Here is my experience watching the first season of Starz's Spartacus, starring Andy Whitfield, Lucy Lawless, John Hannah, released in 2010.
Episode 1:
This episode is so hilariously awful, so bad that it comes back round and becomes good fun. The acting is laughable, the editing and CGI team clearly have a cocaine problem, the tone feels inspired by Synder's turgid 300. I don't buy John Hannah as a Roman at all. I'll keep watching because I've spent all of 2019 reading about Roman history, and feel like watching fiction set in that era.
Episode 5:
Wait....has....has this show been getting good?
I'm so happy that the editor managed to deal with his cocaine problem. I know relapses occur throughout the season, but for the most part he's got it under control, well done man, I'm proud of you.
Andy got a haircut a while ago and doesn't look stupid anymore. The structure of the show has become more clear to me. I recognise Crixus from history and love how the show has him as an antagonist for Spartacus, while also fleshing him out by having him in love with a fellow slave.
I'm understanding John Hannah's character more now and realise why I didn't buy him as a Roman earlier. I've spent all year reading about Roman aristocrats like Caesar, Pompey, Cicero, etc. Batiatus is sure as hell not an aristocrat, he wants to blag his way into being one, and with that in mind I can more fully appreciate and enjoy Hannah's character.
The show contextualising Spartacus's story alongside Batiatus's desire to rise into politics does a good job at showing how fiercely competitive Romans were. They grew up being told of their ancestors exploits and were expected to do better, and the cursus honorum (political ladder) demanded everyone fight tooth and nail for glory.
This show is trashy, there are copious amounts of tits and dicks rammed into your face, but there are compelling themes and character arcs forming too. The plight of the slaves is easy narrative fodder to make the audience sympathetic, I was always expecting that, but I'm intrigued and enjoying Batiatus and his wife trying to scheme their way into aristocracy.
Episode 9-11:
Loooool, this show is so trashy, so hedonistic, but so fun. The sex scenes ridiculous, and personally I get bored and just fast forward past them.
They keep ramming home how shit being a slave is, how depraved the Romans are, and all the while they've managed to make Spartacus a compelling character who was stubborn and cliched at the beginning, then broken down bit by bit into an obedient slave. So it's all the more painful when he keeps losing friends, keeps being pushed past his limits. You know a show has won you over when you feel bad for a character's plight. The show has transformed from a silly camp piece of shit in the pilot episode into a genuinely heartbreaking journey into the wretched lives of slaves and the merciless exploits of Romans who don't take no for an answer. The actor who plays Crixus, Manu Bennett, is brilliant.
Episode 12+13:
This climax is one of the most cathartic I've seen in TV. The episode is called Kill Them All....so, yeah!
On to the prequel season next. And finally, RIP to Andy Whitfield. He grew as an actor during the season, and had an earnest vibe about him that reminded me of Paul Walker. I dunno how his replacement will live up to him, but look forward to finding out!
EDIT: last season thoughts here.
Episode 1:
This episode is so hilariously awful, so bad that it comes back round and becomes good fun. The acting is laughable, the editing and CGI team clearly have a cocaine problem, the tone feels inspired by Synder's turgid 300. I don't buy John Hannah as a Roman at all. I'll keep watching because I've spent all of 2019 reading about Roman history, and feel like watching fiction set in that era.
Episode 5:
Wait....has....has this show been getting good?
I'm so happy that the editor managed to deal with his cocaine problem. I know relapses occur throughout the season, but for the most part he's got it under control, well done man, I'm proud of you.
Andy got a haircut a while ago and doesn't look stupid anymore. The structure of the show has become more clear to me. I recognise Crixus from history and love how the show has him as an antagonist for Spartacus, while also fleshing him out by having him in love with a fellow slave.
I'm understanding John Hannah's character more now and realise why I didn't buy him as a Roman earlier. I've spent all year reading about Roman aristocrats like Caesar, Pompey, Cicero, etc. Batiatus is sure as hell not an aristocrat, he wants to blag his way into being one, and with that in mind I can more fully appreciate and enjoy Hannah's character.
The show contextualising Spartacus's story alongside Batiatus's desire to rise into politics does a good job at showing how fiercely competitive Romans were. They grew up being told of their ancestors exploits and were expected to do better, and the cursus honorum (political ladder) demanded everyone fight tooth and nail for glory.
This show is trashy, there are copious amounts of tits and dicks rammed into your face, but there are compelling themes and character arcs forming too. The plight of the slaves is easy narrative fodder to make the audience sympathetic, I was always expecting that, but I'm intrigued and enjoying Batiatus and his wife trying to scheme their way into aristocracy.
Episode 9-11:
Loooool, this show is so trashy, so hedonistic, but so fun. The sex scenes ridiculous, and personally I get bored and just fast forward past them.
They keep ramming home how shit being a slave is, how depraved the Romans are, and all the while they've managed to make Spartacus a compelling character who was stubborn and cliched at the beginning, then broken down bit by bit into an obedient slave. So it's all the more painful when he keeps losing friends, keeps being pushed past his limits. You know a show has won you over when you feel bad for a character's plight. The show has transformed from a silly camp piece of shit in the pilot episode into a genuinely heartbreaking journey into the wretched lives of slaves and the merciless exploits of Romans who don't take no for an answer. The actor who plays Crixus, Manu Bennett, is brilliant.
Episode 12+13:
This climax is one of the most cathartic I've seen in TV. The episode is called Kill Them All....so, yeah!
On to the prequel season next. And finally, RIP to Andy Whitfield. He grew as an actor during the season, and had an earnest vibe about him that reminded me of Paul Walker. I dunno how his replacement will live up to him, but look forward to finding out!
EDIT: last season thoughts here.
Last edited:
