Trapped in a snowstorm, Spartacus and his army must confront the growing possibility that the war they have waged may not be won. And with most clad in their summer wardrobe, frostbite isn’t too far off.
But instead of waiting to be starved or frozen, Spartacus takes a small group on the offensive, launching an attack on the Imperator’s tent. They encounter the remains of Donar and see the words Mors Incepta carved upon his flesh. The meaning? Death is undeceivable. Once again, Crassus has the upper hand. When Naevia is injured in the battle, Crixus goes ballistic, taking on a number of Romans alone. For a brief moment I thought he made one hot-headed decision too many.
He blames Spartacus for Naevia’s wounds, and we know that where Naevia is concerned, Crixus does not think with his head. The two engage in an epic fight reminiscent of their gladiatorial days. Those days in the sand-covered arena must seem like paradise compared to starving in the snow.
Meanwhile,Crassus returns Tiberius’ armor to him, saying that he wants his word and his will at his side when they witness Spartacus’ end. Tiberius is once again in charge, and the little brat will hopefully face his downfall soon. He gleefully tells Kore that she will remain in Sinuessa with him, forcing her to desperate measures to get away from him. She approaches Caesar, explaining that they now have common enemy. I love that she refuses to sit passively by and allow Tiberius another win.
When the storm worsens, Sybil and Gannicus finally give into passion, but I can’t understand how anyone would want to remove clothes in that freezing blizzard, body heat or not. Brrrr! Even Spartacus’ teeth are chattering, prompting Laeta to offer him a blanket and a cuddle.
In spite of the elements, the tide turns briefly for the rebels. Though a thousand perished in the storm, Spartacus gets the crazy idea to dump the bodies in the trench to allow his army to cross to the other side. They are able to scale the wall and take the Romans by surprise. We also see that Kore has appeared at the rebel camps, after realizing that Crassus would never take her side against his son’s.
With only a few episodes left in this final season, expect the death toll to start rising very soon, including characters we know and love. I just hope Gannicus survives.
