Ragnarfan's Blog

This review contains spoilers.

1.10 Wrath of the Gods

It’s fair to say that Spartacus is a show that isn’t shy about killing off its cast, no matter how well-liked or famous they might be. The impressive thing is that whenever it happens, you’re still surprised.

Having Naevia fight Ashur made perfect sense, because unlike Crixus, Naevia isn’t historically bullet-proof. The stakes meant that every swing of the sword could be her last. It would have been nice if the Ashur/Naevia unpleasantness had been a stronger thread through this series, but it was satisfying to see his head parted from his body nonetheless. Richly deserved, and not a moment too soon.

I admit, I was expecting Lucretia to be the one doing that particular deed, but she got a better fate: going completely mental at the final moment. In retrospect, the signs were there. The genuine belief in her divine powers, for instance. Even for Spartacus, her scenes got pretty dark. It’s possible that Ilithyia survived, but given what she’d have to deal with if she did, that would probably be the worse fate.

Oenomaus’ death was certainly a surprise, although he went down with a double Buffy reference, losing an eye last episode and quoting Dark Willow (“I owe you pain!”) this episode. It’s how I’d want to go. Still, it also gave us the most tear-jerking moment of the episode when he finally forgave Gannicus, and let’s face it, that completed his character arc to the point where had he not died, we’d wonder what he was still doing hanging around.

Other notable deaths include Mira (called it last week), Glaber (suitably epic), and Ashur’s Egyptian lackey (shame those guys didn’t get more facetime.) If this were any other show, I’d think it was contract negotiation season.

Although the episode’s plot was, let’s face it, mainly there to service the fighting, there were a few fun moments. Reflecting actual historical events, Spartacus, Crixus, Gannicus and Agron descended the cliffs of Vesuvius on vines to break up the Roman siege, and in a twist that couldn’t fail to draw a grin, used their flaming catapaults against them.

If there was any problem with this episode, it’s that events proceeded more or less as you’d expect. Buckets of character deaths, rousing speeches and brutal fight scenes. Only the climax of the Ilithyia/Lucretia plot could be called genuinely surprising, and with everyone who might possibly be impacted by that dead, it’s fair to say there won’t be any repurcussions.

So, all we’re left to do is wonder what form Season 3 will take. With the vast majority of the primary antagonists dead, we can assume there’ll be a new villain in charge. History suggests Marcus Crassus, but since history also records that he eventually succeeds in surpressing the revolt, they might choose a fresh face to take the fight to Spartacus so that we can see him go the way of Batiatus and Glaber.

Hopefully we’ll also see more of Saxa and Ludo in Season 3, because they’re both fantastic fighters and memorable characters (and if you don’t know them by name, it’s the blonde woman and the German guy who’s built like a tank.)

Beyond that, we’ll have to wait and see. It’s going to be a long 8 months, though, because Spartacus: Vengeance once again had everything. Sex, violence, drama, comedy and tragedy. Classical storytelling at its best. See you back here, January 2013.

Rating :9/10

source:denofgeek.com
by:James Hunt

This review contains spoilers.

1.9 Monsters

This week, the horizon came into view for this series of Spartacus: Vengeance, and there was certainly no doubt about the show’s willingness to acknowledge the impending conclusion. Major character deaths, huge plot developments – if I didn’t know better, I’d almost have thought that this episode was the finale itself!

It’s impossible to go any further without mentioning this episode’s really big moment, though, and that’s the murder of Seppia. Who saw that coming? Personally, I was expecting Seppia and Lucretia to get their wires crossed and for the former to kill Ilithyia as “revenge” against Glaber, but clearly that was not to be. For a moment, I actually believed she might kill Glaber and get away with it (historical record be damned) – but the truth was far more unexpected.

In fact, if there’s anything that exemplifies Spartacus more in a single image than Glaber and Ilithyia having sex, while soaked in Seppia’s blood, as her corpse bobs nonchalantly nearby, I haven’t seen it. The episode title – Monsters – couldn’t have been more apt. What’s more, it finally makes Ilithyia and Glaber into something other than the bargain basement Batiatus and Lucretia. The latter pair were self-interested and ruthless, but usually fair and generally quite subtle in their schemes. By comparison, Glaber and Ilithyia are borderline insane – powerful enough to do whatever they want and get away with it, and finally revelling in that freedom.

Spartacus’ concerns are far more pedestrian at the start of the episode as he attempts to unite his disparate followers by holding his own games. There’s no doubt that the chance to see characters squaring off is a welcome one, and much of the original series was based around increasingly ludicrous fights, but there’s the sense that this was all a little too facile. Characters hate one another, have a bit of a scrap, and everyone’s pals afterwards. Even where rivalries cut deep, as with Gannicus and Oenomaus, a tag-team match somehow cures their ills. It’s a narrative beat that needed to happen, but if this is the end of the group’s internal feuds (and I concede it may not be), then it was far from earned.

Of course, the episode’s ending does suggest bigger concerns may dominate their thinking in the immediate future, as the group is driven up Vesuvius and beseiged by Glaber’s forces. History buffs (or Wikipedia readers) will recognise this as a genuine occurrance during the Third Servile War, and it’s a fun reminder that however fictionalised Spartacus is, it’s based in fact, if only superficially.

Still, it’s fiction that Spartacus does best, and the final battle sequence was gripping stuff which felt like it could end at any moment – but didn’t. Being kept on the edge of a possible cliffhanger for so long was a rush not seen since… well, episode 5, I suppose. And it felt all the more surprising because the longer it went on, the bigger the stakes became. Varinius cops a fireball in the face. Oenomaus loses an eye. These are the sort of things that remind us that no-one in Spartacus is messing around, and virtually anyone could die at any moment.

Disappointingly, this season is due to end with next week’s tenth and final episode, but that suggests we’re far from out of the woods yet. I don’t expect everyone to live through the next hour of Spartacus, and characters such as Naevia, Mira and Nasir should probably watch out – they’re important enough that it’ll hurt if (or rather, when) they die, but not so important the show can’t do without them. Ashur, too, is long overdue a comeuppance, but whether it happens next episode or next season is – one assumes – up to Lucretia. Is she ready to fight back?

One thing is certain: the only foolish bet you can make here is that everyone lives through episode 10. Feel free to guess who’s going to make it and who isn’t.

Rating : 9/10

source:denofgeek.com
by:James Hunt

This review contains spoilers.

8. Balance

After a few weeks of escalating awesomeness, this week’s Spartacus episode trod a more subdued and reflective path. That’s not to say a lot didn’t happen, because it did, nor that it wasn’t good fun, because it was. The difference between this week’s episode and its predecessors is simply that everything that happened in this one was predictable and straightforward.

For example: the threat of Spartacus killing Ilithyia never felt real, despite the writers’ best efforts. As one of the series’ lynchpin characters, it seemed inconceivable that she would die so easily. And indeed, she didn’t. In the past, the series has knocked us for a loop by killing or injuring someone who, in narrative terms, should have been invincible. Here, it dutifully proves that Ilithyia’s time has not come by having a succession of people fail to drive home a blade in favour of monologues and pontifications. It briefly seemed possible when Mira had her hands around Ilithyia’s throat, but only for the most fleeting of seconds. Hardly edge-of-seat stuff.

At least Ilithyia’s continued survival gives us some insight into Spartacus’ developing philosophy, as he struggles to define himself as different from the romans. This time: he’s decided he doesn’t want to take vengeance that isn’t just. Not a bad philosophy in practise, but it wasn’t that long ago he cut a man’s face off just to make a point, so it seems like an attack of the convenient moralising plot devices more than a genuine alteration of his outlook. We’ll find out in future episodes how serious he is about this, but I’m going to call it now and say it’s probably a temporary attack of conscience.

Speaking of plot conveniences, Lucius’ will-he/won’t-he betrayal was about the one moment of genuine potential in this episode, and again, they picked a direction that was blandly predictable. Yes, it was fun to watch him chew out Glaber, but it was obvious from the moment Ilithyia tried to bribe him that land alone wasn’t going to make him switch sides, so it was no surprise when he expressed as much. For him to then be dispatched, summarily, during a foolish (and materially pointless) display of stubborn sacrifice… well, it didn’t exactly recall the final moments of, say, Varro, let’s put it that way.

Not everything about the episode was bad, of course. It’s nice to have the unspoken question of whether Ilithyia’s baby is Spartacus’ child given voice, even if (in the absence of genetic testing) it seems unlikely we’ll ever get a satisfactory answer on that front. Perhaps that’s why Spartacus was so quick to believe it: if he thinks it’s true, then whether or not it is, at least the audience can get invested in the idea.

It was good to see Gannicus finally step up, as well, eager to win back the trust of his friend. He’s still mainly with the group out of necessity, but there’s room for growth, that much is certain. Maybe he’ll yet be the hero we want him to become. Of course, history records him as one of Spartacus’ loyal generals (omg spoilerz!) but he’s a way off that just yet. Certainly, seeing the all-star team of Spartacus, Gannicus, Crixus and Agron in the limelight together was a bit like seeing the Avengers team up, so let’s hope there are more scenes like that coming.

Once again, though, it’s the villains that really steal this series. Ashur’s increasing brutality has actually managed to make us root for Lucretia against him, even as his arrogance outstrips his cunning. Seppia’s discovery of Glaber’s role in her brother’s death makes it certain that we’re going to see an interesting confrontation sooner rather than later. And one wonders what will become of Ilithyia now that she’s lost everything. Will we see her again? Well, yeah, obviously – but it’d be good if the writers saved that for a moment when we least expect it (and I don’t mean next episode.)

Still, weak plotting aside, this wasn’t a terrible episode – it held together well, and offered a few thrills – but for a series that has thrived on unpredictability and stylistic flair, it was uncharacteristically tame. Let’s hope it’s just the calm before the storm as the series moves into its third act.

Rating : 7/10

source:denofgeek.com
by:James Hunt

This review contains spoilers.

7. Sacramentum

With the series now exhibiting all the fire of its predecessors (and in the case of the arena’s destruction, that’s literal fire) the story is barrelling along at an increasingly rapid pace. The reshuffled cast have found their groove, the writers have nailed down the characters, and the choreographers are coming up with more and more inventive endings for the various lumps of meat in the cast. If they look like redshirts, it’s only because of the copious amounts of fake blood they’re soaking in.

That said, there has been one weak link in the story, and that’s Gannicus. His years of freedom have stripped away his rock-star swagger, and without purpose or motivation, he’s drifting through the cast displaying indifference to pretty much everything. Understandable, perhaps, but the problem is that it’s boring to watch a jaded gladiator realising how free he isn’t. Thankfully, this episode’s ending put some excitement back into the character’s life, and if he can remember to emote a little bit more as a result, that’s going to be no bad thing.

Everyone else, however, is on fine form. Although it was another Spartacus-light episode, with Gannicus, Lucretia and Glaber receiving plenty of screentime. That’s not to say the character didn’t get his due – after all, there’s only one moment from this episode that people will be making animated gifs of later, and it’s Spartacus’ alone.

Ashur and Lucretia’s elaborate game of conflicting manipulations is particularly fun to watch, especially since Ashur has gone from “ambiguously evil coward” to outright villainous mastermind. Of course, I assume we all spotted the moment early on where he got a little too big for his boots? I can’t help but think that letting Lucretia know about his private stash won’t end well for him, after all.

Speaking of Lucretia, things just don’t seem to go right for his these days. Not only has she been manipulated into Ashur’s service in a particularly humiliating and traumatising fashion, her attempt to abscond from Glaber with Ilithyia was ruined, and Gannicus laid waste her carefully-laid plan to sort Glaber out once and for all. At this point, you’ve almost got to feel sorry for her.

Although, not as sorry as you do for Glaber, who finally charms Seppia into bed just in time to be afflicted with a serious case of coitus interruptus (to use the language of the show). The show’s final scene was a genuine classic, filled with a sense of dread and drama with a literally legendary tone. Quite how Ilithyia’s going to end up is anyone’s guess, but despite his disdain for her, we can imagine Glaber isn’t going to take kindly to her abduction.

Of course, it’s possible that our heroes will spoil their fun long before the villains catch up with them. The increasing tension in Spartacus’ camp has been evident since the start of the series, but it’s only now reaching a head. Agron seems genuine, but when push comes to shove, it’s clear that his pride is going to cause a more permanent rift in the group than it did the first time.

With its multiple subplots being masterfully juggled and a cast filled with characters who you can love and hate in equal measure, Spartacus: Vengeance is retaining the series’ position as one of TV’s most gloriously contradictory shows. Just when you think it’s decided to take itself seriously and become a historical drama, the episode ends with someone’s face getting cut off and a CGI brain all but sliding down the camera lens. And frankly, I have no problem enjoying both sides of the show.

Rating : 8/10

source:denofgeek.com
by:James Hunt

This review contains spoilers.

6. Chosen Path

After a slow and steady beginning, last week’s episode brought the fire back to the series (quite literally) with the return of Gannicus, the destruction of the arena, some major deaths, plans unwravelled and plot revelations aplenty. How on earth could this week follow that?

As it turns out… pretty comfortably. Sure, we didn’t get the big set piece of last week, but it took the full hour to examine the fallout.

Most obviously, we got to see Gannicus back in the cast. The Gladiator who earned his freedom was one of the lead characters in prequel mini-series Gods Of The Arena, so a chance to catch up with wasn’t just welcome, it was long overdue. As it turns out, for Gannicus, freedom isn’t all its cracked up to be. With the ability to do anything, it seems, comes the lack of motivation to do anything. He may end this episode spurning the rebellion, but it’s a safe bet we’ll be seeing him again soon.

Similarly, Crixus and Naevia discover that their reunion isn’t as smooth as either hoped, but the end of the episode gives them both a new purpose to continue, and one that continues the attempt at setting up a more egalitarian approach to contrast against the highly gendered structures of Roman society. Still, Spartacus has always been an equal-opportunities programme with regards to nudity, so it’s only fair the same is true of violence too.

Indeed, the only failing this episode was that the lead character barely got a look in, spending most of the episode either making plans or telling off his troops. Even his best fight – a long-awaited duel between the both-undefeated Spartacus and Gannicus – was cut short in its prime. Is it too much to hope for a rematch?

At least the villains are lining up nicely. Glaber has finally become interesting after ruthlessly asserting control of his situation in the previous episode, and this one continues to take the character in an unexpectedly brutal direction. He’s still no Batiatus, but at least he’s not the butt of everyone’s conspiracies anymore, having reminded everyone – not least Ilithyia – who’s boss.

And indeed, as Glaber’s rise continues, so does Ashur’s. The episode opens with him practically naked, fighting for his life and literally scrabbling in the dirt, only to end with him rising higher than ever before – and once again underestimated. Although once a cowardly comic relief character, Ashur is perhaps the most dangerous villain in the cast at this point, with no apparent loyalty to anyone but himself, nor any interest in anything except his own wellbeing. A terrifying combination of id and cunning.

Now that Ashur has stopped being funny and started being terrifying, it’s up to the comedy trio of Seppia, Lucretia and Ilithyia to provide the laughs, and you only have to look at the latter’s face when Seppia accuses her of being old to know that these three have an excellent chemistry together. One that will doubtlessly be exploited when the veneer or friendship drops.

And, of course, no discussion of this episode could be complete without mentioning Ashur’s new team of crazies, assembled like some kind of Roman-era Avengers. The best fight scenes in Spartacus are always those where the combatants have a visual or stylistic hook, and Ashur is now commanding a team comprising entirely of them. “Looking forward to what happens next” doesn’t begin to cover it.

Rating : 9/10

source:denofgeek.com
by:James Hunt

This review contains spoilers.

4. Empty Hands

It’s taken a while, but despite the still-yawning absence of John Hannah, episode 4 of Spartacus: Vengeance has finally fleshed out its cast of supporting villains into leads in their own right. Perhaps it could have come sooner, but never mind, at least it’s working now.

In particular, this episode saw the likes of Glaber, Varinius, Albinius, Seppia and Seppius gain some character direction, defining them for the first time in terms other than their relationship to one another. It was Ilithyia who stole the show, however, with the tried-and-tested Spartacus combination of sex and death, finally making her the scheming equal of Lucretia in her prime.

Speaking of which, Lucretia also had a good episode, her crazier persona now definitively abandoned and shades of the old manipulator finally resurfacing. Like Ilithyia, we’re unsure how truthful she’s being when she says she wants to become friends again, but that’s all part of the fun. It’s possible that she’s telling the truth – but until Ashur returns, there’s no-one around who she can talk to without her guard up.

The arrival of the captured Crixus also threw a spanner in the works for Lucretia, and although they shared some meaningful moments in this episode, there’s surely a far better meeting in the works. In the meantime, Crixus will be returning to the arena, and that means the return of the arena fights. It’s hard to imagine a Spartacus fan who isn’t going to be glad to see those back, as they were frequently the spine of the previous two series.

Meanwhile, things look considerably grimmer for the series’ eponymous hero, as his rescue party gets cut to pieces (literally) as they attempt to flee the Romans. Naevia herself appears to have cost the rebellion considerably, and while it’s clear that she’s aware of it, it’s the doubting looks of the others as they died that will truly haunt Spartacus. Especially when Agron returns at the end of the episode, replete with his own army, tacitly proven right about his reluctance to go on a suicide mission.

Perhaps the most interesting thing in this episode was Glaber’s transformation from generic villain into something more closely resembling Batiatus – an ambitious but inadequate man, seemingly blind to those working against him. And indeed, there are plenty of people working against him. His wife is attempting to leave him. His oracle is working against him. His colleague is trying to steal his wife, and his father-in-law is quickly dissuaded from fighting his corner. Only a small triumph over Seppius prevents him from being a total loser. He might still be a charisma vacuum, but at least he’s eliciting some emotion from the audience now.

Although this episode was fairly light on plot, at least where the slave army was concerned, there’s a definite feeling that Spartacus is being knocked down so that he can rise higher in retaliation. The series has repeatedly employed this tactic in the past, and always with devastatingly brilliant results – so this time, when he looks wounded and exhausted, we know that it won’t be long before his redemption. When and how that comes isn’t clear, but there’s no doubt we can look forward to it soon.

Still, with the political subplots bubbling and plenty of action at every turn, it’s clear that the series is firing on all cylinders again. It hasn’t yet hit the greatest highs of the last two series, but at less than a third of the way through, there’s plenty of time for it to do so – and certainly, little doubt that it will. Let’s just hope they don’t wait too long…

Rating : 8/10

source:denofgeek.com
by:James Hunt

This review contains spoilers.

3. The Greater Good

After a pair of well-written but very slow-paced opening episodes, Spartacus: Vengeance finally feels like a series that has found its feet, finally delivering the same urgency and passion that made its predecessors so gripping.

The focus on Crixus certainly helped, as his relationship with Naevia was one of the series’ more believable and thus deserves the prestigious, plot-driving position it has been afforded. For that reason, it’s a shame that Naevia was re-cast, but let’s face it: the series has dealt with bigger problems than that. Although the battles in the last two episodes looked cool and inventive, they didn’t stir the audience’s passion like those in this one, perhaps because this time a plot resolution seemed certain. We were not disappointed.

If you wanted to criticise anything, it could be that Crixus was too quick to believe Naevia’s (alleged) death. Or that Agron’s betrayal was revealed too quickly. But in story terms, they made so much sense that stringing them out over several episodes would have felt like a cheap attempt to disguise a lack of ideas. The first series ended up feeling padded as a result of such delayed gratification, but if Vengeance continues in this manner, cramming three episodes of story into a single hour, that won’t be a problem.

The episode’s sub-plot was also the strongest yet, as Ashur’s return fills the charisma void left by Batiatus’ departure. He may be smarter than Batiatus, but he’s twice as cowardly. We may not root for him on any level as we did his departed master, but we love his failures almost as much as we enjoy hating his successes. It’s inconceivable that Ashur will make it out of this series alive, but from this episode’s events it’s clear his death is going to be well-earned.

By comparison, Spartacus himself takes almost a back seat throughout the events of this story. He delivers some speeches, gives Crixus a sounding board, and spends lots of time reminding people what their mission statement is, a bit like a corporate intranet with a sword. But let’s face it – he was never the most interesting personality in the series, just the most hard done by. This series, there’s more than enough hurt to go around.

Speaking of which, Oenomaus continues to be pummelled – and this time it’s in spirit as much as body. Lucretia may still be two shields short of a legion, but she’s still scheming, and more than capable of pushing the buttons of her former employees. Of course, with Gannicus’ inevitable return still on the cards, you don’t have to be a rocket scientist to guess where Oenomaus will find some new motivation.

The re-population of the cast with B and C listers continues apace, too. So far, heading up the live of favourites is Nasir, a Syrian who gets to play hero after a dramatic entrance in the previous episode, and Seppia, the only character in the series capable of out-bitching Ilithyia. Mira’s ascent still feels a little sudden, but it’s clear that they haven’t set out to turn her into Ripley overnight, and her continuing arc might just win us over yet.

Glaber, meanwhile, is fleshed out a little more with some more explicitly realised political aspirations reminiscent of Batiatus, but the man still has all the personality of a plank of wood. Yes, we had a good laugh at him being too stressed to concentrate on the, er, task at hand – but other than that, his presence as a villain is more than eclipsed by the Ashur-Lucretia pairing.

Anyway – with a strong cliffhanger and actual plot developments taking place, this episode was the first to feel like something from the previous series. It took a while to get there, but it looks like it was worth the wait.

Rating : 8/10

source:denofgeek.com
by:James Hunt

This review contains spoilers.

2. A Place In This World

After the first episode eased us back into the world of Spartacus, familiarising us with the new status quo for the escaped slaves, this episode gets the story moving again. Attacks on Roman villas, the execution of Spartacus’ new philosophy and – most enjoyably – more time spent fleshing out Oenomaus.

Indeed, the main thread of the episode (as alluded to in the title) asks what a slave should when his master disappears. In the case of Oenomaus, the answer is to return to the pit and wait for death. In the case of Tiberius, it is to search for a new cause. Neither appears to fully succeed, but the seeds of drama planted here will grow into mighty plots. Will Oenomaus get his purpose back? Has Tiberius found his own, or is he just pretending? These are questions we want to see answered.

Fight-wise, it’s always good to see Oenomaus in action, particularly while he’s in such a dark place. It’s also good to see The Pit return, used to such great effect, when its creation seemed to serve a single purpose in the first season – although I have to admit, I’m missing the fun of the arena match-ups where the focus was on two men in stupid armour working out their ‘backstage’ issues. Don’t get me wrong, I like having Crixus and Spartacus be pals – but it’d be a shame if they never got to fight again.

Of course, the change in inter-character dynamics doesn’t damage the series too badly. The absence of John Hannah as Batiatus, however, is a bit more of a problem. Batiatus was self-important, cowardly, borderline incompetent and yet, even as we watched Spartacus (and others) defeat his plans over and over, there was part of us that wanted him to succeed. As many feared, there’s now a giant hole where his character should be, and not just because he swore better than anyone else in the series. Indeed, it seems that this episode’s search for purpose may have a more meta-textual vibe than first imagined. Where do you go when you’ve killed off a main character that prominent?

There are contenders for the crown of series villain, of course. They’re just not particularly strong. Glaber, the supposed antagonist, is a charisma-free zone with no discernible personality. Ilithyia is more interested in protecting herself than stopping Spartacus. And while the return of Ashur makes for an interesting narrative twist, it’s clear that Lucretia is the only one with enough presence to be the series villain, and she’s still acting the loon (although hopefully not for too much longer, given the episode’s end.)

The further developing romance plots are a bit more prominent this series, not just because the rebellion’s actions are currently fuelled by the search for Naevia, but because Mira is becoming a more prominent character. Her increasingly kick-ass disposition feels a little unearned, but in a series keen to objectify women it certainly helps its credibility to have a female character around who isn’t bitchy, insane, or, er, taking things lying down. It’s interesting how Ilithyia’s feelings towards Spartacus have clearly changed, however – things get slightly weird as her hate turns to something more primal. Can’t wait to see what Glaber thinks of that…

With a strong thematic centre spread over multiple character threads and a twist ending that promises a quick pace for the series, this may well have been one of the most well-written Spartacus episodes ever. Not bad going for a series which started out as an unashamedly ridiculous piece of exploitation television.

Rating : 8/10

source:denofgeek.com
by:James Hunt

This review contains spoilers.

1. Fugitivus

It’s been almost two years since Spartacus and his loose coalition of slaves and gladiators killed their masters and escaped the Ludus, and in that time, much has changed, both in-show and in the real world.

Picking up some months after the initial rebellion, Spartacus: Vengeance finds the rebels enjoying some success, living off the spoils of raids against small parties of Romans and generally acting as a thorn in the side of Capua. When the political fallout threatens the career of Gaius Claudius Glaber (the one-time Legatus, now Praetor, who originally captured Spartacus) he is compelled to return to the city and take personal charge of putting down the rebellion. As you’d expect, it’s not quite as simple a prospect as it sounds.

Before we go any deeper into the contents of the episode, we have to address the elephant in the room, and that’s the casting of Liam McIntyre following the untimely death of previous series lead, Andy Whitfield.

Under the circumstances, McIntyre succeeds as well as could be hoped. It isn’t quite a seamless transition, but McIntyre retains the piercing stare, restrained temper and surprising gentleness of the character, if filtered through his own interpretation. Perhaps it’s the amount of time since the original series, or perhaps it’s the knowledge that the show doesn’t rely on the character (it did fine without him in last year’s six-episode prequel, Gods of the Arena) but as sad as the circumstances of Whitfield’s departure were, it’s clear that the show can go on with McIntyre in the lead without too much retooling.

That said, it certainly helps that structurally, there’s almost no similarity between this series and the first. The cast is drastically reshuffled, with a host of new names and faces replacing the many slaughtered favourites from last time. A selection of returnees keep things on even ground, and the elevation of Glaber from secondary to primary antagonist helps to imply a shape for the coming episodes, as does the escapee’s plan to rescue Naevia. Familiar locations such as the Ludus courtyard and the Arena make small appearances, but evidently the decision has been taken to move forward as completely as possible.

That’s not to say a little recap and familiarity wouldn’t have been nice. It’s clear that the writers haven’t wasted too much effort reminding us who the characters are and how they relate to one another. In a world where Wikipedia exists, and where many viewers will have seen the series on DVD far more recently than its initial broadcast, it’s perhaps fair to not waste time explaining who’s who to viewers, but personally, I would have liked a little more of a refresh. The A-listers are of course unforgettable, but it took me a while to dredge up who Mira was, and remember whether Agron was a new face or not.

Complaining about that, however, seems churlish when the series’ true strengths are back in full force. Spartacus: Vengeance serves up the same mix of violent and sexual content as its predecessors, capped off with some charmingly melodramatic dialogue and the best TV-cursing this side of The Thick of It.

It’s Oenomaus who gets the episode’s best fight scene, fending off multiple assailants without breaking a sweat, but the most ridiculous overall surely goes to the raid on a roman brothel, which is almost impressive for the sheer range of perversions it packs into about three minutes. The combination of age and critical acclaim has clearly not impressed any additional maturity on Spartacus: Vengeance, and one suspects viewers would have it no other way – particularly at a point in the series where events have barely begun to warm up.

In terms of ongoing plots, there are plenty of threads already running, though not all as good as each other. It’s clear that the rebels’ difficulty in holding the revolution together will play a major (and enjoyable) part, as will Ilithya’s attempts to cover up her murderous extra-curricular activities.

On the other hand, Oenomaus’ difficulty reconciling his betrayal of Batiatus seems to have an inevitable conclusion (not least because he’s based on a real historical figure) and Lucretia’s re-appearance as a madwoman might grate if she doesn’t snap out of it in the long-term (one suspects she will, as soon as it becomes most inconvenient for those around her) though for now it’s the hook of an interesting question: how did she survive anyway? That wound had clearly been seen to…

Overall, a decent start to the series by any assessment. Perhaps not the out-of-the-gate sprint some might have expected, but certainly it knows where it’s going and will doubtlessly play its audience like a maestro in reaching those destinations. As ridiculous and compelling as ever, Spartacus is truly back, and we know from experience that as good as this was, things can only improve from here.

Rating : 8/10

source:denofgeek.com
by:James Hunt