• Network: Vertex , Starz
  • Series Premiere Date: Jan 22, 2010
  • Season #: 1
Spartacus: Blood and Sand Image
  • Summary: Spartacus is a Roman soldier who is forced to become a gladiator in the premium cable network's latest drama that promises more gore and sex than "300" or HBO's "Rome."
  • Genre(s): Action/Adventure, Drama
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 22
  2. Negative: 5 out of 22
  1. Reviewed by: Ken Tucker
    83
    After artistic duds like the TV version of "Crash," Starz may have found its destination series in Spartacus. This might prove to be the not-at-all-guilty pleasure of the season.
  2. 60
    The result is compulsively watchable pulp, provided you have a high threshold for decapitations and copulations, sometimes simultaneous.
  3. Reviewed by: Brian Lowry
    30
    To be fair, the program does improve marginally after the premiere, but by then the bar's set so low a three-legged horse could clear it.

See all 22 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 30 out of 49
  2. Negative: 17 out of 49
  1. deafheaven
    7
    I like it. Some of the acting was a little weak but the major players were quite good. Loved the look of it but recognize that many will not. I think comic book fans will "get it" more than others. The freeze frames with the blood splattering are typical comic book images. Looks like it's going to be a weekly guilty pleasure for me. Expand
    • 2 of 2 users said yes
  2. BrandonS.
    5
    Incredibly violent and sexually explicit, t's about as subtle as a battering ram. But it's got a lot of talent involved, and it has potential. Did I mention it's really really violent? Definitely not of the same quality as Rome, but I'm going to stick with it for a while and see how it goes. Expand
    • 0 of 0 users said yes
  3. Looks like a Xena: warrior princess episode with gay soft porn in it. This show is all about making money out of the 300 trend without spending too much on scenarists, actors, director. Look elsewhere for historical accuracy. Expand
    • 1 of 1 users said yes

See all 49 User Reviews

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