I concede that I've never watched a second of Starz' Spartacus series. Every one I know that watches it has said to me that it's gloriously fun, super campy, and there's lot of sex and spectacular violence in the show, but hearing that never really sold me on it. Even the fact that Spartacus is rated TV-MA for "graphic violence, strong sexual content, and coarse language" wasn't a strong enough pull. I needed to see it in action, and after stumbling upon GIFs from the first two series of Spartacus, I think I'm in love. They are JAW-DROPPING. It's like a whole show of Michonne kills, PLUS strong sexual content, PLUS I understand Lucy Lawless spends a lot of time her clothes on. SOLD.
The third series, War of the Damned, debuts on Starz in January. There are 29 episodes I apparently need to catch up on between now and then. I think I know what I'm doing over Christmas re-run break. And if you like beautifully filmed bloodshed and poetic violence (with over-the-top writing, I understand), check out this quick GIF gallery after the jump. If you haven't seen the show yet, maybe you'll be persuaded. If you have, here's me appreciating what you already know.
Also, since there are deaths, I suppose I should add a SPOILER warning.















Can’t wait for the new season of this.
Still miss Andy Whitfield though, he was just perfect as Spartacus.
I watched most of the first two seasons and I don’t know if I can get back into it without him in the lead. What a spectacularly sad story – if you’re a fan then check out the documentary they’re making about his battle with lymphoma. The story of his last day with his kids reduced me to a blubbering fool.
[www.beherenowfilmcomingsoon.com]
Same here. I knew that the 2nd season production had already begun when Whitfield had to undergo cancer treatment. Because he wasn’t available they cobbled together a shortened season without him – and it was pretty good. When I found out that he had passed.. I just couldn’t get back into it and didn’t get past the first episode of season 3.
It’s easily my favorite show to binge on. “Good” TV shows tend to have their dull periods; this one starts at 110 mph and doesn’t slow down. Entertaining as hell.
The really weird thing is that I mostly watch Spartacus for the unbelievable amounts of violence and nudity, but I then noticed that it’s actually well-researched, well-plotted, and utterly beautiful to look at. I mean, the full version of #4 up there is astonishing to see.
Also, Lucy Lawless has a threesome with Jaime Murray.
“Also”?? If that’s not the thesis of the show, then I dunno what is.
But there really isn’t a part I don’t like.
That threesome was astounding, if only they’d edited John Hannah out of it altogether.
My complaint with every TV show I see is that there isn’t enough nudity. With this show I’d have to say for the first time in my life that there’s too much nudity. That’s mostly because you’ll see the occasionally dong flying around on screen.
I think the principal actress who prance around nude regularly are enough to make up for this.
I really liked the first season as a self-contained miniseries. I felt it was just about perfect, to the point that I was reluctant to see the second season.
Then I watched the second season, and I felt it was just about perfect, too. And now I’m still reluctant to watch more.
I couldn’t get through the first episode with all the slow-mo shots. Does that taper off or does it stay prevalent throughout the show? I’ve heard a lot of good things about the show, but hate slow-mo
If you cannot get past your hatred of slo-mo, you will hate Spartacus.
I’ll take slo-mo over shaky cam anyday.
The first season might have the steepest rise in quality of any TV show season I’ve seen. It starts off cheesy and mediocre (but with plenty of nudity and violence) and ends up excellent (and still with plenty of nudity and violence).
Really should have saved #2 for last. When I watched that episode and saw a guy get his face cut off (on an uppercut, no less) and then fall over as his brain slid out, I thought “Wow, that may be over the top, even for ‘Spartacus’.”
Of course, I loved it and kept right on watching.
I agree. I thought I had gotten used to the violence on this show, but immediately chocked on my drink when that brain slid out, hardly believing they’d go that far.
Then I swallowed my drink and kept on watching grinning from ear-to-ear.
I tried watching it when it first started and decided it was 300 but without the polish or quality and dropped it.
I’ll be sad to see it end. It was terrible that Whitfield died but they had a good idea with the prequel season. It saved the show. I don’t know what I’ll watch for gratuitous nudity, sex, and violence after the last season.
This show is disgusting. So, so disgusting. But somehow so, so fantastic with great story lines. I’ve watched this show from the beginning with my bf, my sister and her bf every Sunday night. Definitely awkward most of the time. This show makes HBO and Showtime look like the Disney Channel.
Lucy Lawless is shady in this show. I hated her the first two seasons cause of her scummy husband but this past season she was amazing.