Dominus is also easier to spell and used more often when referencing the fabulously Romanesque John Hannah. 
They call the in-house Doctor, Medicus.
Here in NY, there are a half dozen of these walk in, minor medical facilities called…Medicus.
Heads up: the season finale is up on Netflix right now.
I just watched it, I can’t wait for next season, whenever that is.
Holy crap. *That *was a satisfying season finale. I really hope there will be more.
Satisfying is the word. I now must go figure out who is going to be joining the cast and what the chances are that it will get canceled…
From what I heard somewhere they caught it early and he’s expected to make a full recovery, which is good for many reasons.
The only thing I don’t like about the series is I know how it ends. Unless they do a “different universe” thing, it doesn’t end well.
I’m enjoying the ride while it lasts though.
eta: Oh, although I’m glad that Dominus got what he deserved, I was actually starting to get interested in how he’s trying to rise to the top.
Quite the season finale. I’ll miss John Hannah as Batiatus, though. With so many of the political movers dead, I hope they can get enough satisfying replacements for next season.
The major problem with next season will be that they no longer have the “Upstairs / Downstairs” dynamic to play with.
Not that that minor storytelling hurdle has dampened my enthusiasm for season 2; I wait with bated breath.
I read they are planning to make six prequel episodes in order to keep the writers/sets busy while Whitfield recuperates. I like this show a lot better than Rome, there i said it.
Wow - that season finale could also have been titled, “Karma’s A Bitch!” Excellent episode!
This was one hell of a first season, and I suspect it will be a big seller on DVD and Netflix rentals. Lots of people will have seen it before the next season starts. Starz should get ready for some blockbuster ratings when the next new season begins!
I have to agree with Ellis Dee - without the Upstairs/Downstairs aspect, I think the show might suffer a bit. Then again, the writers have done a damned fine job so far, so let’s see what they can do.
For those of you who have not seen it, let me say the series started off a bit - uh - unorthodox. To be honest, wasn’t quite sure I liked it at the beginning - but it grew on me every week until I was totally hooked by about the 3rd or 4th show. Stick with it and I think you will agree this first season ranks way up there with some of the best cable series.
Agreed. I found the first episode howlingly awful. I’m not even sure why I tuned in to the second episode, but I’m glad I did. I was completely addicted by the middle of the season and loved the finale.
Yeah, the show definitely grew by leaps and bounds since the first episode, which might have been one of the worst hours of television I’ve ever seen. Fortunately I stuck with it and it rewarded me greatly. Some of the acting is little stilted and the effects are not exactly cutting edge. However, the story lines and the writing more than make up for it.
Juno’s cunt, that ending was harsh.
Loved the ending. Nice for a series not to leave us hanging for a change. Wasn’t expecting such a large purge of characters but the name of the ep. was “kill them all” so I should have known.
Hopefully they keep this up with the 2nd season if Spartacus himself gets sorted out IRL.
It will be a very different show from now on as it won’t be confined to the gladiator school and the arena but I will give the writers a chance as they surprised me with the first seasons. Like many here I wasn’t really impressed at the beginning and it was only Xena’s tits that got me through the first few eps 
Great stuff and hopefully with a healthy lead we’ll get lots more.
I’m actually hoping they wrap it up with his famous fall in season 2. Not that I’m not totally digging it; I am. But in hindsight, despite how much I railed at the decisions at the time, I’m glad Deadwood and Rome were wrapped up prematurely because that gives them elevated status in my memory.
At the time I thought Deadwood and The Sopranos were tied for best show ever, with Rome far behind. (And Big Love behind Rome.) But now looking back I put Deadwood and Rome neck and neck at the top of the list, with The Sopranos pretty far behind mainly because as it dragged on and on it lost major cool points. (In hindsight memory; not at the time.)
So I see Spartacus as having a perfect 2-season arc, with no questions left unanswered.
That was a great finale. I’m a little worried about the next season, mainly because of budget. This show worked on a StarZ! budget because it was mainly shot inside the Ludus and in a CGI arena.
But now the story takes a turn for the epic. If you don’t know the story of the Third Servile War, and don’t care about possible spoilers, Wikipedia has a good entry on it. Man, no wonder the story of Spartacus gets told and re-told. It really is an amazing tale. Including the ending.
And is there a more dramatic battle than that of Spartacus vs Glaber? The slaves were besieged on Mount Vesuvius, and rappelled down the back of the mountain using vines and makeshift ladders, then flanked the Romans and destroyed them. That will be a cool battle, and a fitting confrontation with Spartacus’ last personal enemy.
That was a great finale. I’m a little worried about the next season, mainly because of budget. This show worked on a StarZ! budget because it was mainly shot inside the Ludus and in a CGI arena.
But now the story takes a turn for the epic. It’s going to be a lot harder to shoot an epic story on a small budget. Even Rome had budget problems, and it was a much bigger production than this. But I have faith in this show. It’s done pretty well so far.
But I am looking forward to the next events. Really the events up to the breakout from Batiatus’s Ludus were a minor part of the historical tale. If you don’t know the story of the Third Servile War, and don’t care about possible spoilers, Wikipedia has a good entry on it. Man, no wonder the story of Spartacus gets told and re-told. It really is an amazing tale. Including the ending.
And is there a more dramatic battle than that of Spartacus vs Glaber? The slaves were besieged on Mount Vesuvius, and rappelled down the back of the mountain using vines and makeshift ladders, then flanked the Romans and destroyed them. That will be a cool battle, and a fitting confrontation with Spartacus’ last personal enemy.
Looks like Andy Whitfield has finished his cancer treatment with a clean bill of health. Glad to hear it! I’m definitely looking forward to Season 2.
I’m about to re-watch Season 1 myself. Anyone else? It is still on Netflix Streaming, but who knows how long it will stay there.
According to Entertainment Weekly (hey, it was in the dentist’s office), Andy Whitfield has had a relapse of his lymphoma and won’t be returning. So the network is apparently looking to recast the role.