The Red Serpent

"Spartacus: Blood and Sand" S1 E1 explodes onto the screen with a visceral and captivating introduction to the legendary Thracian warrior. This premiere episode sets the stage for a brutal and thrilling saga, filled with intense action, political intrigue, and complex characters.

The episode wastes no time in establishing the harsh realities of the Roman world, as we witness Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) ripped from his homeland and forced into slavery. The gladiatorial arena becomes a crucible of violence and survival, where Spartacus must learn to fight for his life and his freedom.

The action sequences are brutal and stylized, showcasing the raw power and skill of the gladiators. The episode's visual style is bold and distinctive, with its use of slow-motion and graphic imagery creating a visceral and unforgettable experience.

Beyond the bloodshed, the episode also delves into the complex relationships and power dynamics within the ludus, the gladiatorial training school. The characters are richly drawn, with John Hannah's portrayal of Batiatus, the cunning lanista, being particularly memorable.

The episode's ending leaves you wanting more, with a cliffhanger that sets the stage for Spartacus's rise to rebellion and his quest for vengeance. "Spartacus" S1 E1 is a bold and captivating introduction to a legendary story, offering a thrilling blend of action, drama, and historical intrigue.

There are two sides to this mini series. I just watched the first 3 episodes and there is one thing that I really like and one thing that I really love about this.

The graphics are terribly bad, they should have really put more time into certain things (e.g. the blood, the panoramic views) However I love Roman stories and this story is kind of fun so that's why I decided to view the other episodes too.

So if you don't mind that the graphics aren't that good and you like ancient Roman stories (it reminds me of the TV series Rome), then this is a cool series to watch!

I, like many people, was very much looking forward to this mini series..the trailer had huge potential, and after films like 300 and Gladiator, you would think that the creators would have much to work with. But, unfortunately, the result was incredibly lame..and here's why: acting - sub par at best..lines were presented half ass and didn't show emotion that is necessary for an epic of this scale.

action scenes - amateurishly shot. now here is where 300 comes in..because anyone could tell that they took what was made in that movie and threw it into this one..but with terrible results..i have never seen a more obvious studio room setting since the old horror movies from the 1920s. im sorry, but slow motion every half a second and CGI blood slatters do not a good story make.

thats really all there was to it..action and acting..for those into costumes and the like, there is much to enjoy looking at. but other than that..a huge disappointment of a first episode..and i can only speculate that the coming episodes will be just as lame. the hour i watched was like watching every scene from 300 thrown into a smaller time limit, with worse acting and worse direction. oh..and there is plenty of sex. shot exactly like the scene in 300. jeez..this is pretty much the poor mans 300. enough ranting for me, but cmon people, be more creative than that.

Brilliant retelling. The first episode is unlike any other throughout the entire series but it is very tender and easy to follow. It sets a compelling back story for Spartacus that can neither be confirmed nor denied by historians. (Which is in part, the genius of the show itself. With history offering so little fact on Spartacus, the writers take liberty with each episode on the understanding of; "We're not saying it actually happened this way, but who's to say it didn't?" The introduction of the characters taking place in Thrace, gives the viewer an almost "Braveheart" experience, along with the stylized "300" action. Some of the CGI and blood work is rough and sloppy but done tastefully enough considering the short production schedule for a television show. Actors were very well chosen. Particularly, the star character and the villain. Craig Parker's range as an actor was seen within one episode and his character is someone that you want to stay alive just so you have someone to hate fervently. Andy Whitfield, brings a deep and tragic charisma to a character that History can say was nothing more than a brutish and skilled soldier and strategist. He is easily very likable. Erin Cummings gives a mesmerizing performance as Sura, the prophetess wife of our hero. Though Cummings attempt at donning an English accent is not carried well, she compensates with the other aspects of her acting. (Almost forcing the audience to step inside of her emotions within each scene that she's in) The episode concluding in Capua and setting the stage for what the rest of the first season would look like, was a nice touch and not over done. (We as the audience were given enough time to grieve the life that Spartacus and Sura once shared and were eager to see what rests for their futures.) Very well done Pilot. They have set the stage for a show that could create a huge following.

This is i belive the 3rd time im rewatching this amazing show.

Its really great to first off all see all the old characters again and also how spartacus got his name to begin with.

First time i watched this i gave it a 7/10 but now rewatching it its a 8/10.