According to Starz:

The eight-episode first season of the pirate adventure centers on the tales of Captain Flint and his men, and takes place twenty years prior to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic “Treasure Island.”

Flint, the most brilliant and most feared pirate captain of his day, takes on a fast-talking young addition to his crew who goes by the name John Silver.  Threatened with extinction on all sides, they fight for the survival of New Providence Island, the most notorious criminal haven of its day – a debauched paradise teeming with pirates, prostitutes, thieves and fortune seekers, a place defined by both its enlightened ideals and its stunning brutality.

Old-timey sex and violence? From the sounds of it, Black Sails will fit in nicely over at Starz. In all honesty, it really was just a matter of time until the premium channel set sail with the sea-faring bandits since pirates are the natural progression from gladiators and knights (Camelot). Will you check out Black Sails or has Starz missed the boat when it comes to buccaneer based storytelling? I for one can’t wait to see what this show has to offer.

Image Courtesy of Starz

Glaber has completely taken over Spartacus’ old encampment at the base of Mt. Vesuvius and planned on waiting out the rebels until fatigue and hunger got the better of them. Some of the Germans got antsy while sitting around, so they made an attack on Glaber’s men, but it ended up costing Mira her life when she and the rest of Sparty’s men tried to save them.

As Spartacus grieved over the loss of Mira, Glaber was visited by Ilithyia who once again insisted that she return to Rome. While on the road, Lucretia informed her friend that she could not return with her because she had been promised to Ashur once Spartacus was dead, but Ilithyia convinced her husband that Ashur had betrayed him by telling Seppia that they were responsible for her brother’s death. Glaber decided that both he and Lucretia had outlived their usefulness and knew too many of his secrets, so he ordered Ilithyia to kill Lucretia while he dealt with Ashur.

Instead of just killing Ashur, Glaber used him as bait for Spartacus by sending him up Vesuvius with a message.  The Assyrian told the rebels that those who wanted to live could return to a life of enslavement, and those who stayed with Spartacus would be killed. Of course, no one took Glaber up on his offer, and they decided to make an example out of Ashur. At first, Crixus challenged him to a duel, but Naevia decided that the only way she could be freed from her demons would be to take the life of the man who ruined hers. After he toyed with her for a while, she was able to get a critical blow to the crotch which weakened Ashur enough to allow Naevia to chop of his head.

Back in Capua, Ilithyia was preparing to kill Lucretia by throwing her over the cliff that the House of Batiatus sat on, but she went into labor before she could complete the deed. Lucretia helped Ilithyia get settled so she could bring the child into the world, but things took a sinister turn. Instead of letting Ilithyia give birth, Lucretia ended up killing her slaves and cut the baby from Ilithyia so she could give Batiatus the son that he had always wanted.

As Lucretia stole Ilithyia’s baby from her body, Spartacus figured out a way to get off of the mountain and lay siege on Glaber’s camp. The final moments of the episode cut between the second battle of Vesuvius, where Oenomaus fell while saving Gannicus, and the final showdown between Lucretia and Ilithyia. When it was all said and done, Lucretia threw herself and the baby off the cliff so they could reunite with Batiatus, Ilythia died from her wounds, and Spartacus finally got his vengeance on Glaber. Now, onto season 3.

Man, the body count was huge by the end of this episode, and we lost some very important characters, but for the most part all of the deaths made sense. There was no way Glaber was going to survive the battle because his his story had been told and keeping him around wouldn’t have accomplished anything. It could be argued that Ilithyia could have been used next season, but since she’s been tied so closely with Glaber she probably wouldn’t have had much to do in future episodes. It’s going to suck not seeing Viva Bianca every week though.

The most shocking death had to be Lucretia’s though because I did not see that coming. I’m going to have to re-watch the entire season to see if I can pick up on all of the clues that pointed to her endgame, but while watching this episode I was completely caught off guard by her actions. That being said, she too lived out her usefulness and got a fitting end. The same cannot be said about Oenomaus, who could have lived on for a few more episodes (admittedly I don’t know enough about the real man and when he died), but at least he was given an honorable death and help solidify Gannicus’ dedication to the cause.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Now that Mira and Ilithyia are dead, I’m convinced that Sparty’s junk is cursed.
• It was clear from the start that Mira was going to die, but I did think she could have been kept around for a little while longer like Oenomaus.
• One-Eyed Oenomaus was creepy and badass! I think I just came up for a band name, if I ever started a band.
• At least with Ashur and Lucretia dead, we won’t have to watch anymore of their painful scenes together.
• I was certain that either Agron or Nasir was going to fall during this episode. Whoops.

After being released by Spartacus, Ilithyia made her way back to Capua to find Seppia filling the void that she had left behind. She begged Glaber to take her back, but he reminded her that she was planning on leaving him for Varinius and that she helped turn him into the monster that stood before her. Speaking of Varinius, he returned to the former House of Batiatus to inform Glaber that he was instructed to return to Rome and that he would be taking over the hunt for Spartacus. Of course, Glaber protested because he was able to figure out Spartacus’ location thanks to clues that Ilithyia was able to give him and Ashur’s knowledge of the area, and he was close to getting his revenge. In the end, Seppia’s time at Glaber’s side was limited because she was goaded into killing Glaber herself by Lucretia and Ilithyia, but when she tried to take his life, Ilithyia showed up to save him and slit her throat. The two stood over her dead body, and Ilithyia told Glaber that they cannot return to who they were, but they could push forward as the monsters that they’ve become. After a reunion tussle while covered in blood, Glaber then set his sights on Vesuvius.

Back at the rebel encampment, Spartacus tested his army by pretending to be a Roman solider, along with Crixus and Gannicus, and he realized that they were unprepared. He tried to rally his troops with more speeches about freedom and what not, but they were not having the impact that he wanted. It dawned on him that one of the reasons they were not ready to take on the Romans was their lack on camaraderie, so he staged a celebration of drink and sport. The trick was he teamed up people who did not see eye to eye and pitted them against other teams. It looked like the plan worked, but the joviality was short-lived because the Romans attacked. The battle ensued, and it looked like the rebels were done for, but they were able to escape but were forced to head up the mountain essentially trapping them. Instead of following, Glaber decided to set up at the base of Vesuvius, wait for hunger and madness to take over, and take them out when they came down from the mountain.

My initial criticisms of “Monsters” had to do with the start of the episode. At first, it didn’t seem like all that much was going to happen. We got more scenes of Lucretia scheming and Spartacus speechifying, and I was afraid that we had hit a pre-finale lull. Obviously, my fears were unfounded because things turned around when Spartacus decided to get his people drunk and had them fight one another, and Ilithyia made her move on Seppia to reclaim her position with Glaber.

The battle that took place at the end of the episode was also high-octane and exciting to watch, but I do wonder if DeKnight played that card too soon. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the fact that Spartacus bucked the trend and gave the audience what could have been a fine season ender a week before the actual finale, but I can’t help but wonder where do they go from here. Other shows have been able to make this move work (DeKnight’s former boss, Joss Whedon, being one of them), but I still think it’s a bold move for such a young show to try. Ultimately, I have faith in DeKnight and his staff, and I’m sure next week’s episode will be a bridge to Season 3 instead of a true end to Season 2.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Cinematically this was one of the best episodes of Spartacus yet.
• I really don’t watch this show for the romance, but I’m invested in Mira and Spartacus, so I’m genuinely intrigued to see where the show’s going to take this pair now that they’re technically no longer a couple. Then again, were they really a couple?
• Ashur’s knowledge of the Greek temple seemed a little too convenient.
• When did Nasir become a cat-man?
• Lugo makes me laugh. I hope he sticks around for a while.
• While I enjoyed the main event of Gannics & Oenomaus vs. Crixus & Agron, it annoyed me that it took so long for the last two to bury the hatchet. Heck, Agron saved Naevia multiple times, but Crixus still couldn’t let it go.
• The Egyptian’s becoming almost comical at this point.
• I was sure someone important was going to die this episode. I’m glad that no one did, but I have a feeling that Agron’s time is limited.

Gannicus planned on taking Ilithyia to Sparty’s camp so he could take her life to balance the scales of blood and end his hostility with Glaber. Once they returned to Vesuvius, Spartacus was eager to end Ilithyia’s life, but she was able to give him pause by telling him that the baby was his and killing his child would dishonor him in the eyes of his wife when they meet in the afterlife. He decided to spare her for now while he decided what his next move was, but Mira tried to complete the deed so he would not have to, but her actions placed a wedge between them. Meanwhile, Ilithyia convinced Lucius to help her by promising that Glaber would return everything that was taken from him if he turned on Spartacus and secured her freedom, and he made his way to Capua.

While Ilithyia was being held captive by Spartacus, Glaber and Lucretia tried to come up with ways to find her but they had very different approaches and motivations. He was determined to punish Spartacus for taking what was his and used Ashur and his men to do his dirty work while she tried to convince him to get help from Rome so they could save her friend. She even tried to use Seppia to sway Glaber, but she had plans of her own. Now that Ilithyia was out of the picture, she could take her place as the praetor’s wife (or mistress for now). Her plans were about to be derailed by Lucretia because she was going to reveal the truth about what happened to Seppius by showing her the snake bracelet Ashur took from his dead body, but Lucius’ arrival interrupted the conversation.

As it turned out, Lucius did not betray Spartacus. Instead he returned to Capua to tell Glaber that they had his wife, and Sparty was willing to trade her for weapons for his soldiers. Glaber agreed to meet Spartacus and three of his men at a neutral sight for the exchange. In a classic spaghetti Western style showdown, the Thracian showed up with Agron, Crixus and Gannicus (he was standing in the place of Oenomaus) while the praetor arrived with three of his soldiers and a wagon which turned out to be a Trojan horse. You see, Glaber did not intend to trade with his enemy because he was consumed with anger, so he had Ashur and his henchmen ambush the rebels. Fortunately, Spartacus was prepared, and Lucius and Mira covered them during the skirmish. When the dust settled, our heroes were able to get away except for Lucius who fell while giving the others a chance to flee.

Both sides returned to their basecamps to lick their wounds, and Lucretia informed Seppia about what happened to her brother when she learned that Glaber was not interested in saving his wife. Back near Vesuvius, Spartacus told Ilithyia that he loved Sura, and it was clear that Glaber didn’t feel the same way about her and only cared about vengeance, so killing her would not even the score. The episode ended with him freeing her in the middle of the woods.

Now, that’s how you figure out what to do with a prisoner. Instead of going around and around about what was right and wrong, Spartacus kept it relatively short and sweet. Not only did this episode keep the narrative momentum going forward, it also gave us some really interesting character moments. We now know what kind men both Glaber and Spartacus are, and while their decisions shouldn’t have been surprising it was still interesting watching them get to where they ended up.

We also got more insight into Gannicus and how he views the world. To him, Spartacus killing Ilithyia made sense because it would’ve been an eye for an eye which seems simplistic, but his motivations were also deeper than that. Balancing the scales would end the bloodshed and save innocent people, so for the first time he was thinking of someone besides himself because he wants to restore his bond with Oenomaus. Good stuff from Dustin Clare as he’s been able to transform Gannicus from a flippant rockstar to a man of substance.

The boys were not the only ones getting to have all the fun. Ilithyia, Lucretia, Mira and Seppia all had the chance to show what they’d be willing to do to save themselves and those they love, and it’s clear that all four are going to be pivotal over during this final stretch. While I’ve grown weary of some of the scheming I have to admit that they’re all a force to be reckoned with, and I can’t wait to see where they go from here.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Ilithyia had to remind us that she was preggers in almost in every scene just in case we didn’t remember.
• Speaking of her baby daddy, I wonder if she really believes that it’s his or if she just said that to save herself. Part of me hope that it is his, but that would be too soapy even for this show.
• The brothel scenes were particularly over-the-top this week and it was hard to take Glaber and Ashur seriously.
• Usually, I can see plot twist coming from a mile away, but I genuinely thought Lucius betrayed Spartacus and cheered when he pissed in Glaber’s face. Call me a sucker. I don’t care.
• Another misdirection that I fell for: I was convinced that someone important was going to die this week, and I thought it was going to be Agron. Fortunately, I was wrong and it was Lucius. While I’m going to miss the old guy, I was relieved that Agron survived … for now.
• I don’t know how much Ashur I can take at this point. His form of brutality is especially vile.
• So, I’m pretty sure the Egyptian was sent back in time by John Connor.
• Am I the only one who thinks that it was too soon for Seppia to find out what happened to Seppius? I know that there’s only two episodes left, but that development felt rushed.
• I’m still rooting for a Spartacus/Ilythia alliance a la Buffy and Spike.

Spartacus, Agron and Lucius led a raid on a slave ship to free its captives with hopes of adding warriors to their makeshift army. Once the slaver and his crew were taken out, it became apparent that they had just freed a boatload of people from Agron’s homeland (presumably early Germany) which gave Spartacus pause. Back at camp, the addition of the German hoard did not sit well with Crixus and others, but Spartacus insisted on making it all work until Agron disobeyed his orders. Tension began to mount between the three leaders, but some of it was cut by the recovery of Oenomaus. Just seeing him up and walking about gave the rebels hope and another invaluable asset to the cause. Unfortunately, the joviality was dashed when one of the Germans tried to attack Naevia, which Agron stopped, and a fight broke out. When the dust settled, Spartacus killed the brutish German and made it clear that only those willing to follow his lead would be welcomed. Agron publicly pledged his allegiance to the Thracian which convinced his countrymen to do the same.

It could be argued that everything that was going on at the Vesuvius camp brought the episode down because it didn’t do much to push the story along and relied too heavily on the issues between Crixus and Agron that have been present all season long, but I thought that these moments made the episode special. While I agree that nothing really changed in terms of plot, I did feel that this story altered how we’re supposed to view Spartacus and his men. His ability to lead has been a major question throughout the season, but he once again proved that he’s not only a capable warrior but a charismatic force who could unite these former slaves and make them a real threat to Rome. Even Oenomaus realized what Spartacus could bring as a leader, and you could see that he was clearly impressed and proud.

Speaking of Oenomaus, his return and being brought in fully to the rebellion was just what the series needed. It was understandable why he was conflicted at the beginning of the series, but this show works so much better when he’s united with his brothers. He was also responsible for keeping this episode lighter than most by adding some well timed humor. It’s good to have the old doctore back.

While Spartacus was trying to add to his ranks, Glaber spent his time trying to wield his power over everyone in sight. In order to send a message, he declared that any slave who whispered Spartacus’ name would be crucified, and he even used one of Ilithiya’s slave girls as an example. He also tried to sway Gannicus to pledge his service to him in exchange for his rudus (the wooden sword that symbolized his freedom). Instead of aligning himself with the praetor, Gannicus sent a message to Glaber by killing his men and kidnapping his wife.

The reason why Ilithiya was vulnerable to abduction had to do with the fact that she and Lucretia came up with a plan to get away from both Glaber and Ashur. At first, it looked like they were willing to take extreme measures to free themselves, but Lucretia suggested that they fake a miscarriage so she could use her pretend oracle skills to convince Glaber to let them return to Rome. It only partially worked because Ashur was able to talk Glaber into keeping Lucretia in Capua, but she countered by trying to manipulate Gannicus into killing the praetor. Rather than being Glaber or Lucretia’s puppet, Gannicus decided to take Ilithiya as payback.

Obviously, the plot line involving the Romans counteracted the perceived lull that was going on in Vesuvius because it was non-stop twists and turns. Glaber’s finally proven why he should be taken seriously as the show’s big bad because his ruthlessness seeped from every pore of his body. The same could be said about Ashur, but at his point he’s so cruel that it was actually hard to watch his scenes with Lucretia. As for her and Ilithyia, honestly their schemes are starting to become a little boring, but I am very interested to see what’s going to happen to the latter now that she’s been taken by Gannicus.

Other Odds and Ends:

• At least Seppia’s become relevant now.
• It’s a little hard to feel bad for Ilithyia after what she had planned earlier.
• Hopefully the tension between Crixus and Agron will be eased after this episode.
• Aw, I’m going to miss Gannicus’ friend from the brothel.
• Watching Oenomaus get accosted by Lugo and his women will always make me laugh.
• Girl fight!

Back at Vesuvius, Crixus and Naevia are finally reunited, but it’s clear that she’s no longer the woman she used to be. Torture and rape have robbed her of her innocence, and she cannot be touched by her love, and she wondered why he would even want to be with her. He tried to convince her that her presence was all that mattered and that he would do what it takes to help her, and she decided that the only way he could was to teach her how to fight so she could protect herself in the future.

Meanwhile, Spartacus spent his time divided between planning their next move and convincing Gannicus to join their cause. The two champions of Capua did not see eye to eye, and it was clear that Gannicus did not intend to fight alongside his brothers. The only reason he stuck around was to clear the air with Oenomaus. Before he could leave the campsite, it was discovered that someone had taken the new plans and the little money the rebels had, and Spartacus assumed Gannicus took it, so a fight broke out between the two of them. As it turned out, Chadara was the one who robbed the camp because she planned on betraying them as a way to earn favor and status, but Mira stopped her with her newfound archery skills.

In Capua, Ilithyia mourned her father while Glaber and Ashur tried to remove themselves from under the thumbs that have been holding them down. With Albinius’ death, Glaber wanted to make sure that Ilithyia remembered that she’s still his wife and wanted to make her pay for her betrayal. Ashur, on the other hand, wanted to prove his worth to Glaber and wanted to prove that Roman soldiers were no match for gladiators. After he defeated three of Glaber’s men, he was granted permission to recruit new warriors to face Spartacus. Before he left, Lucretia wanted to remind him that he worked for her, but he turned the tables on her and made his point by raping her. Once Ashur had assembled his band of misfits, they accompanied Glaber to Seppius’ where they massacred everyone in sight since he refused to combine forces.

Now, I suppose this week’s Spartacus replaced action and plot development with more character moments, which isn’t a bad idea, but it felt like some air was let out of the balloon when “Chosen Path” was finished because the story didn’t progress all that much. Sure, we got some wonderful character beats, but they didn’t add much to what we already knew, and they really didn’t push the plot forward, so what was the point? I suppose the moment involving Glaber and Ashur will have some ramifications down the line, but I couldn’t help but feel like this episode was rebooting the season long arc. Maybe it was all of the black togas and badass mercenaries.

Other Odds and Ends:

• I liked that brief scene where one of the gladiators shared the story of the fall of the arena. It was a nice reminder of the oral traditions of long ago.
• Was it just me or did Mira seem awfully cocky this time around?
• Usually, I’m not turned off by the graphic nature of this show, but it was hard to watch Ashur rape Lucretia. Maybe this show hasn’t desensitized me.
• Other things that were hard to watch: Naevia’s flashbacks.
• The Egyptian could make things interesting.
• While I still don’t see what Seppia brings to the table, especially now that her brother’s dead, I did like it when she called out Lucretia and Ilithyia for trying to manipulate her. Maybe she has her sights on Glaber now that Varinius is out of the picture.
• Was I the only one who thought Lucius was the one who betrayed Spartacus?
• Poor Chadra. She didn’t have a chance.
• Of course it had to rain during Spartacus vs. Gannicus.
• I’m all for natural aptitude, but Mira picked up the bow awfully quickly.

This first clip is titled “The Dark Side of Magic City“, which puts the spotlight on the seedy underbelly of Miami’s glitz and glamour:

And the second is “Building an Empire”, which highlights the building of one of the largest, most elaborate sets in Florida EVER:

The magic begins on Friday, April 6th at 10pm ET/PT on Starz in the US and Super Channel in Canada.

Photo Courtesy of Starz

Now, that most of Team Spartacus has reunited, they continued on to Mt. Vesuvius where they found the remnants of an old temple. As they explored the dwelling to see if it would be suitable for shelter, Spartacus and Agron ran into a new ally in the form of Lucius. He’s a Roman who no longer had allegiances to his countrymen and offered the rebels support. He also informed Spartacus that three of his men were to be executed in the arena of Capua, and one of the prisoners was identified as Crixus. After giving it some thought, Spartacus decided that they should raid the arena to save their brothers, so he took Agron, Mira and some others back to the place they had been fleeing all this time.

In Capua, Oenomaus, Crixus and the other Gaul were awaiting their punishment, and they would be fighting the returning champion, Gannicus, and a band of random gladiators. While they stewed in the dungeons, the usual politicking and betrayal took place above their heads. Ilithyia and her father continued to plan the end of her marriage to Glaber (she also was expected to terminate her pregnancy), while Lucretia tried to maintain her cover as a vessel of the gods. She used her sway with Glaber to have Archer freed (he was to die as well since he was not able to bring Spartacus back), so he could help her stop Ilithyia from aborting her child so she could use it as a sign from above, but the Assyrian made his own power play by telling the praetor about what his wife was doing. Once Glaber realized what Ilithyia was about to commit, he confronted her, and she told him that she no longer loved him and planned to marry Varinius as soon as she could.

The games that Varinius had planned were coming to an end, and the final display would be the execution of the ex-slaves. As the Romans were distracted by the spectacles going on in the arena, Spartacus and the others put their plan into action. Mira and the accompanying men started a fire as a diversion while Spartacus and Agron stormed the sands to save their colleagues. When it was all said and done, the arena was engulfed in flames, the Romans were in disarray (and Ilithyia’s father was dead at the hands of Glaber, so he could not dissolve their marriage) and the rebels were able to get away along with Gannicus.

While I thought that “Libertus” was a solid episode overall, I want to get the negatives out of the way first. Now that Spartacus is no longer a gladiator, I’ve found myself disinterested by all of the brutal games that take place in the arena. The reason why I cared about them in the past was because I had become invested in Spartacus, Crixus,  and Gannicus and in their fates, so watching faceless brutes kill each other lacked any emotional buy-in. Having to sit and watch these pointless fights made me antsy, and they halted the momentum that the story had going for it, but I guess they were only there to give the audience a sense of time (it was like watching the regionals performance during the last episode of Glee). Regardless, things became more interesting once the execution scene began.

Personally, I think the sign of good storytelling is when you’re watching something unfold, and you know how it ends, but you’re still enthralled. By that definition, “Libertus” was some damn fine storytelling because I knew what was going to happen in the arena, but I was still on the edge of my seat as I watched Spartacus and Agron sit idly by as they waited for Mira to start the fire, and I seriously thought a major character was going to die. Add those scenes to the delightfully wicked melodrama that continued between Ilithyia, Glaber, Varinius et al, and you have a pretty entertaining episode of television.

Speaking of Ilithyia and Glaber, I applaud the writers for having them talk about their martial troubles so early on in the season (half-way’s not early per se, but you know what I mean) because that’s something other shows would’ve put off until the very end of the run. My only gripe has to do with the fact that I don’t quite understand why she wants to leave him. I get that she’s ambitious, and that being married to him will not gain her the prestige that she thinks she deserves, but that seems like a flimsy excuse to me. Maybe it’s because I see her as such a dynamic character, and having her leave her husband for such a trivial reason weakens her in my eyes. Either way, I’m excited to see what happens now that it looks like she’ll be forced to stay with Glaber, and it looks like my Buffy/Spike theory’s out the window since he blamed Spartacus for her father’s death.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Gannicus! Gannicus! Gannicus!
• I’m already digging Lucius. Let’s just hope he doesn’t turn out to be a bad guy.
• I know that they’ve been hinting at a Agron/Nasir pairing, but I was a little surprised that they went through with it. They do make a cute couple though, and that kiss was sweet (that’s why I thought Agron was going die).
• OK, even I have to admit that the green screen work wasn’t all that great during this episode, and that fire was laughably bad, especially when people would fall into it like in Titanic.

Spartacus, Mira, Naevia, Nasir and some nameless gladiators were able to make it out of the mines, but Glaber’s men were still hot on their heels. The bulk of their plot revolved around them running through the forest while fighting off the Roman soldiers led by Marcus and Ashur. Every time Spartacus and his men were able to get away, they would be slowed down by Naevia, and it became clear that she would cost everyone their lives. It was suggested that they leave her behind, but Spartacus refused since Crixus sacrificed himself to ensure her survival. As the rebels trudged on, their numbers were lighted after several skirmishes, and they feared that they were about to meet their end with Mt. Vesuvius in sight, but they were saved at the very end by Agron and those who followed him.

By far the most important developments that occurred in the woods had to do with character. We got a better understanding of Spartacus as a leader, and we got to see Mira prove her worth to the cause amongst all of the action. While this story was chock-full of fight scenes, it somehow also dragged the narrative momentum down for a bit because it didn’t feel like there was any risk involved. What made the sequences in the mines so strong was the fact that people you cared about had something to lose, and we didn’t get that same sense of urgency in the forest. Yes, Nasir was wounded, but I’m sure no one really thought that any of the main characters would end up dead or captured, and we knew that Agron was going to show up as soon as Vesuvius appeared on our screens. So, while there was plenty of danger, the stakes were still relatively low, and I couldn’t help but ask what was the point when it was all said and done.

In Capua, Glaber and Ilithyia were not fighting off gladiators, but they were caught up in their own battles over power and position. After Varinius was humiliated at the arena, Ilithyia suggested that they make it up to him by throwing a lavish celebration in his honor. Since it’s Spartacus, this was all an excuse to see a lot of flesh parade around, but there were more sinister plots going on beneath the surface. Glaber continued his feud with Varinius as they constantly tried to one-up each other in front of the people while Ilithyia tried to convince her father to dissolve her marriage so she could wed her husband’s rival. Things got even more scandalous when Lucretia was added to the mix. Her role as messenger to the gods was being questioned by Ilithyia, but she was able to show what she was capable of by bedding Ilithyia’s father as a way to guarantee the end of her marriage and to stay in her good graces.

For the first time ever, I think I enjoyed the melodramatic political and social maneuvering that was taking place over the action scenes because I seriously did not know what to expect. It’s been clear from the beginning that Ilithyia was up to something, and her obvious flirtations with Varinius should have been a clue, but I was still surprised by her plan to leave Glaber so she could continue to improve her status within the Roman hierarchy. When you add those venomous scenes between Ilithyia and Lucretia, and it was clear that Vivia Bianca was the standout during this episode, and her character may end up being the villain of the entire piece.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Crixus was not killed. He and some other captured slaves were brought back to Capua. Varinius decided that they, along with Oenomaus, would fight in the arena as a punishment. Since Glaber could not be out done, he suggested that one of the unknown rebels be sacrificed at the party which led to a particularly brutal scene where the nobles tortured and killed him for fun.
• Speaking of sadistic nobility, I’m starting to question the worth of Seppius and Seppia. Up until now they’ve only been gnats buzzing around Glaber and Ilithyia, and they contributed even less during this episode aside from their forbidden kiss.
• I kinda feel bad for Glaber.
• When is Gannicus going to show up?
• We need more Ashur.

“The Greater Good” picked up where “A Place in This World” left off. Spartacus and his men ambushed a slaver’s wagon, and it was revealed to Nasir and Agron that Naevia was dead. The rebels made camp so Spartacus could figure out their next move, and Nasir admitted to Crixus that they had lied about Naevia. She was still alive and working in the mines. After a brawl between Crixus and Agron, it was decided that they would continue their quest to find Naevia, but Agron and others decided to move on and make camp at Mt. Vesuvius because they felt that it was unwise for everyone to endanger their lives for one person. Once at the mines, they found Naevia, but they were being pursued by Ashur and Glaber’s men. It looked like there was no escaping them, so Crixus decided to sacrifice himself and fought off the guards long enough for Spartacus to take Naevia to safety.

For such manly men, Spartacus and Crixus are motivated by their love for their respective women, and it’s this love that drives the story. If they were just animalistic heathens out for blood and sex, it would be hard for the viewers to care about them, but they’re not. They’re strong men with softer sides, and that’s why we root for them. Motivations aside, the main plot was amazing because it not only had emotion and action, but it posed questions about morality and whether the group is more important than the individuals that comprise it, and the confrontation between Crixus, Spartacus and Agron was captivating to watch. I’m excited to see if this group of misfits will be able to function from this point forward.

Spartacus and Crixus are not the only ones who are compelled by their hearts because Oenomaus has also loved and lost. Back in Capua, Ashur had to prove to Glaber that he’s no longer tied to the brotherhood of the House of Batiatus, and he even volunteered to torture his former doctore for information. After he passed Glaber’s test (he had to cut off the house’s brand from his forearm), Ashur whipped and taunted Oenomaus to no avail. He was running out of options when Lucretia informed him that there are secrets hidden within the walls of the ludus that would break their prisoner once and for all. This was Ashur’s cue to tell Oennmaus about how his wife, Melitta, had an affair with his best friend Gannicus, and how their indiscretions led to her untimely death. Apparently, the tactic worked because he let it slip that Spartacus’ rebels were searching for Naevia, which was how Ashur found them at the mines.

At the end of Blood and Sand, I was worried about how the series would progress without Batiatus because he was the perfect villain, but it looks like Ashur could easily fill the void because he was fantastic in “The Greater Good”. During Season 1, he was slimy and underhanded, but Nick Tarabay dialed up the evil to eleven during this episode, and it will be extremely satisfying to see him get his comeuppance once and for all. Although, seeing him somehow escape punishment would also be entertaining because he’s that good of a baddie, and I’d like to see what other mischief he can stir up.

In a somewhat minor C-plot, Glaber and Ilithyia continued to navigate Roman politics, and things were further complicated when her father and another senator by the name of Varinius showed up to upstage Glaber in front of the people of Capua. Gaius was ultimately able to turn the tables on his adversaries, but his need to out piss Varinius led to him neglecting his wife which could end up making things interesting.

Other Odds and Ends:

• Here we go again with the slow-motion
• What is Ilithyia up to? She might be the most intriguing character of the bunch.
• The combination of Lucretia and Ashur is crazy scary.
• How badass was Mira?
• The Walking Dead should watch Spartacus to learn how to have conversations about morality and hope while allowing the narrative momentum to progress within a reasonable time frame.