Spartacus!

If you had told me when Spartacus began in January that the season finale that aired last month would constitute a high point in television viewing this year, I would have called you mad. The fact that the very same finale is so good when the original season premiere was so staggeringly, jaw-droppingly bad constitutes a minor miracle of the sort unseen in modern years.

How did they do it?

Nothing in the overall tone has changed; the sex and violence remain as gratuitous and exploitative as ever. And yet somewhere along the line, Spartacus found a genuine dramatic soul -- sucking me in no matter how hard I fought and leaving me cheering like a deranged football booster at the richly satisfying climax to a wild opening season.

It's not a complex formula. For twelve episodes, we've watched Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) take it in the shorts from all manner of rivals and foes. Tonight, it's payback. He and his buddies are busting out of this popsicle stand, and they're happy to slaughter anyone who gets in their way. Turns out, "anyone" is just about everyone, from the dipshit Legionnaires guarding the ludus to the guests at Batiatus's (John Hannah) "mine is the grandest penis in all the land" party. Spartacus mainly wants the Big B--retribution for
murdering his wife--but he's not apt to be choosy.

Nor are the ranks of gladiators behind him, pissed about their recent treatment and ready to bet it all on a desperate bid for freedom.

Once I got past the bad blue-screen effects and cartoony blood splatters I enjoyed the series as a whole. I suppose all the sexuality and gore had something to do with it, along with seeing Xena Warrior Princess nude every second episode kept me watching more. No doubt those first few episodes (and the fact they are soooo bad) is what turned many people off and made them keep away from it. But I was pleasantly surprised. Some of the special effects and lighting are obviously direct rip-offs of '300', and the character development and story structure isn't nearly as sophisticated as 'Rome'. But over all, entertaining and satisfying in that "guilty pleasure" sort of way. Lots of blood, beheadings and full frontal nudities for everyone. Below is a short bio of my favorite character of the series. Coincidentally, he's the actor that got kicked into the pit at the beginning of '300'. Doctore, the gladiator trainer: