Jeweler), Taungaroa Emile (Thamus), Mfundo Morrison (Liardus), Paolo Rotondo (Enyo), Som Peri (Mikos), Lionel Waaka (Alcestor), Nick Kemplen (Attica), Shane Dawson (Talos), Marek Sumich (Knifer/Cradus), Josh Gilbertson (Runner), Anouk Koene (Siren), Sam Williams (Charioteer), David Mackie (Atisan), Campbell Rousselle (Guard at Corinth), Mike McGee (King Aeson)
Screenplay by Andrew Dettmann & Daniel Truly
Story by Robert Tapert and Andrew Dettmann & Daniel Truly
Directed by T.J. Scott
Trivia: There are several major inconsistences in the television series that result from the pilot movie. While some think of the pilot movie as a separate version of the tale, several events from the movie are referenced during the series. Just think of the inconsistences as another case of the many that tended to run amok in the Renaissance Pictures shows.