Spartacus: Blood and Sand: Season 1

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 471 Ratings

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8.3

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8.3	Your Score
8.3	User Score Universal acclaim based on 471 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

Vertex | Starz | Season Premiere Date: January 22, 2010

Starring: Lucy Lawless, Erin Cummings, John Hannah

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."

Creator: Steven S. DeKnight

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E13. Kill Them All
Air Date: April 16, 2010
tbd
S1:E12. Revelations
Air Date: April 9, 2010
tbd
S1:E11. Old Wounds
Air Date: April 2, 2010

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Ken Tucker

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. Read full review

Paige Wiser

There's no denying that stylized decapitations are entertaining, especially when accompanied by a generous helping of soft porn. Read full review

Zap2it (Inside the Box) Hanh Nguyen

Eventually, the series makes way for just enough plot to give our poor, overstimulated eyes a rest. There's a bit of political maneuvering, fierce rivalries, the examination of slavery vs. free will, ludus-yard hazing and even romance. Read full review

San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times

Chuck Barney

Some viewers will be riveted to the sex, violence, beautiful nude bods and sensory gluttony of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Others will be turned off almost instantly. Read full review

Robert Bianco

There's no denying that Spartacus does what it sets out to do fairly well--and in a way that doesn't duplicate anything else now on TV. Were it broadcast free over the air where children might find it, one might blanch, but that's not the case. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Matt Roush

Spartacus is derivative as entertainment and primitively pandering as a diverting spectacle of campy historical fiction. Read full review

Tim Goodman

Spartacus is an exercise in some of the worst writing, acting and directing you'll ever see (or not). Read full review

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User Score

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8.3

User Reviews

nonchalantgamer

Jan 13, 2014

this show was incredible! i thought it was great and had plenty of action in it as well as good acting lead by Andy Whitefield(R.I.P :/) and john hannon. alot of people complain that there is alot of sexual content in it but i honestly don't care 1. being 18 lol and 2., because it depictsthis show was incredible! i thought it was great and had plenty of action in it as well as good acting lead by Andy Whitefield(R.I.P :/) and john hannon. alot of people complain that there is alot of sexual content in it but i honestly don't care 1. being 18 lol and 2., because it depicts the actual life of Rome back in that time which was filled with it. the plot was great and it had very emotional moments and jaw dropping action definitely my favorite series on TV right now.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

WaGyu

Feb 10, 2011

I haven't watch any other TV series about the ancient gladiator thingy. So so far this is the best gladiatoral TV series i've ever watched. especially this season, each episode is interesting and each episode is not letting me down, keep me addicted to watch on the next episode. I understandI haven't watch any other TV series about the ancient gladiator thingy. So so far this is the best gladiatoral TV series i've ever watched. especially this season, each episode is interesting and each episode is not letting me down, keep me addicted to watch on the next episode. I understand why some people are whining about the nudity and gory stuff, but in my opinion its just to show and give us the point how the ancient rome back then.… Expand

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

JDnator

Oct 4, 2011

the series starts of SLOW and on a VERY small budget but the story just gets better and better. so some of the actors may not be "hollywood" (whatever that is) level, but they never are in these things and to be honest i have no issues with it anyway as i have bonded to many of thethe series starts of SLOW and on a VERY small budget but the story just gets better and better. so some of the actors may not be "hollywood" (whatever that is) level, but they never are in these things and to be honest i have no issues with it anyway as i have bonded to many of the characters in it with no probs. the ONE proper grumble i have is that they do need to tone down the nudity and bad language. i know i sound like a 90 year old there but its all a little overdone to the respect it losses its meaning SOMETIMES, a lot of the time its good though. its a crying shame one of the lady's (no spoiler) has to die so soon because she was HOT. any way the main reason i give this a 9 is because i have never felt so much about characters in a series, this has to be good because im engaged in the story. a story which gets very good later in the series. the episode "party favors" shocked me so much to the core i was just left speechless. no other tv series has had that effect on me so for that i think this is a WIN and i cant wait for the next one.… Expand

5 of 7 users found this helpful52

dj_stevie_c

Aug 23, 2010

After watching the first episode I wasn't sure what I was getting into. The second and third episodes didn't help much but I really found myself getting into the series and the characters as the series went along. I think some may have been a bit over-sensitive about the nudity andAfter watching the first episode I wasn't sure what I was getting into. The second and third episodes didn't help much but I really found myself getting into the series and the characters as the series went along. I think some may have been a bit over-sensitive about the nudity and blood, yes they are a bit over done sure but some of it IS plot worthy, for example showing how the slaves were treated by those above them, and how the Romans viewed anyone who wasn't one of them as something to be poked, prodded and laughed at (or cheered as they are killed), the plots towards the end of the series are woven together strongly and the seriously evil Batiatus and Asher pull off some stunning moves. Perhaps some who want to compare this to gladiator and 300 should watch those and then watch again, style wise I can't argue, but overall they are very different beasts. I found myself caught up in the sorrow of the minor characters like Crixus and Barca, the sad Mira who is just abused over and over again, and the sad Varro and his wife who, in my opinion, has the best 'kill' scene ever put down on film. I hope they learn plenty from what they did with the first season and I look forwards to more. It's not perfect, but it's very enjoyable.… Expand

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

deafheaven

Jan 25, 2010

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 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

3 of 3 users found this helpful

SteveCS

Nov 17, 2010

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It should have been titled "Spartacus: Kill, Scheme, Have Sex

Because that's what happens over and over again. Oh, and I forgot "Potty Mouth". Did the ancient Romans have no oaths other than "F**K!!!" and "Jupiter's C**K!"? For a highly advanced civilization, it would appear they had little imagination. Dialogue? Delivered in many cases with as much passion as the UPS driver requesting a signature. John Hannah is an exception; but he's a very fine actor. The man who plays Spartacus sleepwalks through most scenes, looking as if he's forgotten where he left his clothes. Even when his wife, his whole reason-for-being (we're told over and over again) lay dying in his arms, he showed all the emotion of a professional poker player with a good hand. He's the central character, and except for a few "AAARRRRRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH"'s, mainly when he's about to run someone through or decapitate them - he's boring. Just....boring. Some of the other actors have accents that thin the illusion to the point of causing it to disappear entirely; for example the guy who announces the "fights" in the pits. Imagine a New York Cabbie spouting psuedo-Shakespearian dialogue and you'll get the idea. In spite of all these shortcomings, it's good, dirty fun, and definitely good for a laugh.… Expand

1 of 8 users found this helpful17

C.D.

Jan 25, 2010

I was expecting something more...That had to be the biggest turd of a show. Horrible writing, acting, special effects. I couldn't stop laughing, not because it was funny, but because it was supposed to be serious. Watch at your own risk.

0 of 3 users found this helpful

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Seasons & Episodes

52

Series Overview
Season 1

52
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 22, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E13. Kill Them All
  Air Date: April 16, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E12. Revelations
  Air Date: April 9, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E11. Old Wounds
  Air Date: April 2, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E10. Party Favors
  Air Date: March 26, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E9. Whore
  Air Date: March 19, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E8. Mark of the Brotherhood
  Air Date: March 12, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E7. Great and Unfortunate Things
  Air Date: March 5, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E6. Delicate Things
  Air Date: February 26, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E5. Shadow Games
  Air Date: February 19, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E4. The Thing in the Pit
  Air Date: February 12, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E3. Legends
  Air Date: February 5, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E2. Sacramentum Gladiatorum
  Air Date: January 29, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E1. The Red Serpent
  Air Date: January 22, 2010