Quick take: Spartacus, "Shadow Games"
When the drought denies the ground moisture, the Roman people demand blood to quench its thirst.
Review: Spartacus: "Shadow Games"
(S0105) The lingering drought forces the moneyed classes of ancient Rome to hold gladiator games to appease the peoples' restlessness and thirst.
Crixus (Manu Bennett) and Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) are paired up to fight the legendary, infamous Theokoles, the so called "shadow of death." It's fun to see the now longstanding conflict between Crixus and Spartacus brought into such sharp focus, and the buildup to Fight Day and the training involved (led by Peter Mensah as Doctore, who always delivers) is a lot of fun. And the fight itself is worthy enough to go up against recent sword and sand spectacles of the likes of 300 and Gladiator and Rome, though the latter still gets my vote as top dog in this category of sorts.
It must be noted how marvelous Lucy Lawless is as the charming, independent (for the times), and world weary Lucretia. She has a commanding presence and makes a great match for the equally engaging John Hannah as Batiatus. It would almost be tempting to look for a spin off show called Gladiator School that focused mostly on the doings and machinations of these two.
Other thoughts about "Shadow Games":
Recap: Spartacus: "Shadow Games"
From the godz, I mean Starz:
With renewed hope towards finding his wife, Spartacus dedicates himself anew to training. He’ll need it, since Batiatus, desperate for patronage from Magistrate Calavius, has reluctantly agreed to pair Spartacus and his bitter enemy Crixus in a gladiatorial fight to the death with the legendary gladiator Theokoles, “The Shadow of Death.” against whom only one fighter has survived. Doctore is that man, and he tells the two fighters they must put their differences aside and fight together if they have any hope of prevailing. Crixus and Spartacus somehow have to learn to work together.
As if the prospect of losing his two best fighters isn’t enough for Batiatus to worry about, he also learns his great rival was behind the assassination attempt on his life – and so he takes steps to avenge himself. And his wife, Lucretia, is fretful that her illicit lover, Crixus, might perish in the arena, a fear shared by slave girl Naevia, who shares her own secret passion for Crixus. For her part, Lucretia must continue to face the humiliation of being childless.
The games have commenced and as the Magistrate tells the crowd about this attempt to appease the gods, to bring rain to their parched lands, underneath the spectator stands, Doctore wishes Spartacus and Crixus luck. The two fighters step out onto the sands of the arena as they are introduced, Crixus shouting out his trademark call to the crowd: “Capua, shall I begin?” The Magistrate introduces the undefeated Theokoles just as the sky darkens with clouds and the seven foot tall fighter emerges, covered in the scars of a thousand battles, holding two swords and no shield, no armor.
The fight is brutal, intense and unpredictable and by the end, only one gladiator stands.
From Around the Web: Spartacus: "Shadow Games"
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