Finally caught it on Sci-Fi today after missing it a bunch of times .... I saw this ages ago before I was in the fandom.
Great episode, all in all. Michael Hurst did a great job in the dual role of Iolaus/Jester Iolaus, and I have to say that while I am not a huge Kevin Sorbo fan he was very good as Herc and the Sovereign. The whole idea of the alternate universe was very funny, I especially liked the modestly dressed Aphrodite, Queen of the God. Alex Tydings did a terrific job. Of course so did Kevin Smith as Ares GOW and Ares GOL, even if as the GOW he had a bit too much of a perpetual scowl on his face. (Aphrodite introducing him as "the walking bad attitude" was hilarious!) Though I loved his delivery of the line, "If he (Jester Iolaus) starts to mime, he's a dead man."
Bizarro Xena was great -- a terrific performance by Lucy Lawless. Great, after she throws her shoe chakram-style, "Guess I have more skills than I thought."
Loved Bizarro Joxer too -- and Iolaus' line, "Joxer! you pack one hell of a punch in this world."
Ted Raimi did an excellent job, more evidence that he could do a lot more than just play a goofy character. The only thing I didn't like was Gabrielle as The Executioner .... that was just a bit over the top. Was she supposed to look drugged? 
And what was it she said? "Where is that Trojan elephant? It talked to me?" 
Couple of things I noticed:
* Interesting how in this episode Ares is jealous of Zeus' affection not only for Herc but for Aphrodite -- "He always liked you two better." Still, it was interesting that Ares and Aphrodite zapped in together at the end, and I wonder if Ares' line, "How I hate happy endings" was part posturing. (Btw, that line was recycled by Paul Robert Coyle in his fake ending to Sacrifice II that was circulated as a red herring -- it was supposed to be Ares' line after Gabby climbed out of the lava pit, and the last line of the episode.)
* A "Prisoner" reference!!!
When Iolaus is first thrown in the dungeon and one of the guards says, "When the sovereign wants to talk to you, he'll call your numerus" or something, Iolaus yells, "I am not a numerus! I am a free man!"
Great episode, all in all. Michael Hurst did a great job in the dual role of Iolaus/Jester Iolaus, and I have to say that while I am not a huge Kevin Sorbo fan he was very good as Herc and the Sovereign. The whole idea of the alternate universe was very funny, I especially liked the modestly dressed Aphrodite, Queen of the God. Alex Tydings did a terrific job. Of course so did Kevin Smith as Ares GOW and Ares GOL, even if as the GOW he had a bit too much of a perpetual scowl on his face. (Aphrodite introducing him as "the walking bad attitude" was hilarious!) Though I loved his delivery of the line, "If he (Jester Iolaus) starts to mime, he's a dead man."
Bizarro Xena was great -- a terrific performance by Lucy Lawless. Great, after she throws her shoe chakram-style, "Guess I have more skills than I thought."
Loved Bizarro Joxer too -- and Iolaus' line, "Joxer! you pack one hell of a punch in this world."
Ted Raimi did an excellent job, more evidence that he could do a lot more than just play a goofy character. The only thing I didn't like was Gabrielle as The Executioner .... that was just a bit over the top. Was she supposed to look drugged? And what was it she said? "Where is that Trojan elephant? It talked to me?" Couple of things I noticed:
* Interesting how in this episode Ares is jealous of Zeus' affection not only for Herc but for Aphrodite -- "He always liked you two better." Still, it was interesting that Ares and Aphrodite zapped in together at the end, and I wonder if Ares' line, "How I hate happy endings" was part posturing.
(Btw, that line was recycled by Paul Robert Coyle in his fake ending to Sacrifice II that was circulated as a red herring -- it was supposed to be Ares' line after Gabby climbed out of the lava pit, and the last line of the episode.)* A "Prisoner" reference!!!
When Iolaus is first thrown in the dungeon and one of the guards says, "When the sovereign wants to talk to you, he'll call your numerus" or something, Iolaus yells, "I am not a numerus! I am a free man!" 
(But I bet she'd have said it to Zeus' daughter anyway!)
