After five made-for-TV feature films designed to establish the principal character and his surroundings, Hercules (Kevin Sorbo) was awarded his own weekly, syndicated series, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. In the opening episode, Hercules' wife and children are consumed in a ball of flame -- and it is all the handiwork of his treacherous stepmother, the goddess Hera. Renouncing his father Zeus for allowing such a tragedy to occur, the embittered Hercules embarks upon a campaign of destruction and vengeance. He is ultimately restored to his proper path in life after rescuing the lovely Aegina (Clare Carey) from a human sacrifice -- and after endeavoring to save his friend Iolaus (Michael Hurst), who had been turned to stone. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi