SPARTACUS: Gods of the Arena

[BRRogers]

I just watched the 6 episode Finale...
WOW, what a way to prequel season one!

This show has come such a long way since the first two episodes... If you guys haven't watched Spartacus, Remove **** from ***... and find yourself steeped in an incredible show.

Any fellow RPFers been keeping up?
Thoughts?
Inspired to work out? Hah

 

[El Duderino]

Loved blood and sand and thought Gods of the arena was great!

 

[streetjudge79]

Yes, incredible show. I'm sad I have to wait a year for any new ones. One of the few shows that is able to surprise me every episode. Love the writing!

 

[the_batdemon]

I just started watching it. Loved Blood and Sand. I hope this keeps me glued to it as that did.

 

[Jawafive]

Finished Gods of the Arena tonight on Netflix. I liked season 2 better than the first I think. Definitely look forward to the next season.

 

[El Duderino]

The guy they got to replace Spartacus is spot on. I hope he can live up, acting wise.

I hope Andy Whitfield can overcome his cancer for good.

 

[epilepticsquirl]

Such an awesome show. The first two episodes had me worried that I was watching a drawn out televised version of Gladiator. Sooo glad I stuck with it. Is the last episode up on netflix? I haven't bothered to check it since I did my Spartacus marathon last week.

The new actor looks like he could be his twin! I dunno though, whitfield's acting is surperb, I really felt his pain during that one exhibition match. You all know the one.

I also like the "appreciation" of the human body that is present in the series, a little (or big) something for everybody. Got to be real secure with your manhood at some points though, lol.

 

[rollerboi]

What, really? STARZ has been pushing it so hard I thought it was just late-night shchlock.

 

[El Duderino]

Such an awesome show. The first two episodes had me worried that I was watching a drawn out televised version of Gladiator. Sooo glad I stuck with it. Is the last episode up on netflix? I haven't bothered to check it since I did my Spartacus marathon last week.

The new actor looks like he could be his twin! I dunno though, whitfield's acting is surperb, I really felt his pain during that one exhibition match. You all know the one.

I also like the "appreciation" of the human body that is present in the series, a little (or big) something for everybody. Got to be real secure with your manhood at some points though, lol.

They put the final episode up on Sunday on Netflix. I wish they included the preview of Camelot but I'm just happy they put season 2 up when they did.

 

[BRRogers]

What, really? STARZ has been pushing it so hard I thought it was just late-night shchlock.

Ever wondered what Xena without the armor looks like?

....
I'm just saying...

On another note... I got completely distracted when Jaime Murray came on-screen. Watching Dexter, I couldn't help but get the feeling of "oh no, she's back".
However, her acting style seemed much more suited for Roman upper-class snobbery and the-like. I actually didn't despise her as much as I had been trained to :lol

 

[El Duderino]

I thought the same thing BR, about Xena and Jamie Murray, LOL. Lucy Lawless got hotter with age, without a doubt, and under that armor, well, let's not go there, but it is good, real good.

To quote Butthead; "I have seen the top of the mountain, and it is good."

 

[Wakeem]

I really like the first series. The prequel is good but I don't know if I'll buy it to watch again. Whitfield is the life of this show. Watching him become this amazing leader was pretty awesome. I have doubts about the next part. Although, the writers did really well telling the origins of all the other characters in the prequel, I wish Star Wars was handled as well...

I hope in the next part the grinning Roman guy who messed up Diona gets a really rough death.

 

[Clutch]

This series alone is worth the price of a Netflix subscription.

 

[KaanE]

I liked the prequel better, but I love them both! Hahaha.

 

[Solo4114]

I watched the first one or two episodes of Spartacus Blood and Sand and....eh. It didn't do a ton for me. It struck me that they decided to see the blood and sex from Rome and raise it by a factor of 10 without the deeper characters.

The acting is so-so. Some of the actors are good, but his wife is fairly weak. Lovely to look at, but that's about it.


And I really could NOT stand the CGI blood. For chrissakes use a damn bloodpack or something! I've seen video games that looked more realistic. Sheesh. Also NOT a fan of "THIS IS SPARTA!" camera work with the fast-slow-pose-fast-motion shots ALL THE FRIGGIN' TIME. It just got tiresome. I mean, yeah, it's entertaining in a "Turn your brain off and watch people bash each other," but other stuff just keeps bumping it because I'd rather watch the other stuff first. I really have to be in the right mood to get into the show. Does it actually get better -- as in a more compelling story, better acting, better writing, and less reliance on cheesy visual f/x?

 

[rollerboi]

On another note... I got completely distracted when Jaime Murray came on-screen. Watching Dexter, I couldn't help but get the feeling of "oh no, she's back".
However, her acting style seemed much more suited for Roman upper-class snobbery and the-like. I actually didn't despise her as much as I had been trained to :lol

Oh, she keeps popping up on all my favorite shows.. don't forget Warehouse 13, too. I'll have to set a timer.
She actually looks like an ex-girlfriend of mine. :lol

 

[BRRogers]

I watched the first one or two episodes of Spartacus Blood and Sand and....eh. It didn't do a ton for me. It struck me that they decided to see the blood and sex from Rome and raise it by a factor of 10 without the deeper characters.

The acting is so-so. Some of the actors are good, but his wife is fairly weak. Lovely to look at, but that's about it.


And I really could NOT stand the CGI blood. For chrissakes use a damn bloodpack or something! I've seen video games that looked more realistic. Sheesh. Also NOT a fan of "THIS IS SPARTA!" camera work with the fast-slow-pose-fast-motion shots ALL THE FRIGGIN' TIME. It just got tiresome. I mean, yeah, it's entertaining in a "Turn your brain off and watch people bash each other," but other stuff just keeps bumping it because I'd rather watch the other stuff first. I really have to be in the right mood to get into the show. Does it actually get better -- as in a more compelling story, better acting, better writing, and less reliance on cheesy visual f/x?

I think every person who has watched and enjoyed the show would encourage you to PUSH PAST the first few episodes. Spartacus REALLY comes into its own by episode 5. It would be a shame if you only judged it based on the first 2 offerings... For the record, I felt the same way (I almost stopped watching the show... but for some reason the next week I watched it again, and it got WAY better)

 

[Solo4114]

Hmm. Well, maybe I'll give it a chance. I can see the potential for a good show if they can get past the initial "shock" factor (which doesn't shock me, it merely makes me roll my eyes).

 

[fuzzylover]

I was in the boat of actually HATING this show for the first several episodes (yes, I punished myself by returning to it after the premiere). I really, reeeeeallly wanted to like it because it seemed like a no brainer 'formula' for success (at least in my eyes....love Gladiator, 300, Rome and any 'epic' movie in general...I also LOVE Lucy Lawless/Xena and welcomed her return to a regular role).

No amount of ancient costume/scenery/decadence, fancy camera work, CGI blood, fluid '300' style fight sequences, and eye candy could make up for what I thought was LOUSY acting and LOUSY writing. Just plain awful.

It took me well into 7 or 8 episodes before they showed signs of improvement, a bit of character development and gave me a few moments where I said to myself 'well, I didn't see THAT comin'!'. By the end of Season One I was looking forward to Gods of the Arena, even knowing that, being a prequel, Spartacus would be absent from plot.

I think they've stepped up their game even more now with Gods of the Arena and I've enjoyed it quite a bit.

To make a long story long, give it a chance.

 

[0neiros]

Yes, there is Intrigue equal to that of Rome in there. Fantastic series. Solo 4114, I too encourage you to go back and watch it. Heck, since it's a Prequel watch Gods of the Arena First, then jump into Blood and Sand, I think you'll handle it better that way.

Spoiler

God the way that Gannicus ripped that guys jaw off...BRUTAL. And I'm so glad He got to escape from Batiatus" clutches, I'm hoping he comes back into season 3