
Shadowborn |

I'm watching what I think is the first episode on Encore. So far its fairly entertaining. The fighting is rather cinematic and flashy...not necessarily a bad thing. Acting is decent.
The only part thus far that I wasn't crazy about was the use of that blue-green filter during the outdoor scene when the woman is being attacked and Spartacus saves her. Its the same sort of thing they did in Underworld and Twilight. Its rather nauseating. But it didn't last long.

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I agree about it getting better can't wait to see where they go with this series. I read its already been picked up for a second season. and though over the top a bit with the blood, it gives it a more movie like look than a tv look. can't wait till next week when I have my new lcd, so I can re-watch this in HD.

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Yeah, the effects during the combat scenes remind me of 300. Definitely over the top, but much better than, say, Tarantino's samurai movie homages in the Kill Bill movies.
The creators of the show said they wanted to make a show that looked like a graphic novel, and I think they succeeded. Continuing the vein of Sin City and 300.

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I'm a little surprised it's going over so well on these boards--300 was thoroughly bashed here three years ago.
I think the show accomplishes its goal a lot better than 300 because they're clear with what they're about. They have a good feeling for the style they want to have in the show, whereas 300 shifted from realistic in some points to ultra comic-booky in others.
Plus it doesn't hurt that Spartacus is a series and has a lot more time to establish settings, plots and characters than a movie.

Mairkurion {tm} |

I enjoyed it, though I could have done without the disclaimer at the beginning. I'm a little surprised it's going over so well on these boards--300 was thoroughly bashed here three years ago.
There's no contemporary political implications for Sparatcus...at least, not the kind of obvious ones present in 300.

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Andrew Turner wrote:I enjoyed it, though I could have done without the disclaimer at the beginning. I'm a little surprised it's going over so well on these boards--300 was thoroughly bashed here three years ago.There's no contemporary political implications for Sparatcus...at least, not the kind of obvious ones present in 300.
Very excellent point.

P.H. Dungeon |

I've watched the first 12 episodes of this show, and I think every episode is better than the previous one. I enjoyed the first episode, but it really starts to pick up around episode 4-5, by which point you've got a pretty good handle on the different characters and the intrigues that are starting to develop. I had heard it was cheesy, but I think the story is actually pretty solid, and the characters are starting to develop well. All in all, good action + a solid story + engaging characters + decent acting + plenty of gratuitous T&A= great show!

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Absolutely amazing! After watching this season of 13 episodes, I conclude this show is flippin' stunning. The blood effects are just something you have to get past. Once you do that, this thing is relentless and all encompassing. The cast makes the show, and the plot just keeps getting better and better. I kid you not, Spartacus: Blood and Sand has hit my classic status.
The series could be complete with just one season. Incredibly climactic without cliffhanger cliche. I want season 2!

Garydee |

Absolutely amazing! After watching this season of 13 episodes, I conclude this show is flippin' stunning. The blood effects are just something you have to get past. Once you do that, this thing is relentless and all encompassing. The cast makes the show, and the plot just keeps getting better and better. I kid you not, Spartacus: Blood and Sand has hit my classic status.
The series could be complete with just one season. Incredibly climactic without cliffhanger cliche. I want season 2!
The cast is fantastic, especially John Hannah. It's a shame we're going to have to wait until next winter for season 2.

Garydee |

What, the hell, Gary!?
This is a reason to subscribe to Netflix. (With apologies to Urizen.)
It's because season two production is being delayed. Andy Whitfield, who plays Spartacus, has been diagnosed with early-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The show's production is being delayed until he recovers after treatment.

Evil Genius |

I've been watching this series on Netflix and I must say it has me highly entertained. It's a mad concoction gratuitous sexuality, violence, & scheming, and each episode (as Zuxius said) raises the intensity and entertainment even higher.
When I first started watching it, I tried to guess what was going to happen. But, the plot has been nowhere close to predicable without going so far as to be confusing, so I am highly impressed. And honestly, the fight scenes are so gripping, it's hard to look away from the screen.
All in all, great show. I'd recommend it to anyone who's looking for an entertaining series and isn't bothered by hyper-violence (we're talking anime level blood & gore) and occasional scenes which border on soft-core porn.

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This was highly enjoyable. And perhaps one of the few things I've actually shared with my parents. (I tend to keep sex-related stuff far away from them.) Anyway, we're watching on Netflix. When we got finished watching the first season, I was... stunned might be the best way to put it.
I put on Netflix and started flipping through the stuff, but after watching Spartacus, I was like "What the hell do we watch now?" In other words, its not a show that is easily competed with.
As to hyper-violence, and sex: Sometimes I think we Americans are too tied to our Puritan value system. In Europe, this would have practically no problems at all. But considering the history of the times: In Roman civilization there were few forms of entertainment. They did not have books, television or movies, so blood and sex were the main entertainments of the time.

DMFTodd |

The entire first session is available on Watch It Now (or whatever Netflix calls it). It's not on DVD that I know of.
I have to say that the end was highly satisfying. Gruesome, hard to watch, brutal, but still a good story. I though the show got lost when Spartacus decided to be a "good roman" and all, it made no sense with his prior character. To see him back true to his nature was good.
And I really enjoy a TV show that tells one story completely and then moves on to another story (The Shield, The Wire, Damages). Good to see them do that as well.

DMFTodd |

<snip>
But considering the history of the times: In Roman civilization there were few forms of entertainment. They did not have books, television or movies, so blood and sex were the main entertainments of the time.
We have books, television and movies and our entertainment is.... oh, wait, it's still mostly blood and sex.

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stardust wrote:<snip>
But considering the history of the times: In Roman civilization there were few forms of entertainment. They did not have books, television or movies, so blood and sex were the main entertainments of the time.
We have books, television and movies and our entertainment is.... oh, wait, it's still mostly blood and sex.
True, and its getting more demented all the time.... :P

Zark |

The third season is about to begin. They add to replace the main actor, Andy Whitfield, as he died sadly, but it still looks like it will be a good season.
I find it hard to believe that anyone can replace Andy Whitfield. Besides, we know how it all ended, unless they want to rewrite history.

DeathQuaker RPG Superstar 2015 Top 8 |

I admit, I mostly watched to admire Lucy Lawless's fine...
...acting.
Such perfectly round, soft... acting...
If the... acting looks to be as enticing for season 3 as it was in previous seasons I might give it a go.
I'll still have to shut my eyes through all the blood and gore though. It was a bit much for me. But the acting was worth it.

Freehold DM |

I admit, I mostly watched to admire Lucy Lawless's fine...
...acting.
Such perfectly round, soft... acting...
If the... acting looks to be as enticing for season 3 as it was in previous seasons I might give it a go.
I'll still have to shut my eyes through all the blood and gore though. It was a bit much for me. But the acting was worth it.
EPIC FISTBUMP to all but the the avoidance of gore