Spartacus - Blood & Sand

[catsclaw227]

First episode didn't overly impress me but I'll keep watching. The special effects kept on kicking me out of the show though. It was hard to take it seriously after all the blood splatter. It's just overdone.

It's getting pretty good now. After 6 episodes, the stories are falling into place and there's a fair number of subplots going on.

I didn't expect the ending like we had last night though...

Still lots of comic-book blood and fairly explicit sex and nudity.

 

[Fast Learner]

Quite explicit, and yes, the plots are nicely intertwined.

 

[Truth Seeker]

Heh, the guys at Star Media gave me a heads up on this.

So far...well done.

Okay - enough of this geek love for iffy shows that are receving iffy episode-by-episode braying, whilst Spartacus: Blood and Sand is left with only one thread.

This show is turning out to be VERY cool and damned decent. If you judged it only by the 300 style over-the-topness of the pilot, you judged too quickly.

With episode 3 and 4 now in, I am now an unabashed fan of Spartacus: Blood and Sand; moreover, I believe most gamers would be too, if they give this one a good long look.

 

[Fast Learner]

Is there any chance the title of this thread could have a spelling fix to "Spartacus" instead of "Sparticus"? Not a huge deal, but I'm a bit of a pedant and I cringe every time I see it.

 

[catsclaw227]

Is there any chance the title of this thread could have a spelling fix to "Spartacus" instead of "Sparticus"? Not a huge deal, but I'm a bit of a pedant and I cringe every time I see it.

I fixed it. My bad. I recall working a couple of near all-nighters that week and by Friday (when I posted the thread) I was wiped.

And the show really is getting better and better.

 

[Fast Learner]

Thanks for starting the thread! And I agree, it's definitely rocking now.

 

[Sutekh]

I kinda felt sorry for the invalid Gladiator Ashur in the first couple of episodes. Hes a cunning one and his actions in this episode just to make sure he didnt have to pay out to Barca were.. well not what I expected. Made for great viewing though. You could see that Pietros was the weak link for Barca.

It will be interesting to see if Crixus recovers to a point where he becomes viable again. Hes a tough one though.

The final scene was very cool. Doctore is one Tough SOB. Sura dying was expected though.

 

[Steel_Wind]

EPISODE #7 now stands (far and away) as the best yet. There was the obligatory arena combat at the end. And while Spartcaus fights 6 against 1, the show manages some actual tension in the outcome of the battle (to the extent the show's premise allows for it).

But that was just the 3 minutes of cool action at the end. The real enjoyment is in the drama before the final battle - where Spartacus: Blood and Sand serves notice that it is not just an action adventure series -- but has decided to take itself seriously. And those scenes are consistent, rational, real and dramatic-- without being easily predictable or melodramatic.

Characters act consistently, true to their motives, fears and hopes, in complex ways. The series makes a deliberate choice to develop its ongoing plot lines and make its characters act in ways that make sense within the story.

Spartacus:Blood and Sand has, until episode #7, been over the top and is not self-consciously reaching to be history on film. Maybe so, but episode #7 certainly attained history on film -- and achieved it better than any other sword-and-sandals epic to date in its own small way.

For the record, not one over-the-top blood splatter during the arena scene, either. I think the director of this particular episode decided the tale he was telling was about real people who lived 2050 years ago.

This series ROCKS.

 

[catsclaw227]

EPISODE #7 now stands (far and away) as the best yet. There was the obligatory arena combat at the end. And while Spartcaus fights 6 against 1, the show manages some actual tension in the outcome of the battle (to the extent the show's premise allows for it).

But that was just the 3 minutes of cool action at the end. The real enjoyment is in the drama before the final battle - where Spartacus: Blood and Sand serves notice that it is not just an action adventure series -- but has decided to take itself seriously. And those scenes are consistent, rational, real and dramatic-- without being easily predictable or melodramatic.

Characters act consistently, true to their motives, fears and hopes, in complex ways. The series makes a deliberate choice to develop its ongoing plot lines and make its characters act in ways that make sense within the story.

Very true.

I am still unsure of what to think of Batiatus. Sometimes, when he is reveling in his successes, he seems generous and fair, even honorable. But there are times when he is scheming and always seems to have an ulterior motive. Truly human... especially in times when station is critical to your livelihood.

John Hannah does a great job with this character.

Spartacus:Blood and Sand has, until episode #7, been over the top and is not self-consciously reaching to be history on film. Maybe so, but episode #7 certainly attained history on film -- and achieved it better than any other sword-and-sandals epic to date in its own small way.

I would say that it started taking itself more seriously for the past 2-3 episodes. But I agree that this one really brought the drama to the table without being "As the Sword Turns".

 

[catsclaw227]

Wow.... the last couple of episodes have been really great.

[sblock]
The look in Sparticus' eyes when he knew he had to plunge the blade into his best friend. [/sblock]

I love the depiction of how certain people accepted their post in life, most noteably the subservient slave/gladiator caste, while at the same time, those like Batiatus are always looking for upward mobility.

Things are coming to a head and I am looking forward to where this one is going.

I watch this DVR'ed from Starz, but is it available other places? My understanding is that Hulu really only works well from the US, so do you guys in the UK or Canada get a chance to catch this series?