Spartacus: Blood and Sand is a new original action-adventure drama series premiering tonight on Starz.
If Zack Snyder’s “300″ and Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” were to have a baby, whose first steps are taken on a premium cable channel, then that baby’s name would be Spartacus: Blood and Sand. After previewing the first 2 episodes, it has seemingly inherited the best of both films by blending the stylistic & gritty action of 300 within a melting pot of Roman history and metaphoric drama akin to Gladiator.
Remember when you first saw 300, and you marveled at how faithful Snyder stayed with his source material? How pure awesome he portrayed the action sequences? The sex? The violent gore? The sheer amount of times you replayed the scene of “THIS. IS. SPARTA!” with actor Peter Mensah as the poor messenger being kicked down a dark pit in your head? Maybe that was all just me, but Spartacus definitely has all of that. Even Peter Mensah — except he’s not being kicked down any dark pits this time, he’s a bonafide gladiator instructor and whip master. That’s right, the series even has a whip master. Take that, Dr. Jones.
The next question, which Gladiator so deservedly asks, is if I was not entertained? Sure the story seems a little similar. Warrior is betrayed by Roman Empire. Warrior is forced into slavery and execution. Warrior becomes potent gladiator material. Warrior fights for freedom and to hold his now enslaved wife back in his arms. But, Hell. Yes, I was entertained. Maybe the fight scenes did it. Maybe it was just the hilarious amount of sexual references used as insults. Or maybe, it was Lucy Lawless getting pleasured by a slave as if it were a normal, not taboo, not racy at all , everyday activity…a cultural norm. Ah, the insights to ancient Roman culture. To give you a clear understanding of what I’m talking about, this is the excerpt that is played before each episode:
Spartacus is a historic depiction of ancient Rome’s society and culture.
The intensity of the sensuality, brutality, and language is to suggest an authentic representation of that period.
After watching just the first 2 episodes of this sex-induced new series, I can assure you that the people who brought us Xena: Warrior Princess have at least provided some more great source material for Spartan themed parties. This series is definitely staying on my radar, so if it ends up being the next True Blood, expect me to reference it a lot more. And with actors like John Hannah, expect that to happen.
Preview the first episode on the Starz website!
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