Spartcus: Blood and Sand - Page 2

I watched the first 4 episodes on Netflix instant view. I was hoping it would get better, but alas it didn't. Possibly some of the worst television ever made.

And to be really nitpicky, they surely didn't bother to do any research on Spartcus or Roman history.
Doug

Then why bother to call it Spartacus? Why not just create a fictional character. I realize they are going for the 300 thing, but I'm afraid that ship has sailed.

Doug

agreed.  the show is improving.  but is there a reason it needed to be called spartacus?

Hmmmm...so Batiatus is one cold-hearted dude.  Yeah, if Spartacus finds out about that it could be what sends him over the edge into rebellion.  So, we still have a possibility of a slave revolt here (the historical story).

absolutely not suprising to me.  sci-fi has a fringe (no pun intended) following.  most people don't like or understand it.  that is why not too much sci-fi makes it on broadcast television.  i was watching the documentary on star wars the other day and i am still surprised that at how successful it is/was.  my mother and i are the only people in my close circle that watch science fiction.

spartacus is base with plenty of blood, action, tits and ass.  will beat out science fiction everytime even with its awful acting.

weird double post.

Edited by Diallo B - 3/2/10 at 1:45pm

If it's not supposed to be the same story, then why have the same back-story (betrayed by the Roman's), have the same ludis take him (Lentulus Batiatus), in the same town (Capua), and have the same anotagonist (Crixus), among other things from the original story?  I just don't know why they would have all of that be the same if they weren't going to use that story line.  However, they haven't used pretty much any of the original story from history.  That is the only thing that is keeping it from being GREAT in my opinion.  If they just called it by any other name it would be a decent show about the life of a slave in the gladiatorial schools in ancient Rome.  But, they gave it the name Spartacus and haven't given us anything that Spartacus is known for....Just my own gripe, I still watch the show and like it, but I think I could love it if things were a little different.

i have had an opportunity to see up to episode 9 and i now know why this series has gotten renewed.

it DEFINITELY continues to get better.  at the end of ep 9 i was astonished.

i am not so sure why the first 3 eps were so terrible.  given what i am seeing now they needed to be re-shot.

I'm thoroughly enjoying this series, having caught up with it over the weekend! :-D

I'm not sure I agree that the early eps were bad - I think we all needed time to get used to the fact that it's not "Rome", more like x-rated Xena.  The budget cannot compare to Rome and the CGI is relatively-dreadful (especially in the pilot), but such things matter not when the story becomes more involving, which it has.  The political intrigue is great - and special mention to the bookie-character - Ashur, whom I nickname Garak because he reminds me of the character from DS9!  John Hannah and Lucy Lawless are especially well-cast.  And tits and over-the-top gore in every episode, not just the "event" episodes.  Ha!

I think those of you complaining that the rebellion hasn't happened yet need to get a grip: this is a series, not a mini-series!  I'm enjoying the ludus-based episodes, but no doubt the writers will run out of stories eventually (and depending on how well the series is doing) to progress to other settings.

I dont watch the show. I gave up after a few episodes - just passing on some info I just read.

Andy Whitfield, who plays Spartacus,has been diagnosed with cancer.So its not looking very good for the second season,which I believe already got the green light.

Hope he makes a full recovery.

I had read that as well.  I think he has non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but I don't recall if it was agressive or not.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but the non-agressive verrsions are highly-treatable, with a very good rate of survival.  Not that any cancer is good, but if there's one to get, it's this one.

I hope he makes a full recovery, too.

Wow that's too bad with the diagnosis, Cancer has become a big part of my Life since my wife was diagnosed with the disease. I am exposed to all forms of it at the treatment center she is going too and all ages of individuals from 16 on up, I cannot believe how many people this disease affects. I wish more money could be spent on fighting this awful disease.

It's funny, when I think of an eventual situation, this show takes great pains to show it to me, it almost always goes down that dark path and never bats an eye at using violence to dominate.

Finally caught up with the last 4 episodes, and it's been quite a ride.  I posted something on FB that some of the master/slave stuff mirrors today's employer/employee relationships quite well.

Ilithyia's comeuppance was finely choreographed by Lucretia.

I loved how Spartacus tried to strangle that woman once he found out who she was.  Crazy scene all around.

Yeah...those last moments were pretty intense.  From the coupling, to the reveal, to the murder, to Lucretia cleaning up her mess.  Even Spartacus keeping his cool with Batiatus.  This show has turned out to be more fun than I figured.

Goddamn this show is hardcore.

There is just nothing they could do either, pretty helpless.  Them going from a play attitude to serious one was sad, I could only imagine what would go through their heads at that moment.

This show is really running on all cylinders.

That new slave girl is very attractive.

This show is ridiculously engrossing now, and it's not just the novelty of all the graphic blood splatter, gory fight scenes and sex scenes, it's the building up of characters, and putting them through the wringer following their own individual ambitions and dreams, many times at the expense of others in these Roman times.  I had little faith in this show when I first heard about it, but it's been a thrilling ride.

I couldn't agree more.  This show is really hitting it's stride now.....They have really given Spartacus kind of a 'defeated' attitude in regards to being in the ludus now.  He seems to really have taken to it and being champion and everything.  I think with them making him kill Varro last week, that will all change.  Can't wait to see what comes next.

On a side note, how friggin hot is Illythia?  I would love to have been Numerius in that bath waiting for her to come on in...  Sorry, got a little sidetracked. 


Anyways, I really am enjoying the show immensly now.

Illythia is extremely hot...but, she is so GD EVIL!!  She needs to die at the point of a very sharp instrument.  Going from defeated and broken down to whoring herself out to manipulate the boy just shows how bad she is.  I hope Batiatus and Spartacus find out she was behind this...but, Batiatus is so enraged at Selonius and the Magistrate I think he'll be blind to it.

I definitely agree with everything there.  It is such a waste to have her gone though....I'm sure it will come up at some point in the future though.  When is Glaba going to show up again??