Unfortunately, Andy Whitfield was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma delaying filming of the second season, and he’s since had to step down from the role. Like, a lot naked!), this show could be up your alley. But if you’re into historical dramas not necessarily heavy on accuracy but heavy on the, dare I say, Shakespearean drama and loaded with gratuitous sex and violence (did I mention the nudity? yeah practically every single member of the cast is naked. This show might not be everyone’s cup of tea. Audio commentaries are also available for a number of episodes with various members of the cast and crew. There are also a number of featurettes showing a behind the scenes look at the production of the show. The set comes with in a bound book-like case with four DVDs containing all 13 episodes.
#Spartacus season 1 review series#
By the time the series heads into the final few episodes, a number of plot threads have been established with all the characters that set up a domino effect that plays out over the finale and sets up the second season. John Hannah does a great job creating a character you want to root for as he vanquishes his enemies but at the same time, you can’t wait to see him taken out as he deceives and manipulates everyone around him. Batiatus begins to gain more power and respect and starts moving pieces to not only keep that power but to achieve higher ambitions and cement his legacy. Spartacus is known as the “bringer of rain” when a thunder storm occurring after one of his victories brings an end to a long drought. The story really begins to excel into the second half as the fortunes for the house of Batiatus start to turn around. The other gladiators and slaves also begin to develop into more three dimensional characters and it all evolves into a rich ensemble cast. His wife, played by Lucy Lawless, is very supportive and stands firmly behind her man (even if she is shagging one of the other gladiators behind his back). Batiatus particularly becomes a really interesting character as he struggles to keep his house in order and out of financial ruin. By the time I got into disc 2 of the dvd set, the story began to take shape while the gratuitous violence started to become more secondary. However …Ī number of people had warned me that this series was a bit of a slow burn and I’m very glad I stuck with it. The initial focus is almost exclusively on Spartacus and his quest to be reunited with his wife while everyone else in the cast seems relegated to the background. Story-wise, you’re not really given much reason to care about the characters.
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And hell, they even brought in this guy as a character in case it wasn’t obvious enough that this could be the TV version of the film. While the sets and costumes look great, the extensive use of green screen for the background scenery frankly became distracting. All of the action scenes were characterized by the slow motion style and and copious amounts of CGI blood that Zack Snyder utilized throughout his film, only not at the same quality level. It initially felt very much like a television version of 300. For the first four to five episodes, this show was a chore to get through. After rising through the ranks, the Thracian adopts the name of Spartacus and goes on to bring much prestige to the house of Batiatus. Showing some promise in the games, he is purchased by Batiatus (John Hannah) who promises to reunite him with his wife while he competes as a gladiator. The series tells the story of a Thracian soldier (Andy Whitfield) who, after defying his Roman commander, is separated from his wife and forced to compete as a gladiator. Released on DVD back in September, Spartacus: Blood and Sand Season 1 is a thirteen episode series on Starz.