Television Tropes and Idioms

Merriam-Webster gives a definition of "trope" as a "figure of speech." In storytelling, a trope is just that — a conceptual figure of speech, a storytelling shorthand for a concept that the audience will recognize and understand instantly.

Above all, a trope is a convention. It can be a plot trick, a setup, a narrative structure, a character type, a linguistic idiom... you know it when you see it. Tropes are not inherently disruptive to a story; however, when the trope itself becomes intrusive, distracting the viewer rather than serving as shorthand, it has become a cliché.
- Television Tropes and Idioms

1.02 - Between Friends

Ares: We'll soften him up where's he's weakest: his pathetic mortal feelings.

• Example of the trope The Power of Friendship. Ares decides that Hercules's weakest point is his "pathetic mortal feelings", and sends Strife to attack Hercules through his best friend, Iolaus. In the end, it is Iolaus shouting Herc's name during Hercules and Strife's final showdown that distracts Strife long enough for Hercules to win the fight.

1.08 - Keeping Up With the Jasons

• Example of the trope Temporary Blindness. Lilith is injured and loses her sense of sight just long enough for her to learn an important lesson about fighting with her other senses. By the end of the episode she miraculously regains her sight.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheOtherDarrin •The Other Darrin:

A new actor is brought on to play the same character as an actor who left, with no explanation for the switch being given to the audience.

Ian Boen played Young Herc in the pilot movie and on HTLJ. As Boen opted not to continue, Ryan Gosling took over for the series.

◦There was also Sharon Tyrell, who played Herc's mother, Alcmene, in the series. In the pilot movie, she was played by Rachel Blakely. In HTLJ, Alcmene as a young woman was played by Kim Michalis.

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PygmalionPlot •Pygmalion Plot:

- galatea

Training Montage http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TrainingMontage

- movie 
- con ares

Makeover Montage http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MakeoverMontage

- my fair lilith

Jaw Drop http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/JawDrop She Cleans Up Nicely http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SheCleansUpNicely Unnecessary Makeover http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/UnnecessaryMakeover

- Lilith
- ness and unness

•The Smurfette Principle: http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheSmurfettePrinciple In the pilot movie, Yvenna. In the series proper, Lilth and Kora

Princess for a Day http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PrincessForADay

- Lilith

Limited Wardrobe http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/LimitedWardrobe - every character

Moment Killer http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/MomentKiller

- Iolaus, every time herc/Cyane kiss
- Lilith&Herc, for Jason/Pelia

Shorttank http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Shorttank

- Lilith

And Now You Must Marry Me http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AndNowYouMustMarryMe baccus & Euridice

Ridiculously Cute Critter http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RidiculouslyCuteCritter

Pet Monstrosity http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/PetMonstrosity

- adult Ruff

I Didn't Tell You Because You'd Be Unhappy http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IDidntTellYouBecauseYoudBeUnhappy Herc/Cyane - Zeus

Clear Their Name http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ClearTheirName Iolaus - between friends

Clip Show http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ClipShow

Duels Decide Everything http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/DuelsDecideEverything Jason-Pollux

Emergency Impersonation http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/EmergencyImpersonation Teacher's Pests

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Plots