Quick Take: Spartacus: Blood and Sand, "Great and Unfortunate Things"
"I am Spartacus!" - Spartacus
Review: Spartacu: Blood and Sand, "Great and Unfortunate Things"
(S0107) We open with a flashback of a still longhaired Spartacus (Andy Whitfield), back in his Thracian days, making love to his future wife Sura (Erin Cummings) for the first time. She tells him that he shall never love another. Then we flash forward to the present, Sura's funeral, and seemingly the reason that Spartacus has been fighting on has died. And scheming Batiatus (John Hannah, who seems to get better in this role each week) plays the role of, "Oh well, now you can be an even better and more effective gladiator to make me rich, so chin up, m'lad!"
Crixus (Manu Bennett) is awake, and alive! Hilarious that his first words after getting his ass beat in the epic battle with Theokoles are "when do I fight again?" Pretty funny too that Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) tells him to want for nothing, but Crixus can barely tolerate her desire (though he must play along of course as he's her slave essentially). And Doctore (Peter Mensah) is back where we expect him to be, hating on Spartacus hardcore. It's to be expected, of course, as the former knows that the latter tried to drug him up with doctored wine (doctored, Doctore, get it?) during his planned escape.
I thought at first that the subplot with Barca (now dead, though the gladiators believe that he purchased his freedom), Pietros (Eka Darville), and Ashur (Nick Tarabay) was something of a distraction, but it seems to be taking on larger life. Pietros seemed to be in position to take on a larger role with Barca's leaving/death, only to be cut short in a most cruel way indeed. To be a slave in Ancient Rome… not good times.
This was the most serious episode of the series yet, and perhaps the most satisfying dramatically for it. I asked last week for less blood splashiness and gratuitous "they did that back in the day?" scenes, and this episode delivered (the final arena scene was well done: this is a gladiator show, you know?). Seeing Spartacus walking out into the arena, ready to put his Thracian past behind him, makes me think that there could be great things yet for this oddly captivating little sword and sandals show.
Other thoughts on "Great and Unfortunate Things":
Video: Spartacus: Blood and Sand, "Great and Unfortunate Things"
If you're not familiar with Spartacus: Blood and Sand, check out this clip called "Doctore's Warning":
Recap: Spartacus: Blood and Sand, "Great and Unfortunate Things"
Overcome by the pressure of Batiatus's control, Spartacus must make a choice: leave his past behind and assume the mantle of a champion gladiator, or die.
From Around the Web: Spartacus: Blood and Sand, "Great and Unfortunate Things"
