God bless you, Starz. For airing a show like Spartacus: Blood and Sand and for bringing it back in January as a prequel called Gods of the Arena.
The website Series and TV has the trailer (click here) for the 6 part series, scheduled to premiere on January 21 at 10PM.
The original series Spartacus: Blood and Sand tells the story of a Thracian who earns the ire of his army commander, and he and his wife are abducted. He plots to be reunited with her as he is sold into slavery and taken to a ludus, where men are turned into gladiators to entertain the masses.
When Starz premiered Spartacus in early 2009, it made such an impression that it was it was renewed for a second season before the first episode aired. Nothing like it had ever been seen on TV, though it does call to mind the dramatic arena battles in Gladiator and the slow motion blood baths in 300. There is something captivating about seeing someone’s head get chopped off and s-l-o-w-l-y fall to the ground while the shirtless and muscular victor brandishes his sword and sweats, making his body glisten in the CGI-provided sunlight.
Ah, but Spartacus is not just about the scantily clad men. Oh, no. There are women galore, if that is your type. You like breasts? You’ll get your fill of them in this show. Even Lucy Lawless (Xena) is not exempt from the sex scenes, and there are a LOT. I mean a LOT. Sometimes it’s sensual, as between Spartacus and his wife. Other times, it’s frenzied and impassioned. This is truly a show that has something for everyone. Unless, of course, you oppose graphic violence, language, nudity, and anything else they might warn you about at the beginning of an episode. I think they even created some warning labels for Spartacus, it’s so over the top.
But I find the writing and the talent to be far beyond what one would expect from a show like this. I think it has an incredible cast, including John Hannah from The Mummy series. Hannah and Lawless (as owners of the ludus) will be very important characters in Gods of the Arena, which was originally created to allow Andy Whitfield, who plays Spartacus, to receive cancer treatment for his non-Hodkin’s lymphoma. Unfortunately, his cancer has returned after a brief remission, and the role will be recast for Season 2.
While casting and production takes place for the upcoming season, we have the upcoming prequel mini-series to tide us over. And, if you haven’t seen Season 1, check it out on Netflix or purchase it on Amazon.
Just be sure to leave your delicate sensibilities at the door.
