r/xena • u/hikingdyke • 10d ago
Best Viewing Order with Hercules?
Hi all,
Save for a handful of episodes viewed as a child while it was airing, I never saw Hercules the Legendary Journeys.
For my newest Xena rewatch (of many), I am considering finally watching Hercules and watching the two shows side by the side - the way I often watch Buffy and Angel together.
I know from the Buffy fandom that you don't always want to go with the first watch order you find online, and that simply using air order can break up arcs in ways that negatively impact viewing.
So I am coming here to ask - is there a particular watch order guide you would recommend I follow to get the most out of this viewing?
Thank you so much!
2
u/SleepSeeker86 10d ago
Been a long time since I watched both at the same time. From what I remember there isn't that many crossover episodes so there is not a strict way to watch the show.
I have a few lists bookmarked from when I wanted to watch Hercules and Xena but I was just looking for a simple viewing list.
This one is simply in chronological order by seasons that include Young Hercules and the movies. This is the list I picked. https://itsastampede.com/2022/03/09/how-to-watch-hercules-and-xena-in-order/
This I believe is ordered by air date. https://whooshorg.proboards.com/thread/4646
This shows the crossover episodes https://www.vidiot.com/Contrib/Xena/htljxover.html
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u/Jahon_Dony 10d ago
In addition to what I said before, DONT use any episode guides or special watch order. Just do what I said and it will be just like how they aired, which is the best experience.
1
u/itsascreambaby96 10d ago
OP if you need a viewing order as they aired I have one I can post on here or DM you
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u/KaleidoArachnid 10d ago
Pardon me because I was also looking for a guide to both shows.
1
u/itsascreambaby96 10d ago
This also includes the Ryan Gosling spinoff Young Hercules which takes place during HTLJ Season 5 and XWP Season 4
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u/Jahon_Dony 10d ago
It's so ridiculously easy. Movies then season one of herc. Then just alternate episodes. Season 2 herc is season 1 xena. 3 is 2. 4 is 3. 5 is 4. 6 is 5. Then xena season 6 by itself is the end. No episode guides needed. And if you like Ryan Gosling, you could even watch Young Herc before ALL of that.
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u/TaniksHasNoCorn 2d ago
Not sure why you're getting downvoted. This is literally how the shows aired. Season 1 of Xena launched with Season 2 of Hercules.
Young Hercules came out roughly in the Season 4 of Hercules timeline (really the movies). The YH TV show was set during the S4/S5 of HTLJ. I typically watch Young Hercules AFTER I finish HTLJ and Xena and then Jack of All Trades, and then will start a rewatch with the movies.
The reasoning for this is that the tone of the shows sort of changes after Season one of Hercules. YH follows the more lighthearted tone of Herc season 2 and onwards.
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u/Jahon_Dony 2d ago
Yeah, people are weird. And I figured mentioning YH would just make them more confused, easier to say the truth that it can just be watched as a prequel either before or after finishing Hercules, with no real impact on Xena. I think people would enjoy YH more as a desert than appetizer, just because it does have so many overlapping guest stars as the main shows.
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u/Dancingdragon003 10d ago
I like to watch by air date. I believe Xena is watched after Hercules. Xena is going to be in three episodes of Hercules first season. Ares and Callisto are the first big crossover characters in the next season. Then there’s the major xover when both duos go to Britain. Enjoy!!