Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

Sweat. Sandals. Sex. It's an action-packed trifecta of blood, guts, and gladiators that Spartacus: Blood and Sand perfected during its 2010 first season (check out my review here). It captured audiences attention with a visceral visual flair that embraced its over the top sensibilities, a trait shared by the recently aired Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, a prequel mini-series to Blood and Sand.

The title, interestingly enough, is somewhat misleading, as Spartacus himself (Andy Whitfield) makes no appearance in this series; Gods of the Arena, in fact, was written to bridge the elongated gap between Blood and Sand seasons as Whitfield underwent cancer treatment (eventually leading him to exit the series completely).

This mini-series focuses on the rise of the House of Batiatus, and the construction of the larger arena that we eventually see in Blood and Sand. Returning cast members include John Hannah as Batiatus and Lucy Lawless as his wife Lucretia, both presented in this prequel as somewhat more sympathetic than the power-hungry sociopaths they become, along with Peter Mensah as a pre-Doctore Oenomaus, and Manu Bennet as a pre-champion Crixus.

At the center of the series is newcomer Gannicus, portrayed with a cocky ease by Dustin Clare (pictured below), Batiatus' champion gladiator and claim to fame. Also joining the cast are Marisa Ramirez as Melitta, Lucretia's servant and wife to Oenomaus, and Jaime Murray as the effervescent socialite Gaia, friend (and sometimes lover) of Lucretia. The actors slip comfortably into their characters who, among numerous others, expand the world of Spartacus in a natural manner that serves to inform certain characters' decisions in Blood and Sand.

The no holds barred mentality on all fronts, be it violence, sex, or dialogue, that fans have come to expect from series creator Steven S. DeKnight is very much......

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