The academy's newest cadet is Theseus. Theseus comes to the academy with high honors, having been a decorated war hero. Cheiron decides to make him the cadet’s new drill instructor. After having a disagreement with Theseus about his "hard" methods during drills, Hercules and him decide to settle their differences by having a chariot race. Their race takes them into a desert called the Forbidden Zone -- a place where no living man or woman dares go. Legends say an ogre that lives under the sand drags people who enter the Forbidden Zone into his labyrinth. The legends turn out to be true when Hercules is pulled down into the ogre's lair.
Instead of being the "hero" he claims to be, Theseus runs away when he sees Hercules getting pulled under. He runs into Iolaus a few miles away. The two go back to find Hercules, only to end up joining him. Theseus finally admits he isn't a decorated war hero. He doesn’t even hold any honors. All he’s done all his life is run away from everything. Hercules and Iolaus help him change that by working together to escape the ogre's lair. After the three return to the academy, Cheiron reveals that he knew all along Theseus was a fraud, but thought if Theseus admitted it himself he could change that fact. Theseus decides to try by staying at the academy.
Starring: Ryan Gosling (Hercules), Dean O'Gorman (Iolaus), Chris Conrad (Jason)
Guest Starring: Nathaniel Lees (Cheiron), Jodie Rimmer (Lilith), Angela Dotchin (Kora), Mfundo Morrison (Theseus), Chris Ryan (Ogre), Clinton Elvy (Cadet #1), Eryn Wilson (Cadet #2)
Written by John Loy
Directed by Chris Graves