First Class Honour With A Body of A Soldier: Spartacus-Blood and Sand

Just finished watching Spartacus Season 1-Blood and Sand. The 13 episodes series is rated to be very violent, bloody and the sexual content is too much for minors. Initially, it was my roommate who suggested me to watch. He found it very interesting and strongly recommend it to me. However, i was in the mid of exam when he watched so after the exam, i asked him to transfer the series to my laptop and in trade, i transferred The Walking Dead Season 2 and Burning Palms to his. The story tells a legendary gladiator called Spartacus. His name was mentioned in the history along with other characters like Crixus, Onaemeus, Legatus Glaber and also Lanista Batiatus. Sparatcus was a Thracian and lived happily with his beautiful wife in a small village during The Third Servile War. Their village was attacked and The Romans offered help. However, the Romans lead by Legatus Glaber broke their promise and made the men of the village to kill a few Romans. The news of killing Romans reached Glaber's ears and he ordered to have Spartacus detained. In the mean time, Spartacus' village was attacked by their enemies and burned down. The Romans found Spartacus and Sura. They condemned the husband and wife to slavery. Spartacus was to be crucified in the arena but he survived. He was later purchased by Batiatus, the owner of the ludus (school of gladiators). Back then, slaves who wished for freedom have to show them worthy in the arena by becoming the gladiators. Spartacus worried for his wife and blamed Glaber for what happened to him. He survived in many fights and Batiatus wanted him to become a true gladiator and he would help him to find his wife. News of Sura was heard and Spartacus trusted Batiatus for the quest. He became the true gladiator and eventually the Champion of Capua after slaying Theokoles, the Shadow of Death. Crixus on the other hand who was the champion felt left out and in the mean time, he had affair with Batiatus' wife, Lucretia. Lucretia ordered him to sleep with her when she desired and Crixus had to follow her order. Crixus had crush on Lucretia's slave, Naevia. Both developed affection for each other and often meet at night. Spartacus had a true friend, Varro whom he treated as a brother. Doctore (Onameus) was the trainer and an honourable man who he respected Batiatus the most. Varro had family-a wife and a son. He sold himself to slavery to clear his debts. Spartacus and Varro developed good brotherhood in the ludus. When Spartacus finally had the chance to reunite with his wife as Batiatus had promised, he plotted to escape ludus with his wife. Upon his wife arrival, he found that his wife was attacked and was seriously wounded. The reunion was short-lived and Sura died in Spartacus' arms. In fact, it was Batiatus who secretly ordered for her death for fear Spartacus will leave the ludus. After Sura's death, Spartacus accepted his fate and became a very great gladiator, drew the attention of Magistrate Calavius and family. The magistrate had a young son, Numerius whom he favoured gladiators. Glaber's wife, Ilythia also often spent time in the ludus and became close to Lucretia. Lucretia however, did not favour her presence especially when she laid eyes on Crixus (Lucretia's lover). Lichinia, the cousin of the richest person in Roman Republic, Marcus fancied Spartacus and wanted to sleep with him. In the mean time, Ilythia wanted to sleep with Crixus too. Lucretia refused and secretly exchanged the partners for this lustful desire. Ilythia slept with Spartacus whom she hated the most. Both were wearing mask when they had sex. Lucretia wanted to teach Ilythia a lesson. Lichinia laughed at Ilythia which made Ilythia to kill Lichinia. Lichinia's murder was kept a secret by both Lucretia and Batiatus. They gave good hospitality to Ilythia so that in return, Ilythia would persuade her husband, Glaber to give power and patronage to Batiatus. On the other hand, an exhibition was performed by both Varro and Spartacus to please Numerius. The match was suppose to be friendly and no death was intended. However, Ilythia seduced Numerius and made him ordered Spartacus to kill Varro. Spartacus was reluctant to kill his brother but Varro consented to his own death. Spartacus had no choice and killed Varro in front of the public. Spartacus was devastated and Mira, a slave came to comfort him. Varro's wife, Aurelia confronted Spartacus if her husband perished under his sword. Spartacus admitted and Aurelia hated Spartacus for this. Spartacus also figured out from Aulus that Batiatus secretly ordered him to kill Sura on their way to Capua. Spartacus was in rage but kept to himself. He plotted to kill Batiatus and witness the fall of the house. His plan was revealed to Mira and Mira told him the Roman's rule. When a slave kills his master, the entire slaves of that particular master will be showered with blood-all other slaves will be killed by the Republic. Mira feared for her own life and also the other slaves'. Spartacus did not heed her advice and proceeded to kill Batiatus. His plan was delayed when Aurelia condemned herself to slavery in the House of Batiatus to clear the debts. Spartacus promised Varro that he will take good care of his family and if he killed the master alone, Aurelia will be killed together with other slaves. He had second thoughts and gathered the other gladiators, persuading them to join him in his plot. Lucretia found out that she was pregnant with Crixus' child. On the other hand, Naevia and Crixus relationship was known to both Batiatus and Lucretia. Lucretia was mad and sold Naevia to another master while Crixus was punished. Crixus was devastated for his lover's departure and to reunite with her, he wanted to become the best gladiator and then gain his freedom to hold Naevia in his arms again. Spartacus told him that the same fate will only falls on him where Batiatus might secretly order for Naevia's death. Spartacus also asked Mira's favour to open the door for them to enter the villa and in return of Mira's help, Mira wanted Spartacus to sleep with her. Batiatus wanted Spartacus to win Crixus and eventually kill him in the fight for having affair with Lucretia. Lucretia wanted the same as she knew this man had no heart for her. Thus, they poisoned Crixus' food and during the fight, Crixus grew weak. Spartacus convinced Crixus that they should rebel their masters since they poisoned him and wanted him dead. Crixus agreed and the rebel began. Doctore first stood against them but later Crixus told him that Spartacus' wife was murdered and the rebel was a vengeance. Doctore later joined the rebellion. The men invaded the villa and slayed all the notable people present. Aurelia later confronted Numerius if he had ordered for Varro's death. Numerius, not knowing the relationship of Aurelia and Varro, admitted. Aurelia took a knife and stabbed Numerius multiple times, ending the life of that boy. Crixus asked Lucretia of Naevia's where about but Lucretia refused to reveal. When he wanted to kill Lucretia, she begged him to spare her life for the sake of their unborn child and what Crixus said made me laugh. He said

"I would rather him dead than to suckle your breast"

His sword pierced through her womb, killing the unborn child and severely wounded her. Ilythia asked her men to seal the door and left her society friends to their fate. Batiatus was surrounded by slaves with the entire high-class people in the house dead. Spartacus then killed him in front of his wife. Spartacus told the men that they are now free and can forge their own path or join him, to make the Romans tremble. In the end of season finale, the slaves both men and women broke through the gate of ludus, claiming themselves free.
The series is really interesting and especially the season finale, everything was revealed and the antagonists deserved their fate. I will ask for Season 2 from my roommate...haha...goodnight.