Quick Take: Spartacus: Blood and Sand, "Revelations" "Everything I am, everything I now possess, I owe to you." – Ashur to Crixus
Review: Spartacus: Blood and Sand, "Revelations" (S0112) Welcome to a live blogging review edition as we gear up for the conclusion to a power-packed first season!
Batiatus' victory and road to real power in Capua would seem to be complete: Crixus is back to fighting strength, and Magistrate Calavius (John Bach) was not only disposed of, but the devilish act was pinned on arch rival Solonius (Craig Walsh Wrightson). And to put a final Roman stamp on it, Solonius has fallen to the rank of lowly slave! "I underestimated you, Batiatus," Solonius says, sweet music to Batiatus' (John Hannah, really putting in a masterful performance here) ears.
Solonius is made to fight Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) in the arena, and true to form the current Champion of Capua releases Solonius' head from his body (in a truly over-the-top blood-squirting sequence). However, before he dies before the roar of the crowd (a blood thirsty and lusty lot, ain't they?), Solonius tells Spartacus that Batiatus is the true villain. "He shall join you soon," Spartacus assures him.
Ashur (Nick Tarabay), essential in the plot to frame Solonius for murdering Calavius, is moving up in the world as well, both figuratively and literally. He's to be moved out of the ludus and has the pick of Batiatus' slaves. He chooses Naevia (Lesley-Ann Brandt), likely to do with the fact that this will infuriate Crixus (Manu Bennett). It's ironic too that Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) is deeply upset that her slave has been ordered to give up her chastity in such a matter (i.e. to an unworthy recipient of such a gift), since Naevia of course has been carrying on an affair with Crixus, Lucretia's beloved gladiator/boy toy, for quite some time.
But all is not well in the House of Batiatus. Spartacus now knows that it was Batiatus himself who plotted to murder his wife Sura (Erin Cummings), in an effort to bind the slave closer to the gladiator cause. Spartacus reveals his desire to enact revenge to slave Mira (Katrina Law), who pleads with Spartacus to reconsider, explaining to him that if one slave spills the blood of his master, then all slaves are put to death.
The thought of Spartacus having a final confrontation with Batiatus and moving on from the ludus and gladiator life is exciting in that a highly entertaining first season has the potential to be a jumping off point for many new Roman adventures.
Spartacus almost pulls the trigger on a short-sighted plan to grab the nearest dagger and have at Batiatus, when he sees Aurelia (Brooke Williams), the widow of his best friend Varro (Jai Courtney), working as a slave. Her well being stays his hand, something not lost on a confused Mira.
"Everything I am, everything I now possess, I owe to you." – Ashur to Crixus. Ouch.
"Batiatus is little better than the beasts who bare his mark." – Claudius Glaber (Craig Parker)
Spartacus has been continually looking for a cause, a meaning to live. After Sura was taken away from him, he found brief comfort in being the Champion of Capua and taking in the roar of the crowds. With Aurelia now a slave in the house of Batiatus, Spartacus wants to do everything he can to help her.
If nothing else, Spartacus is set up as a virtuous man in an amoral world. While he has attained the rank of essentially a high-ranking slave, he is literally forced to kill for money. While he did take a bit of an ego trip with the arrogant Crixus after the defeat of Theokoles, for the most part he has shunned what pleasures there are for someone of his station.
"We have lived in a dream, and now we must awaken." – Naevia to Crixus
After kissing Ilithyia (Viva Blanca) and making the moves on Crixus, Lucretia falls ill and suddenly, after years of trying, is "with child." Who's the father, though?
While Spartacus seeks some form of redemption in caring for Aurelia and Varro's children, she is not having it. Her faith died with Varro, she explains, and would not receive aid from the one she perceives (rightfully, if you want to get technical about it) murdered her husband.
The pace really picks up during the final half of the episode, where a lot of building storylines begin to clash and spark and broil. Now that Magistrate Calavius is safely (for Batiatus) dead, he uses the power vacuum to work on the haughty but typically corrupt Glaber for political favor. Glaber, it seems, is there mostly to taunt his old soldier/enemy Spartacus, however, and orders a "demonstration" for Spartacus to show why he is the Champion of Capua. Spartacus complies and in one of the best action sequences of the series dispatches Glaber's men handily and bloodily.
Batiatus is on the verge of all he has dreamed of, and all it requires is that Spartacus bow down to Glaber, to show that the "Thracian animal" has finally been tamed. Spartacus reluctantly complies (no foubt plotting everyone's death in the room all the while), but just as he does, Crixus (Manu Bennett) goes absolutely ballistic. This has nothing to do with Spartacus, but with Ashur, feeling confident in his new position, brazenly showing off his ability to have his way with his "gift." So if nothing else, Lucretia now knows that Naevia and her beloved Crixus have had a relationship, while Batiatus' future is up in the air because his slaves "act out of turn."
"We are long past civilized recourse," Glaber announces, ready to once again foil Batiatus' ambitions. A newly steely Lucretia when it comes to Crixus helps to stiffen Batiatus' spine, with assurances that Crixus will be fully punished.
Then in a season full of them, a huge power move is wielded. A box is brought out, containing a the hand of a corpse. It is from the body of Licinia (Brooke Harmon), cousin of the rich and powerful Croesus, and the story of Ilithyia's murder of Licinia is revealed. It may say something of the culture of the era, or simply Glaber's trust of his wife, but he easily buys the story and leaves, condemning his wife to stay at the ludus while he returns to Rome. However, Batiatus has seemed to have succeeded in securing patronage.
Crixus gets whipped by Doctore (Peter Mensah), during which Batiatus reveals to Lucretia that he knew of her affair, and that it is to end immediately. Navevia is allowed a brief goodbye, and it's striking to see the mighty and stoic Crixus brought to such tears. Naevia then reveals to Doctore that Barca (Antonio Te Maioho) was not freed but killed by Batiatus. Batiatus' murders and scheming may yet catch up to him, it seems.
"There is but one path: kill them all." – Spartacus, back in his holding cell with the other gladiator/prisoners. This show is ready for a killer end to its freshman season.
Video: Spartacus: Blood and Sand, "Revelations" Here's a fun behind the scenes clip called Gladiator School:
Recap: Spartacus: Blood and Sand, "Revelations" Lucretia and Batiatus await the arrival of Glaber with the intentions to receive his patronage, while Spartacus focuses his attention on his plan for revenge.
From Around the Web: Spartacus: Blood and Sand, "Revelations"
Insights of a Television Addict: The only concern was whether or not Glaber would believe his wife capable of the act. Perhaps he thought no one would reveal such information without it being true, or perhaps her earlier comments about the lewd behaviours that likely got Licinia killed, forced him to believe the horror. And poor Ilithyia was left behind.
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