- “You can't let the fear of failure stop you from trying.”
- ―Hercules to Snow White[src]
Hercules is a character that appears in the ABC fantasy series Once Upon a Time. He appears in the episode "Labor of Love" as an old friend of Snow White and is portrayed by Johnathan Witesell.
He is based on the Disney character with the same name and the character from Greco-Roman mythology.
Background[]
Like in the movie, he was on a quest to return to Mount Olympus. While on his last quest (to defeating 12 beasts and collect 12 labors) he stumbled across Snow White. He listened to Snow White's troubles and decided to train her to become a hero, and taught her to shoot arrows. She faced a group of bandits traumatizing a village, but failed. Hercules then knocked on the ground to cause an earthquake as a warning for the bandits to leave her alone. Snow White wanted to quit, but Hercules convinced her to try again by telling her how he almost died when facing his first labor, but nevertheless succeeded.
The day next, Snow White manages to face the bandits valiantly and the villagers were inspired to help. Hercules and Snow White then parted ways with a kiss, with Snow going back to become a better princess and Hercules to slay his last beast: Cerberus. He met Megara, who was being chased by the monster and tried to slay it. Unfortunately, the beast proved too powerful for him, and he met his demise in the fatal battle. His soul was then sent to the Underworld, where he remained for decades due to his failure to finish his quest.
Role in the series[]
A grown-up Snow White, now named Mary Margaret, comes across Herc while searching for her daughter's boyfriend, Killian Jones in the underworld. While searching, Snow and her husband David Nolan come across Herc's grave and learn he is still trapped in the underworld as he has unfinished business. With help from the Blind Witch, Snow learns that Hercules is working at the docs and introduces herself, but thinks he doesn't recognise her. Hercules recognises Mary Margret immediately, calling her Snow. The two embrace and comment on how different they look as she is now older than him. Snow asks Hercules how he died, but he refuses to say, commenting that it doesn't matter. Herc is surprised to hear that Snow now has a daughter, a son, and a grandson. Snow asks Hercules for help finding Killian and although reluctant, Herc agrees.
Along the way, they meet up with Emma, Henry, Regina and David, they come across Hades in the mines, who Hercules refers to as uncle, much to Emma and Mary Margret's dismay. As Hades threatens the group, Hercules asks him to leave them alone, who then reveals that Hades' guard dog killed Hercules not long after Snow returned to her kingdom, and he didn't want her to know why he is trapped down here.
Snow White tries to convince Hercules to face Cerberus, which will allow him to finally complete his 12th labor and move onto Mount Olympus. However, Hercules says it is impossible because the creature has 3 heads and believes he can't fight the demon alone again as he failed before. Snow tells Hercules he does not need to face Cerberus alone as she will be fight the creature with him.
Sometime later, while winding Cerberus, they come across a woman named Megara who is also running from the demon dog after Hook let her leave Hades' domain. Hercules and Snow get Meg to safety and the three face the demon dog together, defeating it once and for all. Noticing Meg fainting, Hercules catches her and they recognize each other from many, many years earlier as Herc had once saved her from Cerberus.
Back at the Underworld Granny's Diner, Hercules and Meg catch up and she thanks him for saving her more than once, although he comments on how he failed to do so before. Meg takes Hercules' hand and they fall in love as Snow comments on how part of Hercules' quest was to also save Megara and part of the reason why he can now leave the Underworld.
- “I was right. You became an amazing hero.”
- ―Hercules' goodbye to a grown up Snow White
Hercules and Meg reach the point in the Underworld where people either go to a better or worse place. Hercules and Snow bid one final goodbye and he comments on how she has become an amazing hero. Hercules and Meg then depart to Mount Olympus where his father is waiting, as Mary Margret tearfully watches her former love interest go to a better place.
Trivia[]
- There are some key differences and similarities to this Hercules and his animated counterpart:
- Regina calls Hercules Wonder Boy, which is what Megara called him in the original film, and he is also nicknamed Herc.
- This variant has brown hair instead of red.
- This Hercules meets Meg while she is running from Cerberus, while in the film, he meets her while she is being held hostage from the Hydra.
- Hercules' outfit in the Enchanted Forest flashbacks resemble his outfit from the film.
- Cerberus is Hercules' final labor, like the film.
- However, Hercules is killed from fighting Cerberus, while the animated character survives. Although, he does defeat the creature once and for all while in the underworld.
- Hercules and Meg go to Mount Olympus at the end, unlike the film where he decides to stay on earth to be with her.
- Hercules is one of the several characters who does not have a Storybrooke counterpart and unlike his animated counterpart, Hercules does not reach adulthood. Instead he and Meg meet as teenagers and are stuck at that age because they were in their teens when they died.
Gallery[]
_-_5x13_03.jpg "Hercules (OUAT) - 5x13 03.jpg (313 KB)")
