As in Starz', not Kubrick's.
I came across this show by chance, flicking mindlessly through Netflix turning up something worthwhile for perhaps the first time ever. I watched the first episode and was entertained enough to put on the next, at some point my housemate stumbled in and we were pretty much just scoffing at how over-the-top and ridiculous it was. Then episode four with the Pits hit, and suddenly they had me. I fell in love with the period, the characters, the fights, even the hammy dialogue. I'd not taken such guilty pleasure in a show since season one of Arrow. By the end of season one (and what an end, without question the most satisfying hour of television I've ever watched, almost an inverse red wedding) I was shouting and screaming at the TV.
I had doubts about going into later seasons without Andy Whitfield (something I was very sad to hear about, especially as I lost a close family member to cancer this year) as he'd been such a huge part of what I loved about the series, the energy and charisma he brought to the role fully encompassing the character he played. The prequel series was an enjoyable enough watch, but all I could think of was how much I didn't want to go any further and see the series flounder with a new lead.
I went into season three and thought my fears had been realised. I couldn't get behind Liam McIntyre as Spartacus at all for the first few episodes, and was about to give up when the episode with the Arena happened, and it pulled me back in. The rest of the season was decent enough, and I read good things about War of the Damned so went in looking forward to it.
Massive improvement. McIntyre grew into the role wonderfully, bringing his own great take on the character even though they were big shoes to fill. Crassus was a fantastic character, and a young Caesar was played well in a way where he meshed perfectly with the Spartacus world. I've never known too much about Ancient Rome beyond what I learned in school, so I'll say a nice side-effect of watching this is that I've been teaching myself more about it, reading books and listening to podcasts.
Anyway, I just finished the series finale and, although predictable, it still managed to pull at my heartstrings. Glad the show found its feet again, parts of the last season peaked higher than the highs of season one in my opinion. I read rumours of there being a Caesar spin-off but it's been years so I imagine it's dead in the water?
Jupiter's cock, I'm going to miss this show.
I came across this show by chance, flicking mindlessly through Netflix turning up something worthwhile for perhaps the first time ever. I watched the first episode and was entertained enough to put on the next, at some point my housemate stumbled in and we were pretty much just scoffing at how over-the-top and ridiculous it was. Then episode four with the Pits hit, and suddenly they had me. I fell in love with the period, the characters, the fights, even the hammy dialogue. I'd not taken such guilty pleasure in a show since season one of Arrow. By the end of season one (and what an end, without question the most satisfying hour of television I've ever watched, almost an inverse red wedding) I was shouting and screaming at the TV.
I had doubts about going into later seasons without Andy Whitfield (something I was very sad to hear about, especially as I lost a close family member to cancer this year) as he'd been such a huge part of what I loved about the series, the energy and charisma he brought to the role fully encompassing the character he played. The prequel series was an enjoyable enough watch, but all I could think of was how much I didn't want to go any further and see the series flounder with a new lead.
I went into season three and thought my fears had been realised. I couldn't get behind Liam McIntyre as Spartacus at all for the first few episodes, and was about to give up when the episode with the Arena happened, and it pulled me back in. The rest of the season was decent enough, and I read good things about War of the Damned so went in looking forward to it.
Massive improvement. McIntyre grew into the role wonderfully, bringing his own great take on the character even though they were big shoes to fill. Crassus was a fantastic character, and a young Caesar was played well in a way where he meshed perfectly with the Spartacus world. I've never known too much about Ancient Rome beyond what I learned in school, so I'll say a nice side-effect of watching this is that I've been teaching myself more about it, reading books and listening to podcasts.
Anyway, I just finished the series finale and, although predictable, it still managed to pull at my heartstrings. Glad the show found its feet again, parts of the last season peaked higher than the highs of season one in my opinion. I read rumours of there being a Caesar spin-off but it's been years so I imagine it's dead in the water?
Jupiter's cock, I'm going to miss this show.
