Starz's Spartacus is one of those shows that just grips you and doesn't let go, particularly during the 13 episode journey of the thrilling first season, Blood and Sand. The show follows one of the most iconic figures in ancient history while incorporating the rich elements of old Roman society and its unique culture of Gladiator games. The quality cinematic production, intense action, and clever writing set the stage for an engrossing trip into ancient Roman history through the lens of one of its most influential figures. The blend of authenticity and historical fiction creates a rich premise that's easy to get immersed in as we follow Spartacus' rise to glory.
Season 1 focuses on the rather humble origins as Spartacus as a slave and gladiator, and it generally works as an epic, inspirational story in overcoming adversity. Still, there are times where the show can feel a bit lacking, whether through the pacing, lack of action, or watering down of emotional depth.
With that said, let's sort through each of the 13 episodes of Blood and Sand, as we cover the 5 best and 5 weakest of the season, according to IMDB.
Worst: The Thing In The Pit
Although "The Thing in the Pit" acts as an exciting episode that pummels you with action, it's something of a frustrating detour from the rest of the show and Spartacus' character arch. The episode's grimy, gory art style and savage nature reminds one of Mad Max rather than the grandiose nature of Spartacus.
This sole purpose of this episode seems to be to knock Spartacus down a peg; a sort of humbling as it were, as he's been "demoted" from the glory of the arena to fight for small wagers in the underbelly of Roman society. He's relegated to this grim and seemingly hopeless position because of his "shameful" surrendering to Crixus in the arena. Spartacus must now fight and claw his way back through the dregs, wielding spiked knuckles rather than swords and shields. It's a cool sort of "rags to riches" showcase, but it does little to serve the overall narrative, and the gritty brawls that take place just aren't as exciting to watch as the full-blown Gladiator duels.
Best: Whore
Rather than focus on gladiator training and arena battles for the bulk of its intrigue, this episode explores the unique practice of Roman masquerades. It also stirs up some drama between two of the season's key characters - Lucretia and Ilithyia. A mixup with two "pairings" of a masquerade, arranged by Lucretia, puts Spartacus in bed with Ilithyia, who had planned to sleep with Crixus, while her friend had requested to sleep with Spartacus.
This clever plot twist is revealed to us after the deed is done, and the two remove each other's masks. We find that Lucretia had deceived Ilithyia, who she had grown to dislike, and wanted to keep Crixus for herself. This bit of drama is further complicated by the fact that Ilithyia happens to be the wife of Glaber, who's essentially become the sworn enemy of Spartacus by this point. This episode has an 8.3 on IMDb, which isn't surprising given it contains some creative plot devices and one of the more amusing twists in TV.
Worst: Great And Unfortunate Things
In this episode, Spartacus is forced to participate in a fight that contains some special circumstances which add a creative twist to the standard face-offs. This battle is meant to play out as a reenactment of a historical Roman battle. The catch? The ex-Thracian warrior Spartacus must take on the role of a Roman consul known for slaying his own people, as he must fight six opponents dressed as his kin.
There is a certain emotional resonance with this unique scenario, and with the subplots; one of which focuses on the tragic separation between Pietros and his slain lover, a fellow gladiator named Barca. Still, Spartacus' battle featured in this episode is pretty uneventful and lacking excitement. Even going against 6 foes, he's far better equipped and trained than his inept opponents, who are merely outmatched criminals pulled from the streets and tossed onto the arena, condemned to death. This episode has an 8 on IMDb.
Best: Shadow Games
In "Shadow Games," Crixus and Spartacus are forced to team up and fight as a single, destructive unit in the arena, during Rome's anticipated Primus (essentially the championships of Gladiatorial games). Yet, the fact that Crixus and Spartacus fight at "cross-purposes" as he claims, and their general dislike towards each other, complicates this. There's also the frightening revelation that they'll have to square off against the brute Theokoles, who has never been defeated in battle. As the only man to have fought him and lived, Doctore trains the two in a fight for the ages.
While the fight seems to go south quickly for our two heroes, they team up and overcome the massive obstacle standing in their way for glory. This is partly thanks to a desperate, unorthodox tactic by Crixus. This episode is exciting from a visual standpoint and acts as a creative metaphor of "toppling the unbeatable giant," which will soon be Batiatus, and in some ways, Rome itself. It also foreshadows the two rivals, Spartacus and Crixus joining hands, which will prove crucial during their slave revolt. The episode has an 8.5 on IMDB.
Worst: Legends
Although Blood and Sand eventually picks up its pace, it regresses to a rather slow-moving and uneventful sequence of events for much of its third episode, "Legends." A good portion of the episode focuses on Spartacus' basic training and a blossoming friendship between Lucretia and Ilithyia. All of this builds up to the relative high-point of the episode, the Vulcanalia festival.
During this celebration, Spartacus maneuvers to face Crixus for a coveted spot in the Primus by going off-script and engaging with his rival, disrupting the festivities. Impressed by this boldness and the reaction of the crowd, Batiatus grants him his wish. This leads to a fairly anticlimactic showdown in the arena, which Crixus emphatically wins. This episode has an even 8 on IMDb.
Best: Party Favors
"Party Favors" manages to contain some of the most emotional scenes in an already emotional series, leading up to one of the biggest tearjerkers during Season 1. This episode shows just how cold the Roman elite could be; reminding viewers that, despite the accolades and cheers, most in this society still viewed gladiators as slaves to use at their disposal.
During the episode, the Magistrate's son, Numerius holds a birthday party arranged by Batiatus and Lucretia. What begins as harmless entertainment with wooden swords quickly gives way to a gut-wrenching scene in which Spartacus is forced to kill his good friend Varro. What makes it even darker is the fact that this is done merely for the amusement of Numerius. The crushing implications for Spartacus and the jarring shift in tone during this episode leave quite an impression, and it's a good reason it earned an 8.5 on IMDb.
Worst: Sacramentum Gladiatorum
Despite being the second episode, this feels like the show's true introduction, as Spartacus is thrust into his new life as a gladiator under the house of Batiatus for the first time. We're also introduced to his friends and companions including Varro. The episode sets the stages for the ongoing rivalry between Spartacus, and the champion of Capua, Crixus.
The episode feels akin to a sort of oppressive, Gladitorial version of a high school drama, as cliques, friendships, and rivalries are established within the Ludus. It's a decent motivational story, and basically sets up the season's premise, in addition to providing our protagonist the motivation he needs to press on. Batiatus informs him he can save his captured wife, Sura, from the clutches of slavery. Though beyond these elements, there isn't much action, emotional resonance, or substance to be had in general during this episode.
Best: Revelations
If the finale of Blood and Sand contains the season's climax from an action standpoint, then this episode just may be the season's emotional climax. On the one hand, you can look at "Revelations" as a series of events that sets the table for the epic conclusion to follow, but it's also a grippingly emotional and rich episode in its own right.
Spartacus attempts to gather each and every slave and gladiator to assist him in his rebellion against Batiatus and Lucretia. Yet, we soon discover that this will be no easy task, as Mira expresses her concerns, explaining the danger this poses to all slaves within his house - culpable or not. Spartacus also struggles to convince Crixus, who won't simply run from his life as a triumphant gladiator who's recently regained much of his former glory. Tensions mount at an uneasy level during "Revelations," - not just from the resistance Spartacus meets, but from a pivotal exchange between Glaber and Batiatus, and Naevia's confrontation with Lucretia. It's a gut-wrenching episode that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It has an 8.5 on IMDb.
Worst: The Red Serpent
While most of Spartacus: Blood and Sand is laser-focused on the famed Roman rebel's time training as a gladiator, this pilot episode is very much its own entity. The show's premiere takes on a very different feel, as it hones in on the events leading up to the capture of Spartacus and his wife Sura. It also covers the Thacean and Roman battles with the barbarian hordes that terrorize their villages of Thrace.
This Spartacus origin story - or more accurately - historical fiction, does provide some exciting action scenes and heartfelt moments. Yet, the gritty outdoor environments and the emphasis on full-fledged ancient battles make this feel more like a lesser (and possibly even cheesier) version of 300, rather than the more interesting, character-driven gladiatorial drama it matures into. While it's not a bad episode in its own right, it feels disjointed from the rest of the season and doesn't do a great job of selling what the show's really about. It has a 7.6 rating on IMDb.
Best: Kill Them All
This is when everything "hits the fan" so-to-speak; the major "payoff" of Spartacus's epic first season. All of Spartacus' trials and tribulations seem to be building up to this grand moment of rebellion, and it makes for an absolutely epic showdown. The show's trademark action and copious amounts of gore are at an all-time high, and the chaotic events that transpire at the house of Batiatus certainly live up to the title of this episode.
Spartacus has finally initiated a full-blown revolt, which he and the other gladiators had been plotting covertly. Pushed to the edge by Batiatus, who's forced Spartacus to engage in a battle to the death with Crixus to secure the patronage of Glaber, he feels that this is the time to strike. The gladiators give them the show of a lifetime - but not the type they had hoped for. This thrilling conclusion to Spartacus' days as a slave and a gladiator has it all - it's a visual spectacle and an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish. It has a 9.3 rating on IMDb, and deservedly so.