Spartacus: Blood and Sand

Spartacus: Blood and Sand
Spartacus: Blood and Sand's intertitle
Genre	Historical Drama
Created by	Steven S. DeKnight Robert Tapert Sam Raimi Joshua Donen Sarah Lazarova
Starring	Andy 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 origin	United States
Original language
No. of seasons	1
No. of episodes	13 (list of episodes)
Production
Production location	New Zealand
Running time	approximately 50 minutes
Original release
Network	Starz
Release	January 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. The show has been rated TV-MA for graphic violence, strong sexual content, and coarse language. On December 22, 2009, it was announced that the show was renewed for a second season before even premiering.

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 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 with a knowing expression.

Spartacus then struggles on whether or not to stay a gladiator and embrace his title as Champion of Capua (Crixus' old position before his severe injuries). Batiatus receives a request for Spartacus to play an important Roman noble's grandfather in celebration of his anniversary of slaying Thracians in a battle long ago. Still a Thracian at heart and lost without his wife, Spartacus refuses to play a Roman. Meanwhile the abusive Gneaus torments Pietros who later commits suicide and Spartacus becomes enraged. He attacks Gneaus during training and then finally pushes him off the cliff, killing him. Crixus is still recovering while spending time with Naevia and Doctore starts to inquire on Barca's "leaving." Naevia begs the Doctore not to ask her questions as it would be the death of her. Spartacus comes, to tend to his wounds from his fight, to inform Crixus that Gneaus is dead and that he killed him Crixus then admits that he should not have kept Spartacus alive because of his dishonorable act against "a brother." Spartacus admitted that he wishes Crixus did not let him live. After much thought, Batiatus' upbraiding, and the memory of his wife, Spartacus agrees to be a gladiator completely. He plays his part in the arena and kills all of his opponents alone and comes to one kneeling before him. Before Spartacus delivers his final blow, he sees his old self in the man, but cuts his head off and yells out his new name to show that he has become what his master wanted him to be. Illythia is the only one in the crowd who is not pleased to see Spartacus victorious. Lucretia and Illythia form a close friendship although each slite each other in subtle ways. Lucretia suggests that Illythia buy her own gladiator, seeing her excited about them. Batiatus buys a new batch of slaves to train as gladiators. Illythia chooses a Gaul. Crixus is still injured but still makes poor love to Lucretia and walks among the other gladiators. He tells Naevia that he does poorly so that Lucretia would lose interest. However, he finds out that he is in danger of being sold because of his condition. Naevia tells Crixus to make himself indispensable to Lucretia, so he makes savage love to her to Lucretia's delight.

Spartacus assumes role as top dog in the Iudus. He attracts the attention of Ilithyia's friends who see him as Mars. During a party, the women request to see Spartacus and one lady, a cousin of Crassus, asks for a drop of his blood as it is said that "the blood of a gladiator can make a man hard for days." Illythia makes a cut on Spartacus' chest with cruel intent and snaps that he is a traitorous dog. Spartacus then retorts that it was her husband who was the traitor who left innocent women and children to die. Spartacus is then escorted out and Illythia declares that she would have him crucified if he were her slave, but one of her friends asked, "For what, telling the truth?" Illythia, angry and vengeful towards Spartacus, has her newly bought gladiator try to murder him in the promise of freedom. The Gaul attempts to strangle Spartacus, but Crixus saves his life. When Spartacus asked him why he would save a man he hated and kill a fellow Gaul, Crixus replies that he did not save Spartacus, but a brother who bears the mark of a gladiator and so he deserves an honorable death in the arena.

Crixus is not sold because of his deed, Batiatus knew it was Ilithyia and has her gladiator punished by castrating him and crucifying him. Illythia realizes that it will not be easy to get rid of her husband's enemy.

Lucretia arranges for high noble women to spend a night with gladiators. The cousin of Marcus Licinius Crassus chooses Spartacus, but Ilithyia walks in on the two as they were discussing it. Lucretia denies anything other than this being a friendly visit, but Illythia is not fooled. Crixus, meanwhile, returns to training the new gladiators. However, he and Naevia's romance hits a speed bump when he waits for her all night but she does not show and then seeing her flirting with one of the guards. He suspects her of cheating on him, which Naevia passionately denies and reveals that she was only flirting with the guard to get his key to open the barracks so that she and Crixus could be together. Crixus declares that he would never doubt her love again and the two make love.

Then Lucretia and Batiatus fear that Spartacus would not please their guest because he has been too long without a woman. They send their slave girl, Mira, to "train" him, but Spartacus turns her away. The second time Mira comes to his cell, Spartacus lets her stay as she would be punished severely if she came back too soon. Spartacus also asks her to search for Varro's wife and child who went missing.

Ilithyia visits Lucretia and tells her she is aware of her secret deal with Crassus' cousin and demands the same treatment. Lucretia is happy to do so until Ilithyia reveals that she would like to have sex with Crixus. Lucretia goes into a rage, but Batiatus tells her to arrange the match for the sake of their advancement. However, Lucretia decides to handle this on her own. She has Spartacus painted gold and wearing a mask and tells him not to speak with the Roman woman. She appears to be masked as well and the two have sex, but suddenly Lucretia opens the curtains and apologizes to Crassus' cousin that Ilithyia had not finished with Spartacus yet. The two unmask each other and are shocked. Frenzied, Spartacus tries to strangle Illythia, but is quickly taken away by the guards. As Crassus' cousin cruelly mocks her, Illythia flies into a rage and smashes the girl's head to floor repeatedly, killing her.

Batiatus is very upset about the incident. Lucretia convinces him she will take care of Illythia and that Crassus' cousin came to the house alone and had told no one about the arrangement. Lucretia tells Illythia that they now were much closer and that the night would be their secret. Batiatus apologized to Spartacus for the mix up while Spartacus regretted for briefly returning to the man he once was.

The next we see Spartacus, he and Varro are fighting together in the arena chained at the ankle. In the balcony the magistrate mentions to Batiatus that his son, Numerius' birthday was coming up and his son would like to see two of Batiatus' finest gladiators do battle to celebrate his becoming a man. Batiatus then invites the magistrate and his son to his ludus for celebration. While in the arena Spartacus and Varro are victorious and raise each other's hands in celebration. The next day at the Ludus as Spartacus and Varro are training, Illythia watches and comments on the importance of friendship saying, "The value of a friend cannot be expressed by the clever grouping of letters, For it is flesh and blood. Granting life to the world." Spartacus and Crixus are then summoned and Batiatus reveals that they are set to battle at the celebration. Battiatus adds that the contest is merely an exhibition and serious bloodshed or death is forbidden.

Later that night Crixus reveals to Naevia that she will soon be held by the hands of a champion again, and that he intends to kill Spartacus in the contest to regain his title. Meanwhile as Spartacus is walking through the ludus, he sees the same guard who had his key stolen by Naevia attacking Mira, accusing her of being a thief. Spartacus then attacks the guard slamming his face into a torch on the wall, burning him severely. Batiatus then enters the room and scolds both Spartacus and the guard. The next morning the magistrate and Numerius arrive for the celebration of his manhood. Spartacus then gives Numerious a tour of the ludus. Numerious later returns to his parents, excited about the practice sword that Spartacus has given him. Numerious' mother scolds him for being filthy after his tour of the ludus and sends him to the baths to clean up before the guests arrive. As Numerious is escorted to the baths he trips on a step. His mother laughs saying, " there is still much of the boy in him." Ilithyia comments back smiling,"for but a moment longer, for tonight he becomes a man." As Numerious is in the bath, Illythia walks in and startles him. Illythia then begins seducing the boy, telling him how important his decisions were now that he was a man. As Illithia bends down in front of him and begins touching the water. Numerious stares at her breasts. Illythia laughs," Your eyes seem rather fixed," Numerious say back "apoligies," Illythia continues, " None required, this is your night Numerious," , Numerious "I am rather excited," Ilithyia, "of course you are, your life unfolds before you. Many glorys, Many honors.........Many pleasures." Illythia then stands up, removes her clothes and joins the boy in the bath. The next seen, Batiatus makes an announcement that the games are about to begin and that Numerious will be acting as the editor. Battiatus then begins to announce the gladiator. First Spartacus, then Crixus. Numerious then says that Crixus is past his prime and he has no interest in him. Numerious chooses Varro to fight in his place. As Spartacus and Varro begin battle, they laugh about the small cuts and bruises that they inflict on each other. Spartacus then knocks Varro to the ground and puts his sword to Varro's neck. Varro smiles and laughs about his defeat. Everyone applauds and Batiatus jokingly asks, "Come Numerious, pass judgement on our fallen warrior." While glancing at Ilithyia, Numerious then gives a thumbs down, causing everyone to gasp. Batiatus apoligizes to the magistrate, stating that it was only an exhibition and no one will die. The magistrate then insists that Varro die, telling Batiatus that he will be reimbursed whatever Varro cost. Battiatus then orders Spartacus to kill Varro. Spartacus hesitates, not wanting to kill his one and only friend Batiatus then calls the guards, suspecting that Spartacus will try and save Varro. Varro then looks up at Spartacus and tells him to do it, for if he doesn't they will both die. Varro then reaches up and stabs the sword into his own neck. After returning to his room, Spartacus then goes into a fit of grief, destroying his cell and beating his fists against the stone wall until the slave girl he had helped earlier, Mira, finds and comforts him.

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. 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.
• 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.
• John Hannah as Quintus Lentulus Batiatus – a lanista. Purchases Spartacus to train him along with his other gladiators at his ludus.
• Lucy Lawless as Lucretia – Batiatus' wife. The two are trying to renew their financial prosperity.
• Peter Mensah as Doctore – Batiatus' trainer of gladiators. He wields a bullwhip.
• Manu Bennett as Crixus, "the Champion of Capua" – a Gaul, and Batiatus' top gladiator. He is having a relationship with Lucretia, but is secretly in love with her slave, Naevia.
• 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 because of a suspected betrayal.
• Jai Courtney as Varro – a Roman citizen who sold himself to the ludus to support his family.
• 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 bookkeeper in addition to aiding other gladiators.
• Lesley-Ann Brandt as Naevia – Lucretia's personal and loyal slave, but is secretly in love with Crixus.
• Craig Parker as Gaius Claudius Glaber – a Roman army legatus, who leads the Thracian volunteers during the mutiny by Spartacus.
• Viva Bianca as Ilithyia – the daughter of senator Albinius and wife of Glaber.

Supporting cast

• David Austin as Medicus.
• John Bach as Titus Calavius – magistrate of Capua.
• Matthew Chamberlain as Ovidius.
• Ande Cunningham as Duro.
• Eka Darville as Pietros – slave to Batiatus and love interest of Barca. Believing that Barca had left the ludus without him after being given his freedom (when in fact Barca has been killed), Pietros commits suicide.
• Karl Drinkwater as Kerza.
• Daniel Feuerriegel as Agron.
• Katrina Law as Mira.
• Lliam Powell as Numerius – Calavius' son.
• Raicho Vasilev as Gnaeus - gladiator who abused Pietros after Barca's death and who was killed by Spartacus after Pietros committed suicide.
• Craig Walsh-Wrightson as Marcus Decius Solonius – lanista of a rival ludus to that of Batiatus.
• Kevin J. Wilson as senator Albinius.

Episode list

Season 1 (2010)

#	Title	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	Production code
1	"The Red Serpent"	Rick Jacobson	Steven S. DeKnight	January 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. 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"	Rick Jacobson	Steven S. DeKnight	January 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"	Grady Hall	Brent Fletcher	February 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"	Jesse Warn	Aaron Helbing & Todd Helbing	February 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 Hurst	Miranda Kwok	February 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 Jacobson	Tracy Bellomo & Andrew Chambliss	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 Warn	Brent Fletcher & Steven S. DeKnight	March 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"	Rowan Woods	Aaron Helbing & Todd Helbing	March 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"	Michael Hurst	Daniel Knauf	March 19, 2010 (2010-03-19)	TBA
Licinia, a rich noble woman and cousin of Marcus Crassus, the senator, has asked Lucretia to taste the wares of ludus, she would have a masked encounter with Spartacus. Lucretia, having a mind that Spartacus would not satisfy the needs of "a noble Roman woman", prods a servant to prepare him for his encounter with Licina. Ilythia is of the same mind and, jealous of her rich friend's desires, also wants to have a secret masked encounter but with Crixus. Enraged, Lucretia has other plans in mind for her friend. Ilythia unknowingly has sex with Spartacus before Licinia and Lucretia arrive and discover her. In a rage, Ilythia murders Licinia after it is revealed that they both had intended to see her succumb to scandal of allowing Spartacus to sleep with his enemy's wife. Varro's wife has gone missing, and Spartacus arranges for one of the female house slaves to search for her. Ashur, slighted, makes a deal with the enemy of Batiatus.
10	"Party Favors"	Chris Martin-Jones	Brent Fletcher & Miranda Kwok	March 26, 2010 (2010-03-26)	TBA
Spartacus and Crixus are set up to fight in an exhibition match for Numerius' coming of age party, when he will don the toga virilis, but Crixus is intent on blood. Ilythia uses Numerius to get Spartacus to fight Varro instead. Numerius insists that Spartacus slay the defeated Varro, and when Spartacus hesitates, Varro forces Spartacus's sword down his neck to save Spartacus, who mourns Varro's death in anguish.
11	"Old Wounds"	Glenn Standring	Unknown	April 2, 2010 (2010-04-02)	TBA
12	"Revelation"	Unknown	Unknown	April 9, 2010 (2010-04-09)	TBA
13	"Kill Them All"	Unknown	Unknown	April 16, 2010 (2010-04-16)	TBA

International distribution

The series airs in Canada on TMN beginning on January 25, 2010. RTL 5 announced in their January newsletter that Spartacus: Blood and Sand will come to the Netherlands in March 2010. 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.

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

Reception

Critical reception of the first episode was varied; the review aggregate website Metacritic gave the show a score of 54 out of 100. 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." 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."

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".
• 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, six decades after Spartacus' revolt.
• Women are depicted as not allowed in military camps. Historically, while some generals banned camp followers from their camps, at times they would not have been uncommon.
• Women are depicted as required to remarry as soon as their husbands die. There was no such law at any point in Ancient Rome, even the marriage legislation of Augustus fell short of that absolute.
• Ilythia has an allowance from her husband. Historically, the law prevented gifts from a man to his wife, including allowances. Regardless, a gift to a woman with a living father would have belonged to her father.
• Patria potestas meant that a son or daughter could only own property once their father had died. Ilythia's father is still alive, but she is wrongly depicted as able to purchase a slave.
• Husbands have the right to kill their wives, although historically they had no rights at all over their wives in marriage Sine Manu (which meant almost all marriages at this point in time), and lacked the right of life over death in Manus Marriage (which was very rare and soon to disappear at this time).

External links

• Official website
• Template:Tv.com
• Spartacus: Blood and Sand at IMDb