Young Hercules is a prequel series to the television series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys the originally aired on Fox Kids Network. It premiered on September 12, 1998 and ended on May 14, 1999, with a total of 50 episodes over the course of 1 season. It stars Ryan Gosling in the title role. The series was based on Heracles. Plot The show features the efforts of Ares, the god of war, played by Kevin Tod Smith, who attempts often to destroy his younger half-brother to win over Zeus' good graces. Among his group is his nephew Strife (Joel Tobeck), who is the rather weaker member of the team. Strife's mother is Discord, goddess of retribution (Meighan Desmond), who acts more level-headed and power hungry than her counterpart on more than one occasion. The series has two other villains: Hera, queen of the gods and Hercules' stepmother; and Apollo, god of the sun and Hercules' half-brother. The series follows Hercules (Ryan Gosling) as he attends Cheiron's Academy to train in the arts of the warrior under the wise headmaster Cheiron the Centaur (Nathaniel Lees). He makes friends with the future king of Corinth, Prince Jason (Chris Conrad) and a thieving former member of a bandit group named Iolaus (Dean O'Gorman), who was sentenced to train at the academy as an alternative to prison for his crimes. Hercules also meets the academy's first female cadet, Lilith (Jodie Rimmer). Other characters of interest include Kora, the innkeeper who (unknown to Hercules and his friends) is a devotee of Artemis, Goddess of the Hunt. As the series develops, Kora is revealed to have special powers which allow her to do Artemis' bidding. There are hints of romance between Hercules and Kora, although their friendship keeps it all innocent. Cast Main Ryan Gosling as Hercules Dean O'Gorman as Iolaus Chris Conrad as Jason Supporting Jodie Rimmer as Lilith Mfundo Morrison as Theseus Nathaniel Lees as Cheiron Angela Marie Dotchin as Kora Kevin Smith as Ares Joel Tobeck as Strife Meighan Desmond as Discord Katrina Browne as Cyane, an Amazon Jason Hoyte as Hephaestus, god of metallurgy Sharon Tyrell as Alcmene Alison Bruce as Simula Elizabeth Hawthorne as Hera Jay Ryan as Cadet John Bach as Zeus Production Young Hercules''' executive producers were Robert Tapert and Sam Raimi. Liz Friedman and Eric Gruendemann were co-executive producers, and former MTV producer Cynthia Hsiung was producer of the