Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (TV Mini Series) Beneath the Mask (2011) User Reviews

The stage is set... !!

[rufusj89 · 7/10 · 12 February 2011]

With the fourth episode coming to a bloody conclusion,the stage is all set for the penultimate episode and this season's finale ! 'Beneath the mask' was one of those episodes,where the viewer can relatively guess about the subsequent events of that episode,and yet,still be surprised when the event actually takes place.

The house of Batiatus and its promise of exotic pleasures lures suitors from far and wide to partake of the various offerings and lest Titus be offended,his son whisks him away to farther shores.This proves to be a costly error in judgment as certain events take place which will change forever the manner of the dealings taking place between the higher echelons of the power struggle which Batiatus is faced with.The rage of emotions during the episode also involves the delicate appearing Mellita and Gannicus,the result of which is sure to ignite a few flammable minds in the coming episodes.

Ashur and his friend have proved to be the comic elements this season and we get to see more of this during 'Beneath the Mask'.Special mention to the orgiastic,bacchanalian scene.The sex and debauchery is proving to be the highlight this season rather than the blood and sands of the arena & I for one hope that the final two episodes will do justice to the expectation for some good gladiatorial action in the sands !

My score: 7/10

Just wow

[fuad_tarin_58 · 9/10 · 29 May 2022]

This has to be one of the best seasons of any show ever made. Episode after episode is better then the other... Greats cast every single of the character. 9/10 for this episode.

Absolutely thrilling, but stupid and poorly-researched

[yavermbizi · 1/10 · 17 August 2020]

So I can't deny that from the moment Lucretia spoke of being afraid as a group of unruly men might not listen to her, a woman, in the heat of the orgy, my heart was positively pumping, especially after that conversation between Lucretia and Gaia about the night being one to remember (at this point the viewer can be certain that indeed it will be one to remember, and in a bad way); the appearance of Tullius and his disruption further raised the stakes. However, as much as it was edge-of-the-seat viewing for me as I was concerned for Lucretia's safety, this episode really falls apart in other ways.

The special effects seem cheaper (the slaver's blackened tooth is just awful) and worse than usual (Gaia's fall seemed especially funny, as I was sure her corpse would just drop on the cliff just below the balcony, prompting the guards to go: "Oh, _come on_!" as they'd now have to re-throw her from the actual cliff instead of being lazy bums). The conversation between Crixus and Barca is cringy as all hell. The authenticity goes out of the window entirely, as no Roman attitude is upheld: people sit, rather than recline; seem to have a modern attitude of homo- and heterosexuality being two different and opposing things; engage in cunilingus (!) with slave women (!!!). The story makes no sense: where did Lucretia get all these slaves? why does Tullius feel killing Gaia advances his plans?

All and all, dreadful stuff, even if it makes for exciting viewing.