Wow, last nite’s episode was incredible.
I knew Titus wasn’t gonna make it out alive, and I figured he’d die pretty much the way it happened, but I was blindsided by how Melitta bought it.
Loved the orgy! The way the slaves were used as decoration. They way the one slave being furred was kind of a sideshow entertainment in the background while the noble Romans got on with the business of conspiring against one another and generally being flat-out evil! I guess I enjoyed it from a technical POV more than as simple entertainment, but technically … nicely done!
I meant accidental suicide, without the murder! So close…
FYI there was a Gannicus who was a leader of Sparty’s rebellion in real life. Who knows he might survive to be in season 3.
Interesting. Given that, I think it is almost a guarantee he shows up again. It will be a nice way to tie the prequel back into the current story.
I thought episode 5 was much better than 3 or 4. I loved Lucretia’s answer to Batiatus, Sr.'s deathbed question. When does Crixus get his hair cut? It appears that Jr. will still sell Ganicus.
Man, these guys who do this show sure know how to make a season finale. Not quite as good as the first season’s finale, but still pretty epic. (I did cringe a little at the obvious retcon, “Let us never speak the name of Gannicus or Tulius again within this house.” Minor criticism though). It seems that we now have a direction for the next season, if/when it happens.
Still waiting for it to hit Netflix…
Holy shit, the death of that last gladiator! Wow was that graphically brutal. :eek:
Lucretia agreed with you.
As it is a magnificent season finale. And a great lead up to season 3.
Two things
Was there a couple fucking in the crowd as we saw?
And
did the last scene hint that Batiatus is not dead. Lucretia is not
Still waiting. 
They aren’t going to pull some bullshit move like not offering the finale on streaming, are they?
I watched the finale on Netflix. It took a bit longer to reach Instant Watch than usual, but it’s up now.
I watched the first five episodes again in preparation for the finale and I think that as a whole the season (mini-season?) was fantastic. For me, Spartacus is one show where knowing how things turn out hardly diminishes my enjoyment at all, since the “how” is so much fun.
Enjoyed the finale but did anyone else get a Return of the King vibe with the ending(s)?
During the Onemaus/Gannicus sunlit goodbye I half expected four hobbits to come roiling out from the rocks for a slow-mo celebration.
quixotic78 - agree with you 100% I cringed big time.
I would love for Batiatus to have survived somehow. The show will diminish greatly without John Hannah in season 3.
The Roman general made a hell of a bad guy too though.
I’m just as happy with this shorter mini-story as I was with the original, and I still want more.
I also just re-watched Season 1 over a few days as well, which was nice. The political intrigue, manipulation and back-stabbing I find particularly compelling as a) believable and b) insightful commentary on various facets of current corporate culture.
Eh, the Roman General kinda seems like a generic bad guy. Presumably we’ll see more of him in the next season though.
I’m reviving this zombie for a question:
I finally caught up with the first season of this show (it was on my to-do list), and loved it. I generally watch series in order of broadcast, but I’m so anxious to go ahead with Spartacus’s rebellion that I’m not overeager to go back to a prequel. How important is it that I see “Gods of the Arena”? If I skip ahead to season 2, will I miss anything important?
I’d watch the prequel episodes. They do give some good background on Batistus and Solonius’s relationship, Batiatus’s relationship with his father, as well as a few other relationships from the first season. And personally, I thought the prequel season was better than the two following seasons (YMMV).
That said, I can’t remember that there is anything you’ll miss by skipping it, but there might be. It’s only six episodes, though, so I’d recommend watching it.
Gannicus becomes a fairly important character in the rebellion, getting his story is definitely worth while.