DJariya

By djariya at 2012-01-11

Synopsis:



Episode 2 of 10

Promo:

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Geofferson

This got off to a promising start last week. Too bad this season's only 10 episodes.

TGM

can't wait!

redrum

2 for 2

Love starting my weekend with this show

Asher's bitch ass is back

DJariya

"Your heart stole my cock!"

Hell yeah, Ashur is back!!

Looks like Doctore is on some sort of death wish. He did look pretty badass in those underground fights. I'm guessing that he feels like he has no sense of purpose anymore.

Spartacus and the boys taking over that house was awesome. Plus, it was in the middle of a gratuitous sex scene.

Again, I'm going to throw it out there. Does anyone here think that Spartacus is the father of Ilithya's baby? They totally hint it, especially with her masturbating to the infamous scene from last season.

And you know I look at Viva Bianca again this week and yeah she could probably gain a few more pounds, but she's still freaking hot as shit. I don't think there was anything wrong with her boobs are Gunde commented last week.

creekdipper

I must be alone in getting a little tired of the slo-mo every two seconds in fight scenes. I couldn't wait for the raid on the house to be over & for them to get back to the story. I actually found myself tapping my fingers impatiently out of sheer boredom during the scene, when it looked like the action could have been much more effectively shot.

And the graphic violence/sex which has put the show on the map does seem to be overly gratuitous (if that's the proper term...like you can't be "very unique", can you be "overly gratuituous"?). I like well-choreographed action scenes & don't mind them being unflinching in showing the viciousness of battles in & out of the arena, but the repeated shots of long strands of blood streaming from the mouth in slo-mo & freeze-frames get in the way of the story, IMHO. It just keeps getting piled on until it feels like the scene/shots are inserted just to amp up the violence factor and not to serve the story.

Sam Peckinpah pretty much covered the slo-mo violence thing decades ago. I really like the storyline & find a lot of sympathetic characters & despicable villains in Spartacus, but some of these scenes are just starting to be annoying rather than exciting/disgusting/brutal (or whatever emotional response the producers are aiming for). When this happens, the show runs the risk of becoming a live-action video game (or like one of the shallow, forgettable movies based upon games). I just think that the producers should adopt a 'less-is-more' approach if they want to achieve maximum impact. I think Rome, Deadwood, and other historical shows did the violence thing better in some ways because the scenes had more lasting impact. I'm afraid that Spartacus will lurch into the self-parody realm like some of the teen slasher movies in which the creators would try to top each other in terms of creative ways to kill people.

In other words, I don't want to see Spartacus get silly with the violence/sex, nor do I want to see it degenerate into the torture porn genre.

DJariya

I look at it this way. Spartacus IMO is pretty much a live action graphic novel. It's not fair to compare it to a period drama like Rome. So the action, gratuitous violence and sex are part of that style. Sometimes yes it's a little over the top, but it's what the show is known for and what has given it buzz since it premiered 3 years.

TGM

while I am still enjoying it, I am liking this series much less, and it has nothing to do with the Spartacus recasting. Liam is fine (if not a bit slender). Batiatus is horribly missed (although seeing his father in flashback was very satisfying). Also taking the story outside of the confines of the Ludas removed all of the pressure-cooker sensation that you could feel building every single episode in S1 (and Gods of the Arena for that matter). Hopefully Asher's return will satiate my Batiatus hunger, and I am looking forward to Gannicus being thrown into the mix.

Meathead

Yes, that was first thing that crossed my mind when they mentioned she was pregnant...

DJariya

You do realize the whole point of this chapter is Revenge? Keeping all the gladiators locked up like in season 1 would defeat that purpose. I understand what your saying, but the story needs to move forward and this chapter is the culmination of all the events from season 1.

TGM

No, I get that... but in hindsight I wish they spent a couple of seasons in the Ludas. Basically I just find myself missing John Hannah.

Gunde

For what it's worth, I had no problems with her boobs in this episode.
So yeah, take that as you will

creekdipper

Liam is a good replacement for Andy Whitfield, although he could bulk up a little (as was pointed out above, he's kind of slender). I thought Andy had more of a Sean Bean appeal, too...handsome but a bit on the rugged side. While I think Liam is doing fine in the acting department (and the action), he's still a bit prettier than I'd like to see for an ex-gladiator. A bit heavier beard and maybe a scar on his face might do the trick. It's kind of like Pierce Brosnan's 007...I can still enjoy him but prefer a more dangerous-looking dude.

I understand about the whole 'graphic novel' approach, which bothered me when the series first aired. I was afraid that Spartacus would just be a 300 rip-off, but was pleasantly surprised by the characterizations and compelling storyline. I just think that they're trying to up the ante by being more extreme & run the risk of jumping the shark (or turning viewers away who like the story). I've talked to several other fans of the show who say the same thing...that the slow-motion gore is starting to wear thin.

Although the amped-up sex & violence levels put the show on the map, so to speak...and (IMO) it's far, far better than Camelot, which was totally unoriginal...I still hope they dial back some of the more extreme shots. Otherwise, what's next? They gonna bring out the donkeys in the brothel scenes?

Just a different perspective from a fan of the show who doesn't want to see the storytelling overshadowed by the special effects and salacious material.

starseed1981

Great episode. It deserves extra kudos just for having Gannicus "My Cock Rages On" song in it several times. I gotta find the lyrics to that...

TGM

Didn't Celine Dion also sing that?