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Spartacus: Blood and Sand

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Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand's intertitle
GenreHistorical Drama
Created bySteven S. DeKnight
Robert Tapert
Sam Raimi
Joshua Donen
Sarah Lazarova
StarringAndy Whitfield
Lucy Lawless
John Hannah
Peter Mensah
Manu Bennett
Viva Bianca
Craig Parker
Jai Courtney
Erin Cummings
Nick E. Tarabay
Antonio Te Maioho
Lesley-Ann Brandt
Country of originUnited States
Original languageTransclusion error: {{En}} is only for use in File namespace. Use {{langx|en}} or {{in lang|en}} instead.
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes13 (list of episodes)
Production
Production locationNew Zealand
Running timeapproximately 50 minutes
Original release
NetworkStarz
ReleaseJanuary 22, 2010 (2010-01-22) –
present

Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a Starz television series that premiered on January 22, 2010. The series focuses on the historical figure of Spartacus (played by Andy Whitfield), a Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic. Executive producers Steven S. DeKnight and Robert Tapert focused on structuring the events of Spartacus' obscure early life leading to the records of history.[1] The show has been rated TV-MA for graphic violence, strong sexual content, and major profanity. On December 22, 2009, it was announced that the show was renewed for a second season before even premiering.[2]

Synopsis

The story begins with an unnamed Thracian’s involvement in the war against the Getae in Roman auxiliary under the command of the legatus, Claudius Glaber. Glaber, persuaded by his wife Ilithyia to seek greater glory, instead decides to head east to confront the forces of Mithradates. The Thracian, feeling betrayed, leads a mutiny against Glaber, and manages to make it back in time to save his wife Sura from a band of Getae. However, he is unable to save his village. The Thracian and his wife are captured by Glaber the next day; the Thracian is condemned to die in the arena for inciting mass desertion of the auxiliary, and Sura is condemned to slavery. The Thracian, with a group of other deserters, is transported to Capua where prior to the gladiatorial games, a feast is hosted by senator Albinius. Among those invited is Lentulus Batiatus, lanista (owner) of a local gladiatorial ludus, his wife Lucretia, and his rival Solonius. During the next day's games, Glaber sends the Thracian into the arena against four of Solonius’ gladiators expecting him to be killed. However the Thracian kills his opponents and the crowd cheers "live" wanting his life to be spared. While Glaber demands the Thracian's death, Albinius commutes the prisoner's punishment to slavery. Seeing the Thracian's skill and popularity with the crowd, Batiatus purchases him for training in his ludus. Since no-one knows the prisoner's true name, Batiatus names him "Spartacus", because he fought like the ferocious Thracian king of that name.

Spartacus joins Batiatus’ ludus under the tutelage of Doctore, a former gladiator. Here he is befriended by Varro, a Roman who sold himself into slavery in order to pay his debts. However, he is persistently harassed by the senior gladiators, notably by Crixus, an undefeated Gaul, and Barca, a Carthaginian. Soon, Spartacus is visited by Glaber who informed him that Sura was sold-off to a Syrian slave trader after being raped by Glaber's men. Glaber gives Spartacus a piece of fabric which Sura wore around her thigh as proof, and states that he no longer seeks a quick death of Spartacus, but rather wishes to see him tormented slowly. Batiatus, who has been unable to control Spartacus during his first days of training, discovers the instrument of his taming, and persuades Spartacus to fight for his and Sura's freedom. At length, Spartacus passes his final test and becoming a gladiator, whereupon he is branded with the Batiatus' mark as he swears the gladiator's oath, the sacramentum gladiatorum.

Upon learning that in the upcoming games of the Vulcanalia he is to be matched against Varro at the sparsely-attended dawn show, an unsatisfied Spartacus provokes and disables Gnaeus, who was chosen to fight Crixus in the main event commonly referred to as the Primus. Crixus, meanwhile is revealed to be having an affair with Lucretia. He also shows an infatuation with Lucretia's slave, Naevia, and asks Ashur, a former gladiator, to get him an opal necklace to give her as a gift. At a feast to celebrate the upcoming games, the gladiators are displayed to the guests, and Ilithyia's lust for gladiators is revealed. During the feast, Spartacus attacks Crixus in the presence of the guests, which in turn forces Batiatus to pass it off as an appetizer for the next day's main event, where the two will fight. In this match Crixus is able to easily defeat Spartacus, who, realizing that he needs to stay alive for the sake of Sura, appeals to Batiatus for his life. Mercy is granted, but it is against the will of the crowd.

Following his defeat, Spartacus is forced by Batiatus to fight in "The Pit", a place where there are no rules and all the matches are to the death. Batiatus profits as Spartacus triumphs match after match, but each time the gladiator's injuries worsen. Meanwhile at the ludus, Crixus presents Naevia with the opal necklace. She refuses it, which prompts Crixus to give it to Lucretia instead. Desperately wanting to end his own misery, Spartacus makes Batiatus an offer: if Batiatus bets against him, he will throw a match; Batiatus is then to rescue Sura following his death. Meanwhile Naevia explains to Crixus why she could not accept the necklace: she is a slave, and cannot accept treasures. The two share a passionate kiss. In Spartacus' final fight in The Pit, he quickly allows his opponent to gain the upper hand. However upon seeing hit men attacking Batiatus, he kills his opponent and hurls an axe into the crowd, killing one assailant and saving his master. Despite losing a substantial wager, Batiatus, as a repayment to Spartacus for saving his life, allows him to re-join the other gladiators within the ludus.

Spartacus is admitted back into training in the ludus, all the while Crixus continues their feud. Batiatus is visited by Solonius and magistrate Calavius, while Barca and Ashur continue the search for the man who hired the assassins. Calavius informs Batiatus that Solonius has secured the undefeated Celt Theokoles (nicknamed "the Shadow of Death") for the primus of the next games. Batiatus then secures Crixus and Spartacus as opponents, fighting as one. Ilithyia visits Lucretia. The two make a deal, Lucretia will allow Ilithyia a private viewing of Crixus, while a priestess will bless Lucretia with the gift of fertility. Spartacus and Crixus struggle to find a way to work together against Doctore, who is the only man to survive against Theokoles. After murdering Ovidius's family, Batiatus threatens Ovidius with his son's life. Ovidius reveals the true master behind the plot against Batiatus' life: Solonius. Lucretia is being treated by the priestess, who asks her questions that determine the mix of a potion. After the questions are answered, Lucretia drinks the potion. She is then informed that she only has one hour before the potion wears off. With Batiatus abroad, she summons Crixus to her chamber. Crixus denies Lucretia, with the excuse of love making a man weak before battle. Lucretia tearfully dismisses him, and while Naevia escorts Crixus to the cells, the two make love.

The next day at the games, during the Primus, Calavius informs his guests that Ovidius and his family have been murdered. Batiatus questions the actions that could prompt such an act, all the while staring at Solonius. Crixus and Spartacus share words before the match begins, where the two agree upon fighting for love. The main event begins with the introductions of Crixus and Spartacus, and then the large and savage Theokoles, who carries two very large swords. The fight begins with Crixus and Spartacus working together, even drawing blood from the giant. The two finally manage to deeply wound the titan to a point where they think they've achieved victory, but in the midst of celebrating, Theokoles rises back to his feet. Crixus and Spartacus are now not as tandem, repeatedly getting in each other's way. The fight takes a very bad turn when Theokoles manages to severely wound Crixus. Before Theokoles can deliver the fatal blow, Spartacus attacks, parrying with the giant. A badly wounded Crixus manages to reflect sunlight off his helmet and into Theokoles's eyes, allowing Spartacus to behead the giant and win the Primus. Meanwhile, Crixus is dragged off the field while it begins to rain, ending the drought as the crowd cheers in favor of Spartacus.

The next day, in which his wife Sura is to return, Spartacus is hailed by Batiatus and the fellow gladiators of the ludus as the new champion of Capua, but is also told that Sura would also be a slave at the ludus. Spartacus plans for him and Sura to escape, which Varro tries to persuade him not to with many excuses of mal-equipment, transportation, and the fact that Doctore could stop him in his tracks. Spartacus still continues through with his plans, which are fulfilled in a series of events with Batiatus purchasing newer, more effective armor for Spartacus, a dagger stolen from magistrate Calavius' son, Numerius, and Sura's arrival by horse-drawn cart. Also, he asks Batiatus for wine and women for the men of the ludus, in celebration of his victory, but also to drunken the gladiators (including Doctore) and the guards. Meanwhile, it is revealed to Calavius that the son of Ovidius lives, leading Batiatus to kill Barca for his betrayal. However, it is soon discovered that the message was false and that Ovidius' son is indeed dead. During the party, Doctore does not partake of any wine, leading Spartacus to ask him to drink to victory. Instead, Doctore drinks to Spartacus' wife. Unbeknownst to Doctore, the wine was laced with a sleeping powder stolen from the slave Medicus caring to Crixus' wounds. On the day of Sura's arrival, Spartacus begins to carry out his plan, but it is later shortened by the cart driver speaking of Getae on the road that attacked the cart. Spartacus opens the cart, pulling out and cradling his wife as she dies in his arms. Batiatus then approaches his wife Lucretia and whispers with a smile "My word is kept. They are reunited". He walks away smirking as Lucretia stares after him in shock and horror.

Cast and characters

Main cast

  • Andy Whitfield as Spartacus – a Thracian. He had volunteered to fight for the Romans, but later rebelled. As punishment he was condemned to death in the arena, but defeated the gladiators sent in to kill him. His life spared, he becomes a gladiator in the ludus of Lentulus Batiatus.[3] Producer Rob Tapert said that crew wanted an unknown actor to portray the role; while Whitfield has appeared in Australian television and film, Spartacus marked his United States debut.[4]
  • Erin Cummings as Sura – the wife of Spartacus. She is enslaved after her husband rebels against the Romans and is later killed on the orders of Batiatus.[5]
  • John Hannah as Quintus Lentulus Batiatus – a lanista. Purchases Spartacus to train him along with his other gladiators at his ludus.[6]
  • Lucy Lawless as Lucretia – Batiatus' wife. The two are trying to renew their financial prosperity.[7]
  • Peter Mensah as Doctore – Batiatus' trainer of gladiators. He wields a bullwhip.[8]
  • Manu Bennett as Crixus, "the Champion of Capua" – a Gaul, and Batiatus' top gladiator. He is having a relationship with Lucretia, but is in love with her slave, Naevia.[9]
  • Antonio Te Maioha as Barca, "the Beast of Carthage" – one of Batiatus' most successful gladiators, serves as bodyguard and hit man for his master. He is later killed by Batiatus[10][11] because of a suspected betrayal.
  • Jai Courtney as Varro – a Roman citizen who sold himself to the ludus to support his family.[12]
  • Nick Tarabay as Ashur – a former gladiator forced to stop fighting due to injury. He remains at the ludus to work for Batiatus as a bookmaker in addition to aiding other gladiators.[13]
  • Lesley-Ann Brandt as Naevia – is Lucretia's personal and loyal slave, but is also secretly in love with Crixus.[14]
  • Craig Parker as Gaius Claudius Glaber – a Roman army legatus, who leads the Thracian volunteers during the mutiny by Spartacus.[15]
  • Viva Bianca as Ilithyia – the daughter of senator Albinius and wife of Glaber.[16]

Supporting cast

Episode list

Season 1 (2010)

# Title Directed by Written by Original air date Production
code
1"The Red Serpent"[18][17][Note 1]Rick Jacobson[17]Steven S. DeKnightJanuary 22, 2010 (2010-01-22)SPS101
In the series premiere, Thracian warrior Spartacus and his fellow fighters align themselves with Rome to protect their homeland. But disenchantment with the Romans soon sets in when their allies' battle strategies leave their village unprotected from barbarian invaders. [17] Spartacus leads a rebellion and deserts the Roman army to return to his village and his wife. Invaders attack and he and his wife escape, only to be captured by the Romans. Spartacus's wife, Sura, is forced into slavery and Spartacus and the other deserters are taken to the arena in Capua to publicly be put to death by gladiators where he proves his worth.
2"Sacramentum Gladiatorum"[18][Note 1]Rick Jacobson[19]Steven S. DeKnightJanuary 29, 2010 (2010-01-29)SPS102
Enslaved warrior Spartacus enters the ludus of Bariatus to receive training to fight as a gladiator. He quickly makes an enemy of the champion of Capua, Crixus, and receives training by the whip-wielding taskmaster Doctore. He meets Varro, a fellow recruit, who becomes his ally in training. Spartacus's owner, the crafty Batiatus, makes him an offer he finds difficult to refuse. Spartacus faces the test which determines whether he is fit to be a gladiator and bests Crixus through the use of a small ribbon of cloth belonging to his wife when Crixus stops fighting to gloat. Spartacus swears to the oath of the brotherhood of the gladiator.
3"Legends"[18]Grady Hall[20]Brent FletcherFebruary 5, 2010 (2010-02-05)SPS103
As the gladiators prep for an important competition that will be the highlight of a festival, Spartacus cleverly maneuvers to secure the right to battle Crixus, the unbeaten champion of Capua, in the main event. Despite Lucretia's objections, Batiatus reminds her that Spartacus' bravery and previous exploits have "struck a chord with the public's interest." Meanwhile, Crixus is desired by a number of noblewomen, but he is enamored of one of Lucretia's slaves.
4"The Thing in the Pit"[18]Jesse WarnAaron Helbing & Todd HelbingFebruary 12, 2010 (2010-02-12)SPS104
Spartacus' disgrace at surrendering to Crixus leads Batiatus to punish him by forcing the Thracian to fight a mano in the "pits of the underworld," a hellish, vicious subterranean arena where anything goes. Meanwhile, when the slave girl Naevia rejects Crixus' gift, he misunderstands the reason for her refusal.
5"Shadow Games"Michael HurstMiranda KwokFebruary 19, 2010 (2010-02-19)SPS105
Bitter enemies Spartacus and Crixus are charged with learning to fight as a team in order to take on an unbeaten champion in the arena. Meanwhile, a financially strapped Batiatus receives an opportunity of a lifetime that involved his battling band of gladiators.
6"Delicate Things"Rick JacobsonTracy Bellomo & Andrew Chambliss[21]February 26, 2010 (2010-02-26)TBA
Lies, distrust and duplicity plague the house of Batiatus and impact the hopes of both Barca and Spartacus, who have benefited from good fortune and envision a future away from the grounds. Barca expects to buy his and his lover's way out, while Spartacus anticipates his promised reunion with his enslaved wife, part of his reward for a monumental victory in the arena. But just in case things go wrong, Spartacus dreams and schemes an escape plan.
7"Great and Unfortunate Things"Jesse WarnBrent Fletcher & Steven S. DeKnightMarch 5, 2010 (2010-03-05)TBA
Spartacus has to find new meaning after his world is changed by the death of his wife and finds it in the arena. In the absence of Barca, Pietros struggles without a protector in the ludus and the attentions of Gnaeus. Varro is visited by his wife and receives unwelcome news. Spartacus faces the truth about those left behind by warriors when they leave through speaking with Pietros. After a tragedy occurs, Spartacus faces off with Gnaeus and earns Batiatus's displeasure. Doctore seeks the truth behind Barca's departure from the ludus.
8"Mark of the Brotherhood"[Note 2]Rowan Woods[22]Aaron Helbing & Todd HelbingMarch 12, 2010 (2010-03-12)TBA
Spartacus continues to embrace his new standing as the champion of Capua. The former champion, Crixus, recovers from his wounds and struggles to return to training to protect himself from being sold by Batiatus because he is suspected of being too damaged to be the fighter that he once was. The ludus acquires 6 new recruits that begin training, and Ilythia finances one of the recruits with her own coin. Impulsively, she makes promises of freedom to her champion in training in exchange for an act he must carry out. When he is discovered in an attempt to carry out this act, he finds himself maimed and crucified as punishment. Crixus and Spartacus find the meaning of brotherhood with one another, but still do not become great friends.
9"Whore"[18][Note 2]Michael Hurst[23]Daniel KnaufMarch 19, 2010 (2010-03-19)TBA
10"Party Favors"[18]Chris Martin-JonesBrent Fletcher & Miranda KwokMarch 26, 2010 (2010-03-26)TBA
11"Old Wounds"Glenn StandringUnknownApril 2, 2010 (2010-04-02)TBA
12"Revelation"UnknownUnknownApril 9, 2010 (2010-04-09)TBA
13"Kill Them All"UnknownUnknownApril 16, 2010 (2010-04-16)TBA

International distribution

The series airs in Canada on TMN beginning on January 25, 2010.[24] RTL 5 announced in their January newsletter that Spartacus: Blood and Sand will come to the Netherlands in March 2010.[25] In Australia the Seven Network has bought the rights and will likely air it on 7two. In the United Kingdom, Bravo will air it sometime in their Summer season.[26]

Netflix is also airing the series. The episodes are released as streaming content within a short time after airing live in the United States.[citation needed]

Reception

Critical reception of the first episode was varied; the review aggregate website Metacritic gave the show a score of 54 out of 100.[27] Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gave it the grade B+, saying it "might prove to be the not-at-all-guilty pleasure of the season."[28] At the other end of the spectrum, Barry Garron of the Hollywood Reporter suggested that with "such thin stories...it's small wonder that sex and violence are used to take up the slack."[29]

Historical inaccuracies

  • Barca is described as being the last prisoner left alive from the fall of Carthage. However, as Carthage was destroyed by Rome in 146 BC (at the end of the Third Punic War), this would mean that Barca must be nearly 100 years old in the show (the first season being set in the 70s BC).
  • Lentulus Batiatus' praenomen is given as "Quintus". However, the praenomen of the historical Batiatus was "Gnaeus".[30]
  • Roman legionaries are portrayed wearing lorica segmentata, despite the fact that the first attested use of this type of armor dates to around 9 BC,[31] six decades after Spartacus' revolt.

Notes

  1. ^ a b Both episode one, The Red Serpent and episode two, Sacramentum Gladiatorum had a screener version of the episodes leaked online a week before the show's official premiere.
  2. ^ a b Both episode eight, Mark of the Brotherhood and episode nine, Whore had a screener version of the episodes leaked online on March 6, 2010.

References

  1. ^ Interview: Steven S. DeKnight and Robert Tapert from Spartacus: Blood And Sand
  2. ^ "Cancelled Shows 2009: Spartacus gets renewed by Starz for a second season before even premiering". Series & TV. December 22, 2009. Retrieved December 22, 2009.
  3. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Spartacus". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Andy Whitfield". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Sura". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  6. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Batiatus". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Lucretia". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  8. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Doctore". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  9. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Crixus". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  10. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Barca". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  11. ^ Provenzano, Jim (February 25, 2010). "The gay gladiator". Bay Area Reporter. Retrieved March 3, 2010.
  12. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Varro". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  13. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Ashur". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  14. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Naevia". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  15. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Glaber". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  16. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Characters: Ilithyia". Starz. Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  17. ^ a b c "Spartacus: Blood And Sand". Starz. Retrieved January 13, 2010.
  18. ^ a b c d e f "Shows A-Z - spartacus: blood & sand on starz". TheFutonCritic.com. Retrieved January 13, 2010. {{cite web}}: Text "TheFutonCritic.com" ignored (help)
  19. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand episode 2 Sacramentum Gladiatorum". Starz. Retrieved January 31, 2010 (2010-01-31). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  20. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand episode 3 Legends". Starz. Retrieved February 2, 2010 (2010-02-02). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  21. ^ episode 1.6
  22. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand episode 8 Mark of the Brotherhood". Starz. Retrieved February 2, 2010 (2010-02-02). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  23. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand episode 9 Whore". Starz. Retrieved February 2, 2010 (2010-02-02). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  24. ^ "Spartacus: Blood And Sand – Schedule | The Movie Network". The Movie Network. Retrieved January 24, 2010 (2010-01-24). {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  25. ^ "Programmering en Sales Promoties" (in Dutch). Retrieved January 23, 2010 (2010-01-23). RTL 5 ends the week with a double episode of the spectacular new series Spartacus: Blood & Sand. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ "Spartacus fights his way to UK pay-TV" (Press release). 2010-03-08. Retrieved 2010-03-08. {{cite press release}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  27. ^ "Spartacus: Blood and Sand". Metacritic. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  28. ^ Tucker, Ken (January 20, 2010). "Spartacus: Blood and Sand (2010)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  29. ^ Garron, Barry (January 21, 2010). "Spartacus: Blood and Sand -- TV Review". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 27, 2010.
  30. ^ McGushin, Patrick (1991). Sallust: The Histories. p. 113. Retrieved February 3, 2010 (2010-02-03). {{cite book}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  31. ^ M.C. Bishop (2002) Lorica Segmentata Volume I: A Handbook of Articulated Roman Plate Armour p.23 http://www.scribd.com/doc/3961788/Lorica-Segmentata-Volume-I-A-Handbook-of-Articulated-Roman-Plate-Armour
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