How Kevin Smith And Meg Foster Made Ares And Hera Seem Real Over Being Nearly Invisible, Unseen Villains

It's no doubt that Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is a hit series. Though, I always had my beef towards two of its antagonists namely Hera and Ares (who later became the main antagonist in the place of his mother Hera for several seasons). If you've noticed in the first two seasons - these two villains were always nearly unseen or acted through proxies.

Hera always appeared in the form of disembodied eyes for quite some time and also did so in the spin-off series Young Hercules. What did she look like? She was meant to be menacing and somehow - the eyes represent that she's indeed a green-eyed monster. She was usually voiced by the late Joy Watson who was supposed to be menacing. Yet, seasons later one actress would really steal the show...

Later on, in Season Five we see Hera finally manifest herself. It made me think why wasn't she secured since the first season? Meg Foster really had the scary eyes and a menacing voice that would make you wish you didn't see her face to face. Foster only had two appearances in the series but she practically overshadows Watson for me. Just hearing her express her hatred for Zeus and making an offer of peace towards her hated stepson/nephew Hercules. Just hearing her say, "It's Zeus I despise!" is way scarier than Watson sentencing Nemesis. Just imagine if Foster appeared in person to punish Nemesis by taking away the latter's godhood. I would be more scared of Foster's portrayal of Hera in person than a voice in the sky sounding like a nag. Hmmm... while at it let's think of Foster's Hera fighting Kratos!

Ares first appeared in an invisible force. It's a shame that ToyBiz would immortalize the Ares Monster form but not Ares' iconic form acted out by the late Kevin Smith. I felt many times Ares' invisible trolling was kind of forced until you realize Smith himself actually made Ares more believable. Ares acting behind the scenes doesn't seem very much like the all-violent god of war now, isn't it?

Season Three brought Ares in his human form from Xena: Warrior Princess played by Smith. This Ares came in more personal to battle Hercules man to man. I love this version better who always had a more menacing presence. So why wasn't this form introduced earlier in the first episode Ares appeared? Not to mention, he had the trademark iconic lines such as, "We're not through yet, little brother!" or "You'll pay for this Hercules!"