This Spartacus prequel series came about after the unfortunate illness contracted by series star Andy Whitfield. When he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma they had to put a hold on the production of the second season. Series creator Steven S. DeKnight decided to turn what had initially been intended as a single flashback episode in season 2 into a 6 episode mini-series. That Series is Gods of the Arena. Starring some familiar faces from the original series along with some new faces the story is set some five years before Spartacus' arrival at the House of Batiatus.
At the opening of the episode we see our first familiar faces, Batiatus (John Hannah), Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) and Solonius (Craig Walsh Wrightson), watching the games. The arena they are in isn't the grand arena we are used to from the season 1, that one is currently being built, and the relationship between the three isn't what we are used to either as they seem to be the best of friends. Batiatus has recently been put in charge of the family ludus and you can already see the beginnings of the scheming bastard he becomes. The current champion of the house is new character Gannicus (Dustin Clare), but there are some old friends at the ludus. Oenomaus (Peter Mensah) is back but he isn't doctore yet, Ashur (Nick Taraby) is a recruit yet to receive the mark of the brotherhood. Naevia (Lesley-Ann Brandt) and Barca (Antonio Te Maioha), returned from the dead, are also back, along with a new face in the form of Oenomaus' wife Melitta (Marisa Ramirez). The other new character that seems like she will be making a big impact on the series is Gaia (Jaime Murray) an old friend of Lecrutia's who has been recently widowed and returned to Capua. The villains of the piece are rival lanista Vettius and Capua noble man Tullius. Batiatus see's a way of gaining favor with Tullius, who has substantial influence over the games, by purchasing an unruly slave from him at an inflated price. That slave is Crixus (Manu Bennett). His attempt to capitalize on this gambit leads to a great battle between a blindfolded Gannicus and one of Vettius' men. After Gannicus is victorious Batiatus attempts to make his case to Tullius for his man to be included in the opening games of the new arena, Tullius has other ideas and offers to buy Gannicus for 200 Denari. When Batiatus refuses he is beaten and suffers the ultimate humiliation at the hands of Tullius.
All I can say about this debut episode is bra-fucking-vo. To face the kind of unforseen problems that this show has and for everyone to come together to build something this good from the ghost of an idea is amazing. Not only that, but to make it in a way that is as intriguing as it is interesting. On more than one occasion I got that...but wait...feeling. How did Batiatus and Solonius go from virtual brothers to bitter rivals? How does Oenomaus become doctore, especially whent the current one is Boba Fett's fucking dad, and what happened to his wife Melitta? How does Crixus go from tattered slave to champion of Capua? What happened to Gannicus? The change in Lucretia is intriguing as well, she seems much more innocent here, and you can clearly see the influence that Gaia will have on the Lucretia we know from season 1. All of this delivered with the liberal use of blood, sex and profanity we have come to know and love from the series. The cast was as amazing as ever and even the new additions seem like they really belong in this show. I look forward to all the questions being answered but have to wonder if they can do it properly in just 5 more episodes.
Network: Starz
Air Date: 01/21/11
Created by: Steven S. Deknight
Starring: John Hannah, Lucy Lawless, Peter Mensah, Dustin Clare, Nick Taraby and Manu Bennett
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