A temporary solution while Andy Whitfield, the actor playing Spartacus, underwent cancer treatment, Starz’s Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is a prequel to the events that precipitated the gory season one finale of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. As a result, there’s no tension from the first season waiting to be resolved. What we do have is a series that’s even trashier than before.
Before Spartacus, the house of Batiatus worked hard to become a force in the city of Capua. With his father Titus (Jeffrey Thomas) provisionally gone, Quintus Batiatus (John Hannah) takes control of the family ludus and recruits a skilled and arrogant gladiator named Gannicus (Dustin Clare) in hopes of gaining the family the prosperity and respect he so craves. With his wife Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) firmly at his side, Quintus looks to gain the upper hand whenever possible; even making sure his fighters will be prominently featured at the opening of the new arena. For all his efforts, Quintus is rewarded with women and wine.
Unfortunately for Batiatus, the rise of his family will not go unchallenged. His rival Tullius (Stephen Lovatt) schemes to acquire champion gladiator Gannicus for his own house, while friend Solonius (Craig Walsh Wrightson) proves he may not be a man Quintus can trust completely. At the same time, the house of Batiatus acquires an unskilled gladiator named Crixus (Manu Bennett) to fill a spot in the house, while veteran gladiator Oenomaus (Peter Mensah) is suddenly thrust into a prominent role. In this Rome, a world of gladiators and fighting, it’s every man for himself. Of course, as any fan of Spartacus series’ will tell you, these Roman titans always find time for plenty of sex.
While there’s no denying that Spartacus: Gods of the Arena has copious amounts of sex and violence, I don’t think it would be so successful if weren’t well written and strongly acted. The show has an otherworldly look, doing a great job demonstrating the opulence and sexual deviance of its time. The characters flourish on through the use of political maneuvering and sexual manipulation as a means of personal gain and exploitation, using the gladiator battles as the ultimate gage for social mobility. Little is said or done without meaning. John Hannah’s performance as Batiatus is excellent. He totally becomes the character; if he’s in a scene, you’re eyes can’t help but be drawn to him. The supporting cast is quite good, too, which requires talents on two fronts: they must be solid actors, who are also centerfold ready. No one who plays a real part in this saga knows a thing about real flab.
Shown in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1, this 1080p transfer is excellent. The color palette is spot on—bright and bold when necessary, blacks are inky. There are no technical problems to speak of; edge enhancement and compression artifacts are nonexistent. Detail is strong, allowing you to see every drop of blood that oozes forth very clearly.
The Dolby TrueHD 5.1 sound mixes are also excellent, offering a thunderous edge to the various effects music and everything else the show has to offer. Dialogue is clear, though it is compromised during some of the louder moments. Nonetheless, this sound design utilizes nearly all aspects of a speaker system, and adds to the enjoyment of the show.
Spanish Dolby Digital tracks are included, as are English SDH and Spanish subtitles.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena comes to Blu-ray with plenty of extra content featurettes, all of which may be found on the second disc of this two-disc set. This set does include audio commentaries for all six episodes. However, the only way to reach them through the main menu is by selecting individual episodes, which will then release a prompt to hear the commentary. For the episodes with available recaps (all but “Past Transgressions (Extended Version”) users will have to make another click to find the option to turn the commentaries on or off.
- Audio Commentaries: Executive Producer Rob Tapert, Director Jesse Warn, Production Designer Iain Aitken, and Costume Designer Barbara Darragh for “Past Transgressions (Extended Version);” Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Peter Mensah, and Maime Murray for “Missio;” Executive Producer Bob Tapert, Director Michael Hurst, and Actor Lucy Lawless for “Paterfamilias (Extended Version);” Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight and Actors Dustin Clare, Lucy Lawless, and Kaime Murray for “Beneath the Mask (Extended Version);” Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, Writer Brent Fletcher, and Actors John Hannah and Lucy Lawless for “Reckoning (Extended Version);” and Writer/Creator/Executive Producer Steven S. DeKnight, Director Rick Jacobson, and Actor Peter Mensah for “The Bitter End (Extended Version).”
- 3D “Ring of Fire” Battle Sequence (1080p Blu-ray 3D, DD 2.0): I couldn’t view this one, as I don’t yet have 3-D equipment.
- Starz Studios: Gods of the Arena (1080p, 14:35): A piece that features cast and crew discussing the series’ style, first season star Andy Whitfield’s absence, the performances of the cast, further exploration of the characters and their relationships, and more.
- Weapons of Mass Disruption (1080p, 2:53): Property Master Rob Bavin shows some of the series’ deadly weapons.
- Battle Royale: Anatomy of a Scene (1080p, 5:58): A look at the “boot camp” training the actors undergo and the fight choreography that ensures the most exciting on-screen combat possible.
- On Set with Lucy Lawless (1080p, 6:29): This playful piece follows Lawless’ adventures on the set.
- 10 Easy Steps to Dismemberment (1080p, 2:14): A fun piece that puts ten of the season’s best kills and wounds in a humorous perspective.
- Post Production: The Final Execution (1080p, 7:17): This piece offers viewers a glimpse into the work that brings the show to life after the basic live action footage has been captured.
- Enter the Arena: Production Design (1080p, 3:39): An interesting look at set design, construction, and implementation with computer generated assistance into the final product.
- Dressed to Kill (1080p, 6:28): Costume Designer Barbara Darragh and cast discuss the show’s various clothes and accessories.
- Convention Panel (1080p, 5:57): Stephen S. DeKnight, Lucy Lawless, John Hannah, and Vivia Bianca answer questions from a Comic-Con panel.
- Arena Bloopers (1080p, 5:13): A collection of humorous missteps on the set.
- Previews (1080p): Additional Starz/Anchor Bay titles.