Great and Unfortunate Things 

Spartacus is forced to play a roman fighter in the games against a group of thracians, as he recalls his wife and how he met her. Meanwhile, there are some mysteries surrounding Barca's freedom as Pietros tries to deal with it.

Director:

Jesse Warn

Writers:

Steven S. DeKnight, Brent Fletcher

Stars:

Andy Whitfield, John Hannah, Peter Mensah

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Andy Whitfield	...	Spartacus
John Hannah	...	Batiatus
Peter Mensah	...	Doctore
Manu Bennett	...	Crixus
Erin Cummings	...	Sura
Nick E. Tarabay	...	Ashur
Viva Bianca	...	Ilithyia
Lucy Lawless	...	Lucretia
Jai Courtney	...	Varro
Lesley-Ann Brandt	...	Naevia
Eka Darville	...	Pietros
Mark Mitchinson	...	Aulus (as Mark Mitchison)
Brooke Williams	...	Aurelia
Greg Ward	...	Mercato
Raicho Vasilev	...	Gnaeus (as Raycho Vasilev)

Storyline

Still suffering from the grief of his wife's death, Spartacus is forced to reenact a historic battle where Roman troops killed his people. Meanwhile in the Ludus, Pietros faces a new problem with Barca gone and suspicion about his departure begins to rise. Varro makes a saddening discovery about his family.

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Plot Keywords:

flashing breasts | episode starts with sex | swordplay | swordsmanship | swordsman | 

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Biography | Drama | History | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Did You Know?

Trivia

When Batiatus tells Spartacus of the games that Mercato is planning, he mentions the name Marcus Minucius Rufus; and tells Spartacus that 4 of their Gladiators will be dressed as Roman Legionnaire. Spartacus quickly responds "Our Enemy?" Batiatus continues the conversation explaining that 6 prisoners would be dressed as Thracians. This exchange was most likely a Lexical Ambiguity. Spartacus was speaking from a shocked point of view because he was from the very same tribe that Rufus defeated and still thought him as "His enemy." (So when he said "Our Enemy?" It wasn't a question to Batiatus as to whom he would be facing in the arena; it was a statement of disbelief that he would be put into such a position.)

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Quotes

Doctore: [Interrogating Ashur] Stories in conflict, give me concern. If I find there is more to the matter of Barca's departure... we shall have words.

User Reviews

John Hannah almost does a one-man show

This is a strange series even by the standards of modern TV.

The actions, the dress code, the values, all speak of a different age. As well they should, given that the intent is to recapture the age of Rome, an age which, it has been argued, has recently re-emerged in American culture.

And of course the series becomes that much more pointed by the tragedy which overcame its star shortly after filming stopped.

But even against this backdrop of astonishing things, I have been fascinated by the performance of John Hannah.

He usually plays weak and insignificant men. Look at the Mummy series, among other roles.

When he first appears in this series, we expect more of the same. But Hannah fools us. He shows us that weak bodies do not necessarily go hand in hand with weak men.

His scenes with Andy Whitfield have always been strong but here they reach a new level. I actually hit the rewind button more than once to note the ferocity on his face as he drops all pretence of equality, and man to man stuff, and finally tells Whitfield what he thinks of him.

Think about it -- this is an amazing character (he just killed Whitfield's wife in such a way that it would seem an accident, as well as butchered an entire Roman family, as well dispatched a gladiator whom the others think was released.) Yet with all that blood on his hands, he still manages an air of righteous indignation when Spartacus or anyone else dares get between him and his next profitable enterprise.

Amazing.

Details

Country:

USA Australia New Zealand

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 March 2010 (USA)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Tapert / Donen / Raimi, Starz Originals

Technical Specs

Runtime:

51 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1