This show delights in its violence, so much so that there are a few times that the transfer from one scene to another is the 'Spartacus' version of a fade-to-black, which is an entire scene being covered in red dripping goo that slowly fades away. Limbs are hacked off and fly through the air whirling around in slow-mo as blood squirts from the end. It seems every wielding sword, thrusting spear, or heavy punch is delivered 'Matrix' style, as time slows down and bodies float in midair until they come crashing to the ground. At times, blood splatters on the camera, making sure we know that even the lens can't escape the heavy volume of spilled blood. Taking on the same type of stylizing as '300,' the violence in 'Spartacus' is over-the-top gory, awashing the screen in ultra-slow motion any time a sword cuts into flesh. And when I say bloody, I mean very bloody! Whereas 'Rome' focused more on the empire's politics and backdoor dealings, 'Spartacus' is all about the gladiator training, way of life, and bloody battles.
SPARTACUS ALL SEASONS LIST TV
Have no fear, though, as a lover of 'Rome,' I can still say that if you're interested in a TV show about ancient Rome, then 'Spartacus' is a worthy successor. 'Rome' was a fantastic show, one that many would argue also ended prematurely. I reviewed HBO's 'Rome' when it hit Blu-ray, and 'Spartacus' cannot escape the inevitable comparisons. Luckily, though, 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand,' even with all the uncertainty in its future, still packs a mighty wallop of action and drama in its first season, and that's a factor to be considered by anyone interested. If you were one of those on the fence about 'Spartacus,' and decided to wait for its home video release to get on the wagon, this unfortunate situation may be a deterrent.
Such news will surely sadden the show's fans, but may also deter many people from getting invested in a show that may end prematurely due to outside forces. Sadly, that isn't the case, and while the six-episode prequel is still in production, Starz hasn't announced any plans regarding the continuation of the original series. When Starz first learned of Whitfield's cancer, they made plans to shoot a prequel season called 'Spartacus: Gods of the Arena,' hoping by the time they finished that their star would be feeling better. I mention this at the start of this review, because a change like this, involving one of the main actors, never bodes well for a TV series. He must become a legend.Īndy Whitfield, star of the gory Starz Roman drama, 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand,' has had to bow out of the role he so boldly embodies. To survive, he must become more than a man, more than a gladiator.
SPARTACUS ALL SEASONS LIST SERIES
Treachery, corruption and the allure of sensual pleasures will constantly test him and his masters.Īgainst all odds, Spartacus’ rebellious instincts, his intense love for his wife Sura (Erin Cummings) and his powerful fighting skills drive him to win a series of near-impossible battles – setting in motion a revolution against the tyranny of Rome. But not all battles are fought upon the sands. He is condemned to the brutal world of the arena where blood and death are primetime entertainment.
He is forced to fight daily for his life against deadly foes, under the brutal whip of trainer Doctore (Mensah). Torn from his homeland and the woman he loves, Spartacus (Whitfield), a Thracian warrior captured by Romans, is enslaved into a gladiator training school owned by Batiatus (Hannah) and his wife Lucretia (Lawless). “SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND” was inspired by the actual slave of the Roman Republic, who in 73 BC led a slave revolt that grew to more than 120,000 fighters.