The History of
Xena: Warrior Princess

Episode Name: Judgement Day

Hercules meets Serena, the last Golden Hind, and he falls in love with her. He agrees to give up his strength, so that the Olympian Gods will not stop him from marrying Serena, and she chooses to become mortal in order to be free to marry each other. Ares, who has protected Serena from Zeus (whose already slain all the other Hinds because their blood can kill Olympians) uses Hercules' love to lead him into a trap. Strife, Ares' nephew, arranges a powerful and frightening dream for Hercules to have whilst Strife breaks into Hercules' house and murders Serena.

Hercules wakes up to find Serena's body lying next to him. The people of the nearby village -- spurred on by Strife's manipulations -- accuse Hercules of Serena's murder, and they try to kill him. At the same time Ares and Srrife have also arranged things so that Xena finds out about Hercules giving up his strength so he can marry. Xena leaves immediately to find Hercules.

Xena arrives, at Hercules' home, and finds him wounded and facing an angry mob, led by soldiers of the late Prince Nestor-who had been part of Ares' schemes until he was chased by Hercules into one of his own fatal traps. The soldiers are intent on killing Hercules, but Xena, Iolaus and Gabrielle drive them off. They take Hercules to a cave and Xena learns as much of the story as Hercules knows. She tends to his wounds and contrives a plan with him to uncover the whole truth.

Xena discusses plans with Gabrielle and Iolaus, and she takes the chance to thank Iolaus for looking after Gabrielle. Iolaus is too upset over Hercules' impending doom though, to say much.

Hercules arrives at the village -- followed closely by Xena, Gabrielle and Iolaus. He challenges the Nestorian soldiers, but Iolaus tries to persuade him to leave. Hercules attacks Iolaus, Iolaus stabs Hercules. Xena stabs Iolaus. Ares then steps out of the crowd and offers to restore Hercules back to life, if Xena agrees to serve him again. Xena then asks Ares how he arranged the murder of Serena, and Strife confesses it was his deed.

It is now that Hercules and Iolaus reveal that they're still very much alive, and Hercules attacks Strife. At first Strife is too surprised to fight back, but Ares urges him to use his powers against Hercules. Strife tosses Hercules around but then Zeus appears. He restores Hercules' strength and Hercules then defeats Strife -- who vanishes along with Ares.

Xena, Hercules, Iolaus and Gabrielle bury Serena's remains.