Hercules: The Legendary Journeys

Very loosely based on Greek mythology, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys mixes lore, action, comedy, and even some modern themes to produce an entertaining series that enjoyed huge popularity during its original six-year run in the '90s. If you watched it, you'll remember that the costumes and characters were a little campy even for the standards of the time, so filtered through the lens of modern special effects, there's a significant cheese factor working against it. That said, there's something very likable about Sorbo's portrayal of Hercules as an imperfect foot soldier with an unwavering moral compass . . . and a set of biceps that just won't quit.

The show's positive themes about strong values and fighting for a good cause are unmistakable, and the violence -- although prevalent -- is mostly fantasized and rarely gory. But there's a surprisingly insistent nature to the sexual content that you should weigh for your tweens. Hercules practically oozes sex appeal just by being the strong, upstanding person that he is, and women flaunt and flirt their way to being noticed by him. Physically, the pairings typically stop at a kiss or two, but the implications are obvious, and there's a lot of partial nudity (lightly covered breasts, buttocks exposed by a thong-style costume bottom, etc.) to consider as well. The bottom line? Despite its age, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys is an entertaining adaptation of Greek lore, and if your teens do tune in, it might inspire in them an interest in the mythology on which it is based.