Note: The following review contains spoilers for the entire first season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand.
The final episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand‘s first season, fittingly entitled “Kill Them All,” is an opera of blood, a symphony of gore, a crescendo of carnage. For a good half hour after watching this grisly magnum opus, I was practically shellshocked. Even now, hours later, I remain stunned, “They actually went there, didn’t they?” one of my only coherent thoughts about the episode.
A few weeks back, I received a comment on one of my previous Spartacus reviews with information about the historical Spartacus, including the fact that he successfully staged a slave uprising, initially against the House of Batiatus. Though I don’t like to do this, I deleted the comment, because I didn’t want anyone unaware of the history to be spoiled, if he or she would have preferred to let the story unfold on screen. In response to this comment now I would like to say, though, that I actually was aware of the history, but at the same time, a large part of me has grown used to certain conventions of television storytelling, and my assumption remained that the writers wouldn’t want to get to Spartacus’ rebellion against his masters this early in the series. Just the fact that an enormous portion of the show’s cast of characters would have to die in order to accomplish this dissuaded me from thinking it would actually happen. But then I learned the title of the episode and considered just how many deaths of crucial characters had occurred over the relatively short twelve episode span of the series’ life up to that point and I realized that this was inevitable from the beginning. Unlike practically every other show in television history, Spartacus has no formula. Its plot is constantly moving and its cast evolving. I can think of no other series that would have the guts to eliminate so many people in one prolonged battle sequence.
Furthermore, many of these characters are the sort of characters who just don’t tend to be killed in series such as this. I would have thought that Lucy Lawless’ husband being one of the executive producers would have given Lucretia some life insurance–not to mention the fact that she is such a marvelously entertaining, scenery-chewing vamp–but no. In fact, she and John Hannah are the two most recognizable actors on the series, and they’re both gone now. It is a testament to the series’ commitment to placing story first that the writers don’t try to manipulate manners in which beloved villains, characters, and/or actors can survive the slaughter. Lucretia meets her end in a particularly brutal manner, with Crixus’ sword through the uterus currently housing what was to be their future child. The young Numerius is stabbed ferociously and repeatedly by a practically animalistic Aurelia, finally avenging Varro’s murder.
The episode is shocking not only due to the violence and the fact that no one is safe, not even a child–then again, that “child” ordered a man’s death for his own amusement–but due to who survives the bloodshed. Who, at the start of the season, would have thought Illythia, who initially seemed to be bubbleheaded and frothy, would be the one to spell the doom for the House of Batiatus and all of the nobles unlucky enough to be trapped inside by her? Another unlikely survivor is the tenacious and odious Asher, who seems to have the resilience and nastiness of a cockroach.
Another truly fascinating aspect of the episode is how little pity one feels for the “innocent” people caught in the crossfire, so to speak. Whether or not every one of them was directly responsible for these particular gladiators’ plights, every single one of them is complicit in the brutality of Roman society. All of them have gathered to watch human beings–who they consider lower than animals–tear one another apart as a light evening’s entertainment, and so when Spartacus launches himself off the stage and into the audience, directing his sword at the people who have come to watch him fight to the death, it is hard not to think that they had it coming for their decadence, for their cruelty, for their casual enslavement of other people.
Over the course of its first thirteen episodes, Spartacus: Blood and Sand truly earned this climax. ”Kill Them All” is a Grand Guignol explosion of anger and near-primal rage and an awe-inspiring finale that sets a new bar for cable programming, as well as for long-form television storytelling, period. Perhaps the best way to keep a series from stagnating is to never settle into a routine in the first place.
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
Rob, I totally agree with you. I knew there would be a blood bath, but I certainly did not think they would actually "kill them all"–but I love them for doing so. I love that this show is willing to kill off anyone, anywhere, any time–it makes the show so unpredictably great. I certainly did not expect Batiatus or many of the other main characters to die (I didn't know anything about the real Spartacus and have never seen any of the films, so this is my first exposure). The two people I was sure were going to die were one of the brothers and Ashur–and I only got one of those right! I can't wait to see how they are going to proceed with season 2, I just hope it doesn't turn into a show where the gladiators roam around and battle like the 300 Spartans (like the pilot episode). The political intrigue and characters really made the show–I hope they can continue the magic of this season with whatever new characters they add next year.
I was shocked by a lot of the deaths in this episode. I didn't think they would actually kill everybody. Lucretia's death made me wonder if Lucy Lawless agreed to do only one season in the first place just to help her husband out.
After the ep ended and my head stopped spinning and I actually could chew on some ideas about what I'd seen, I realized what a magnificent ruse the storytelling was involving Batiatus' intricate staging towards seeing himself and his wife into Roman politics and power. It was an carefully constructed deception to take some attention away from Spartacus, one that I actually thrilled at when I realized the footwork involved by the writers all season long to build what was almost like a Trojan horse. Here they have set the man up to take the brass ring, finally within his grasp, and have the audience thinking of what the future must hold with Batiatus and Lucretia mowing a bloody path to status. And instead the delivery of his story ends hollow, meant instead to deliver the last chapter of the ludus, and the first chapter of rebellion. The tables are turned on us when Crixus taps his shield, and the moment is seized. The players and the play are changed. And I think the two players that did escape are probably the worst of the lot (Ashur did survive, right?) . I haven't been so worked up over a show since Battlestar Galactica, where prediction was exciting, but impossible. Things happened and people changed in ways I could not forsee. It was frustrating, titillating, and it kindled the deepest insatiable desire to have more of the story as quick as possible.
Fantastic point! The writers of the show are absolutely brilliant at plot subterfuge. The first and best example for me are the circumstances surrounding Barca's death–how the writers tricked us into assuming that Barca did save the child's life, because of the lie he told Pietros, and that very lie spells his doom, only for it to come out that he had, in fact, followed Batiatus' orders.
I love the idea that all of the intrigue involving the House of Batiatus' characters was an elaborate ruse on the writers' parts to lead us to believe these characters were safe for the time being. Because they wouldn't just kill all these characters after spending so much time building their arcs, right? But they would…and they do. Really brilliant.
Dear Mr. Berg:
It is by accident that I came accross your site and started to read one of your reviews of Spartacus and I must say, your reviews are the best I have read so far in my opinion. I have printed all of them and have carefully read every single one of them and I thought, finally! one who read my mind! I am only sorry I did not discover you since the beginning of the show.
Since I am French, I have great difficulty sometimes at expressing my view with the right words so reading your reviews was like reading what I have always wanted to express about the show, so thank you Mr. Berg. I adored how you described Crixus which is how I have always thought Crixus was. Of course, Crixus is the main reason I got so hooked on that show. Not only because he is a gorgeous man (Manu that is) but because Crixus was at first mysterious and since we knew and still do not know anything about his life prior to enslavement, and became more and more fascinating with everyting happening to him; his conflict with Spartacus, discovering love with Naevia and jeopardizing that love and everything because of his obligations with Lucretia. But mostly because Manu brought Crixus to life in a way that Crixus would simply not become unoticed which any other actor would have failed doing I believe. Same goes for Andy Whitfield. Manu is Crixus and Andy is Spartacus. The show without Manu and Andy might as well be canceled. Mr. Berg, I simply adore how you take the time to give a fair and just description of each characters and the show itself of course.
About episode 13, what can I say that you have not already so wonderfully described! except that I am still mouth wide open, wide eyed and saying: I want more! I want more! I will watch this episode over and over again as I will with the other episodes while impatiently waiting for season 2! the wait will be atrocious. Cannot wait to see it unfold; what will Ilythia and Ashur do? (so excited these two survived) will Crixus ever find Naevia? will Spartacus finally get his chance at revenge on Ilythia? will Crixus get his with Ashur? (adored how you described Ashur in your last review) what will happen with Doctore? I will miss Batiatus and Lucretia though but, and like you said, their faith was inevitable.
Finally, I will impatiently wait for your reviews when season 2 starts! I very much hope you will be around! promise??
Take care and thank you again!
Odette
Wow, thank you so much. I'm so glad you enjoy them. It means a lot to me. And I'm definitely planning on reviewing Season 2, when it arrives!
Hi Mr. Berg:
If I may, I have a couple of questions for you regarding the show which a lot of viewers qualify certain plots as "the cat is not out of the bag yet". It refers to Spartacus and Ilythia and Lucretia. We all know that Ilythia tried to have Spartacus killed by Segavax and she indeed seduced Numerius into ordering the killing of Varro, but is Spartacus aware that Ilythia is behind all this? so my questions to you are:
Segavax plot:
- You mentioned that Lucretia manipulated Ilythia into purchasing Segavax but what was in it for Lucretia to do so?
- Was Lucretia aware that Ilythia ordered Segavax to kill Spartacus?
- With Lucretia dead, who else besides Ilythia herself could reveal to Spartacus that she had Segavax trying to kill him?
Varro plot:
- With Numerius dead, who else besides Ilythia herself could spell the beans that she is behind that murder as well? Aurelia maybe?
Thank you so much!!!
-Lucretia wanted Illythia to purchase Segavax for a number of reasons. It gave the House of Batiatus patronage from the Legatus' wife, which helps increase their political power. More importantly, discovering Illythia wanted to have sex with her gladiator gave Lucretia information on Illythia to use as blackmail.
-Lucretia wasn't aware of Illythia's order, or she would have reacted against her. While Lucretia at that point wouldn't have minded if Spartacus died, I doubt she would have wanted Illythia to be the cause.
-I don't believe anyone, but the point is most likely moot by this point, regardless.
-Yes, possibly Aurelia, though since Aurelia actually murdered Numerius and is on the run, and more importantly, a slave, I don't expect her word will mean much.
Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. So Spartacus has no cause for revenge on Ilythia then, he just hates her for?
I would need yout thoughts on Ashur if I may. Do you agree that with Ashur it is never to someone else's advantage but for his own benefit? I believe he tried to trap Spartacus in Shadow Games. It happened while Spartacus was eating if I recall and Ashur comes to him to warn him about Crixus, that in order to survive against Theocoles he should consider Crixus an equal enemy insisting on the fact that this is how he got his leg injured because he trusted Crixus. I think in this case Ashur was trying to set up Spartacus against Crixus so that Spartacus would not help Crixus during the fight and therefore Crixus would have died as we know and that is what Ashur wanted. Spartacus was hesitant for a moment since Crixus was sitting in front of him and staring at Spartacus in a way that made Ashur appear right and of course Ashur knew Crixus was there staring at Spartacus, but Spartacus did not fall into Ashur's trap as we know it. Do you agree with me?
I appreciate and value your opinion a lot!
Yup. I totally agree. Every single one of those mother-effers got what they deserved in the end!
And woooooo, that season finale was absolutely INCREDIBLE. I've never, ever, before seen a series that started off so poorly and ended so beautifully.
SBAS has a great storyline, near-perfect character development, and is pretty damned fun to watch!
I just watched this entire series, start to finish, in the past week and after every episode I come to your blog to read the review. I love the way you analyze each episode.
Wow, what's the coincidence!?! Everything Treacle just said holds true for me as well! This show ranks, in my opinion, as one of the top television shows of all time. I can't believe most people I know never even heard of the show! I had to Google SBAS to find a good review of each episode (like I do for Mad Men and I did for The Wire with Alan Sepinwall). Thank you Rob, for providing that review!
I have burning questions that plagued me throughout the season. What kind of rights did free Roman citizens like Batiatus have? The black uniform clad guards that Batiatus employed seemed to work for pay but he was still able to completely control them, threaten them, and even kill one for negligence. How come they could not accompany Batiatus when he went to the Pits, etc.?
Presumably, Doctore was enslaved to Batiatus far before any of the slaves, yet he never purchased his freedom. Was his allowance for training the gladiators that little?
I am so glad Crixus and Doctore were able to survive! Both could have easily perished during this episode! A formulaic show would probably have had Crixus die after sparing Lucretia's life, and Doctore die after pitying Asher. I did not want Illithiya to escape unscathed, but she did manage to help Spartacus and the others "kill them all!"