Mens sana in corpore sano. A healthy mind in a healthy body. Healing can be a complex and painful process. Even the most superficial wound can't close if your mind is not sane. Weakened by Sura and Varro's deaths Spartacus had to find the strength to put one foot in front of the other. But how can you achieve such a simple task when your mental health is compromised ? In some way his condition was similar to Crixus battle between life and death. However the new Champion of Capua's journey was far much more inspiring and tortured. Were the surreal nightmares an astral projection of his inner demons ? What about the polymorphic characters he encountered ? Of course his hallucinations were driven by something but I can't help thinking that what he experienced was a challenge. A mind game he could either win or lose. Witnessing him playing it was mesmerizing and I watched his every move, like a friend he can trust. You should be the voice in the dark that shadows his doubts, the hand that helps him uncover the truth behind the veil.
So the show is a little inspiring. Watching Old Wounds was as captivating as reading my favorite novels. It was a visual ride beyond reason. Moreover with so obvious references to Legends and "Great and Unfortunate Things" I'm sure Brent Fletcher is behind it. Beside these philosophical delusions the story was also quite entertaining. First some blood was shed in the arena and that part was as excellent as in Party Favors. The fighters were fierce, the choreography brutal and the visual effects immersive. It wasn't as martial as in The Thing in the Pit but I found the approach refreshing and most respectful of the gladiators spirit. Second the dialogs were both cunning and lethal. From Batiatus dreadful comments to the numerous spikes nailed by other characters they were plenty of doomed words to cradle your ears. Third the smart and disturbing writing reminded me how literate the show actually is. They don't just pour blood and dump sand to appeal the audience, they shake our soul to make us feel more alive. From the mask metaphora to the coins fountain it's just mesmerizing to watch so much creativity in motion.
However as much as I would like things to be perfect there was still one major element that slightly disappointed me, the Batiatus arc. I wish they had twisted it in a more subtle manner, specially considering how Ashur was cleverly used in the past episodes. Still it was intriguing and its ending should puzzle you even if I found it a bit incongruous. In fact it's amazing the number of patterns applied to reinvent the wheel every single episode. With Mira's exotic beauty it's even more appealing. And like if it wasn't already enough the ending was more intriguing than the most wicked cliffhanger. You won't watch the show anymore, you'll breath it like if it was pure filthy oxygen.
Note : For once I would like to dedicate this review to the few readers who were kind enough to give me some feedback and encourage me. Your kind words touched my heart and motivated me. I'll try my best not to disappoint you. May the Gods spare your mere mortal souls !
