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Storyline
The inspiration behind this series is the Thracian Gladiator Spartacus, who led a slave uprising against the Roman Republic. The Thracians had been persuaded by Claudius Glaber to serve as auxiliaries in the Roman legions in a campaign against the Getae, who had often plundered Thracian lands. However after Glaber reneges on the deal and switches his attentions from the Getae to attack Mithridates in Asia Minor, the Thracians feel betrayed and mutiny. Captured by Glaber, Spartacus is condemned to death as a Gladiator, whilst his wife Sura is condemned to slavery. Spartacus, however, proves to be a formidable gladiator, and defeats the four gladiators tasked with executing him. He becomes a favorite of the crowd, leading Senator Albinius to commute his death sentence to a life of slavery. Spartacus is purchased by Batiatus for gladiator training, who promises to help him find Sura if he proves himself in training. As the series develops, the story follows the betrayals and machinations...
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WellardRockard
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Taglines:
Some legends are written in blood.
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Did You Know?
Trivia
Nearly every actor/actress in the series has made an appearance in either the Hercules or Xena TV series (in some cases both). In addition, Michael Hurst who played Hercules best friend Iolaus has directed a good number of the episodes in Spartacus, particularly the later seasons. Notable characters include Manu Bennett (Crixus) who played Marc Antoni in Xena, Jeffrey Thomas (Titus Lentulus Batiatus) who played Jason in Hercules, and of course Lucy Lawless who played the title character in
Xena: Warrior Princess (1995).
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Goofs
In several episodes the use of the letter U, for example under the bust that Batiatus made for Spartacus, was seen. The letter U in Latin wasn't used in place of V as consonant until the Middle ages.
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Quotes
Crixus:
[
to the gladiators]
Kill them! Kill them all!
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Crazy Credits
During the series run, each episode has shots from the season as the background while the credits roll. The pictures in the background vary depending on the season. The exception to this being the series finale where a montage of the characters are displayed.
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Connections
Version of
Spartacus (1960)
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I can't stand much of whats on TV. What I love about this show is the amount of sensuality and poetry it brings to the table, while not being sensory with respect to sexuality, violence, and ethics. I usually hate romance, but the romance in this movie is genuine, there are several forms of love and lust that are identified in the episodes. The fact that they have homosexuality in it despite possible conflicting interest--what would seem to attract small target audience--does suggest a good portrayal of sexuality at that time (Although i doubt that only a couple of them would be subject to homosexual lust because many of the mentors and mentees mated at that time).
As a previous rater stated, the characters have shades of evil and good. Their ethics seems to match what values were imbedded in the roman civilization. The reason there is so much blood and it over indulges is because the show not only explicitly includes sensual dialogue, but the way it is directed and the tactics of capturing violence and glory are not 2D and speak to its sensuality. Bottom line: if you are a passionate person, you will enjoy the dramatic dialogue and poetry, the sexuality, and the brutality.