SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND: "Shadow Games"

Original Air Date

February 19, 2010

Description

Batiatus is presented with a gladiatorial opportunity of a lifetime. Spartacus and Crixus must overcome their mutual hostility to fight as a team against a legendary and unbeaten opponent.

Notes

(B) Pretty decent dramatic episode. We finally get back into the arena and what a show. Crixus and Spartacus fight the Shadow of Death. Amazing. Of course, we know that Spartacus is not going to die, but it wasn't so obvious that Crixus wouldn't.

I really wonder where they are taking the Crixus story. Is he a long-term character in this series or a passing one. It is really hard to tell. They certainly give him a lot of screen time, maybe even more than Spartacus in this episode.

Anyways, I have liked how this show has settled in. The over-the-top pilot had me sincerely questioning whether I would ever watch another episode. However, they have slowed down on the special effects and focused a lot more on characters, which I appreciate. In a lot of ways, the pilot is not a very good indicator of the what the series is all about.

So what is next for Spartacus who earned glory in the arena by slaying the Shadow of Death and bringing the rains to Capua?