Oh my god! Spartacus: Blood and Sand!

[fembuck]

You guys, I don't quite understand it you guys, but this show has gotten sooooo good!  Like I don't mean it just sucks less than it did at the beginning, I mean that it has become honest to god riveting TV. 

Episode 6 was the first one that really made me stop and be like, "wait ... wait ... WAIT ... I'm I sitting here speechless after a fucking episode of Spartacus:  Blood and Sand?" and I was.  Honestly, I just sat there fucking stunned by how amazing the episode was.

Now, I've just finished watching the last two episodes and *blinks*  what?  I don't even THE SHOW BROKE MY BRAIN!  I'm just thinking about it and thinking about it, and thinking about it and it's like ...



But more than any other episode, 1x09 "Whore" blew my fucking mind.  Blew it.  Up into little pieces.  My mind.  Blown.  The last scene with Lucretia and Ilithyia was like O_o forever.  Any fan of Lucy Lawless just needs to grab "Whore" and watch it because Lucy is phenomenal.   Lucretia is fucking scary as hell ... and it's really being to turn me on.  The woman is so *crying and shaking* she makes me want to hide under the bed ... and then crawl under the covers in service to my domina.  Also, in a shameless attempt to try and get people to watch this episode Lucy Lawless kisses another woman TWICE in this episode! (I'd feel bad playing the Xena GoGA card, but this episode is awesome and everyone should watch it).



Also, and I know that the character has divided fan opinions from the beginning, but Viva Bianca is kind of a revelation as Ilithyia.  She has added a depth and subtly to the character that I never expected to be there in the beginning.  I don't care how much you hated Ilithyia after the first few episode, if you do not want to hug her (ep.8 aka "Mean Girls Capua") and aren't a little fucking scared of her (ep. 9 aka "Stop Laughing") then Siberia would be jealous of the deep icy depths of your heart.  Without exaggeration.  My heart is in pain right now.

Another pleasant surprise is that with episodes 8 and 9 Spartacus has developed a bit of a personality and has started to display some brains.  His personality is the personality of a huge douche, but honestly it makes me like him.  Spartacus has turned into a cunning and shrewd little bitch and me likes it.  I have actually started to pay attention to scenes he's in.  Andy must be so glad they're giving him a chance to act now, cause he's actually pretty okay at it when Spartacus isn't doing his best impression of a judgmental 2x4.

Oh, also Erin Cummings fans she's featured in episode 6 and episode 7.

Spartacus 1x06 - Delicate Things

Spartacus 1x07 - Great and Unfortunate Things

Spartacus 1x08 - Mark of the Brotherhood

Spartacus 1x09 - Whore

WARNING:  if you are sensitive to gory images you might want to take a look at the note below to know when to cover your eyes.  The descriptions will contain very minor spoilers and could save you a bad night's sleep.

MAY CONTAIN SLIGHT SPOILERS

Mark of the Brotherhood and Whore both contain shots that I wish I had never seen.  If you want to avoid mentally scarring yourself  put your hand over your face: 

In episode 8 after you see the first nail driven into the man being crucified (if you want to know what visual your missing just listen to Lucretia's dialogue when the hammering is going on and you'll realize what it is).

and

In episode 9 after Ilithyia is all like "Stop laughing!  Stop laughing!" and kind of pounces.  Just turn your head away.  Trust me.

Also, there's like a 2 second flash at the very end of this episode that you'll want to avoid looking at, because it's the small gross visual from the 'stop laughing' scene.

Comments

[trancer21.livejournal.com]

I'm a couple episodes behind but, dayum, how the heck did you get a hold of eps 8&9? You are like the SUPREME QUEEN of Crack Dealers!! But, yeah, I'm actually surprised at how much I'm liking Spartacus. It was definitely shaky in the beginning but they seem to be finding a groove now.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

You are like the SUPREME QUEEN of Crack Dealers!!

I just found the episodes today and had to watch them! And I'm so glad they did. This show has really become MUST SEE TV for me. I cannot express to you how awesome things get.

It was definitely shaky in the beginning but they seem to be finding a groove now.

It has definitely hit its stride. I mean things are just crazy insane, but I've found that I actually give a shit about these characters now and I'm even interested in characters like Ashur and Barca and Crixus who I didn't really give a shit about at first.

Hurry up and catch up so that we can squee about this gurl, cause I know you're gonna have some things to say about the last two eps!

[(Anonymous)]

*Ahem*

http://img242.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=58131_ErinCummings_SpartacusBloodandSands01e07hdtv720pbyDeepAtSea07_46_04_122_554lo.jpg

Erin Cummings, get in me now!

[blackgrl71.livejournal.com]

yeah, it's BEYOND too bad that she doesn't have a more prevalent part. i'm also a lil' "in heat" over Naevia.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was really sad when I realized that she wasn't going to be a regular character, and with a year having passed in the course of the show and new love interest being introduced for Spartacus I'm beating we don't get much more Erin :( Woe.

Let's hope pilot casting season is good to Ms. Cummings and we'll get to see her weekly on another show.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

lol! Thanks for that!

Sura was hot stuff in episode 7. I can't say that I'm surprised they killed her off, but I am sad that as time passes Erin flashbacks are less likely to happen.

Let's hope pilot casting season is good to Ms. Cummings and we'll get to see her weekly on another show.

[blackgrl71.livejournal.com]

yeah, i'm really diggin' the side characters who have become more interesting than Spartacus. while i LIKE the character of Batiatus; i still keep 'seeing' him as the goofball brother from the Mummy series.

Lucy has DEFINITELY gotten better & i DEARLY hope she or Naevia 'open up a can of whup-ass' in the end on the "white woman everyone loves to hate" & "Mean Girls" personification: Ilithyia.

also i LOVE(D) the relationship between Barca & his twink-lover Pietros.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

i'm really diggin' the side characters who have become more interesting than Spartacus

For sure. The side characters are far more interesting, but I will say Spartacus isn't quite as boring now as he was before. Still not the biggest draw at all, but more interesting now.

Lucy has DEFINITELY gotten better

Word. I feel very proud of her, which is stupid, but I do.

DEARLY hope she or Naevia 'open up a can of whup-ass' in the end on the "white woman everyone loves to hate" & "Mean Girls" personification: Ilithyia.

Well, if you want Ilithyia to get whupped your going to be happy with the last few episodes. She certainly gets hers. I actually have kind of loved Ilithya (not even loved to hate, just loved) since the second episode so episodes 8 and 9 made me really sad for her.

If you like ruthless, scheming Lucretia you'll love her current storyline. Bitch is so cold she could chill her drinks with ice chipped off of her heart (if she could find it that is). I love her :)

also i LOVE(D) the relationship between Barca & his twink-lover Pietros.

Barca's fate killed me. I was so sad for him and Pietros. And then what happened to Pietros afterwards ... balling my eyes out. Oh show, you get me here *points to heart*

[heart1e55m00mba.livejournal.com]

OH DUDE. The end of ep 9 was fucking EPIC. And beyond all that epicness going down I'm totally digging the scheming of the side characters. It's amazing how much this show has improved in the span of a couple of episodes.

[blackgrl71.livejournal.com]

yeah, i wasn't exactly sure if i was gonna give up on it because Spartacus was SOOOO annoying. but the side characters & the scheming of Lucretia & Batiatus (scumbag husband) has made it very more interesting.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

OH DUDE. The end of ep 9 was fucking EPIC.

I KNOW RIGHT! I WAS LIKE SPEECHLESS! And I totally knew it was going to be Ilithyia in the mask for I was waiting for shit to go down for so long, and then it went down and I was like "Shiiiiiiiiit!"

I'm really interested to see Lucretia "taking care" of Ilithyia. It's awful but I really hope Ilithyia's mini-breakdown will inspire her to finally put the moves on Lucretia. Lurcretia cradling Ilithyia to her breasts at the end of the episode made me so sad for Ilithyia but also kind of turned me on, lol.

It's amazing how much this show has improved in the span of a couple of episodes.

It really is. I'm hard pressed to think of a show other than Dollhouse that managed to turn itself around so quickly.

[heart1e55m00mba.livejournal.com]

And I totally knew it was going to be Ilithyia in the mask for I was waiting for shit to go down for so long, and then it went down and I was like "Shiiiiiiiiit!"

I don't have your mad divining skillz, but I knew something was up when that scene started. I was expecting some sort of bitch fight, not for Ilithyia to go off the deep end. That shit was brutal.

It's awful but I really hope Ilithyia's mini-breakdown will inspire her to finally put the moves on Lucretia.

You are not alone with this train of thought. That's kind of exactly where my mind went as soon as Lucretia offered to keep Ilithyia hidden in her house.

It really is. I'm hard pressed to think of a show other than Dollhouse that managed to turn itself around so quickly.

Aww, don't remind me about Dollhouse. Fox needs to go DIAF.

[madndizzee.livejournal.com]

I watched the first episode and was all meh. The slow-mo blood spattering thing got old real fast. But since you gave it such glowing reviews and provided links, I may as well give it another go. :P

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

The first episode is very disappointing. The second is better and the quality just keeps going up (though they still way over use the slo-mo actions sequences). By episode 5 I bet you'll be hooked though, and after episode 6 I'm officially in love with this show.

[ralst.livejournal.com]

This was in my 'watch if/when the squeeing starts' pile, so I guess that means I'll be catching up this weekend.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

Definitely watch it. The quality of it has improved SO much from the beginning. The first episode is dreck and hard to get through, but the second is better. Then the quality really starts going up. I totally call that by the episode 6 you'll be in love with the show.

[ralst.livejournal.com]

Wow, the epic awfulness of the first episode is monumental. I would never had made it to the end or to the next two episodes if you hadn't assured me it got better. Truly, truly, awful. It was like something a teenage boy would create to rebel against his parents for telling him not to swear, think about naked ladies and smear the cat's blood all over the new carpet.

Fortunately, someone obviously bitch-slapped the hell out of the production team before the second episode, because that was a hell of a lot better. It still has a way to go before it gets great, but it's headed in the right direction, and I've already developed a soft spot for the social bitchiness between Xena and the blonde.

[karatam.livejournal.com]

Did you hear that the second season is being delayed because Andy Whitfield (Spartacus) has been diagnosed with cancer and is receiving treatment? His reps say that his prognosis is really good, but still, it's a scare

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

OMG, I hadn't heard that. That's so sad, but I'm very glad to hear that the prognosis for him is good. God, the big "C" is so scary.

[ad-astra4love.livejournal.com]

*flails* i had no idea eps 8 and 9 had leaked. thank you thank you thank you. i'm strangely addicted to this show. i'm praying for more erin via flashback (her death i didn't seem coming).

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I'm totally addicted to it now as well. I am like a jittery mess waiting for new episodes. I'm almost sad I watched the new ones because now that means I'll have to go two weeks with no new episodes.

Still, 8 and 9 were FUCKING AMAZING so I'm not really sad I watched them.

I don't think there are any Erin flashbacks in 8 and 9, but the episodes are both really, really good. Watch them and then come back here and squee. I'm going crazy with no one to ramble to about them :D

[ad-astra4love.livejournal.com]

i'm rather sad i won't get anything new for the next two weeks as well. but chin up, maybe there will be more leaks ahead! and uh... yes... well I don't even know where to start. and oh. SPOILERS for those who haven't seen eps 8 or 9. be warned.

spartacus. good starting point there. i like how he's developed. thank god there's more than cotton between his ears. i don't really believe his 'oh i <3 you dominus' bit at the end of ep 9 when batty apologizes to him. that must've been a fucking huge blow. screwing the woman who hates him, wife of the man who took his wife, and argh that was just awesome. i must be dense but i didn't see it coming. didn't see batty ordering sura to be killed either... i'm terrible at divination.

which brings me to lucretia. oh lucy lawless. you were deliciously evil and scary at the end, cradling poor Murderess Mistress Glaber. this woman plots evil just as well as her husband. i LOVED the glee on her face when she was all like 'oh look. illythia isn't done monkeying around with SPARTACUS. oh excuse me for this horrible faux pas'. i knew she would be a strong character but she blows me away. she really will not let anyone sink their claws into her crix-ass. what is poor nevia to do? and and and.... uh. OH the kisses. i love illythia's invasions of lucretia's personal bubble. she kisses her to show who's HBIC. so i loved when lucretia delicately plants one on her at the end of ep 9. they're irrevocably tied.

and i realize this is getting ridiculously long and i've only covered two characters in brief detail. jeez. i could gush for hours. i don't know what's to come but i know it'll be good. so many potential consequences from what's happened. the mysterious disappearance of the wife of a cousin of Big Roman Cheese won't disappear into the woodwork so easy. spartacus isn't done with mr. and mrs. glaber. spartacus WILL find out batty went and axed his girl. lucretia will continue to scratch and claw her way to the top of the roman catfight pile. crixus is on sparty's tail but with something to lose now. varo (sparty's bff) is a minor guy but i like him. i wonder how his wife's disappearance ties into all this... uhm. OH the new slave who spartacus spurned. i love her. she's no erin cummings but i'm wildly attracted. i'm hoping she'll be crafted into future love interest. she's got to report on varo's fam, right? asher + selonius = bad villainy planning. asher is such a smarmy, greedy, manipulative little bastard. he kicks ass but not on sand.

and last but not least. i just have to say how i love the blood, sand, history, and naked flesh this show packs in. i'm a sucker for swords and strong women. so thank you, starz. my least guilty pleasure of the week.

thoughts on my insanity?

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I didn't love it in the beginning but it has grown on me so much!

This. After the first two eps. I almost stopped watching, but I'm so glad I didn't. There has been a dramatic turn around in the quality of the show.

The scheming and conniving of Lucretia and Ilithyia is just so entertaining. Haha they are so twisted.

Oooh, you ain't seen nothing yet. Things get messy between these two. Lucretia has got more than a little Lady Macbeth in her, that's for sure.

p.s. Just found out that Julia Voth's new movie 'The Anniversary' also has Erin Cummings in it. My shipper heart likes this.

Yeah, it's great isn't it? I saw some pictures of them on set a while back and did a happy dance. I really love the idea that they are BFF/secret lovers, lol

[lostingeekdom.livejournal.com]

I've downloaded it. I'll watch this sometime, I swear. It's in my to-do list, right along with watching "Bitch Slap" ::cringe:: I know I suck as a femslash fan . Thanks for the crack. I'm one of those who're super squeamish about violence and definitiely need the warning :)

[tempest819.livejournal.com]

Oh good, i'm not the only one who thinks the quality of the show turned around big time. ;-)

I TTA, after the first 4 or 5 episodes the show really found its footing. Now that the writers/producers have gotton over the thrill of 'yay, we can curse as much as we want, show sex as much as we want and no one can say no cause we're on pay cable now' they finlly got back to the task of actually creating interesting characters and plot lines.

I think one of the coolest moments was Lucretia kissing Ilythia at the end of ep 9. Not for the titilation of it, because the moment didn't really bring that up for me, but, for the use of it as a way to show the change in dominance in their relationship. I remember in the earlier episodes when Ilythia kissed Lurcretia a couple of times and Lucretia looked flabergasted. I thought Lucy Lawless's choice in reacting that way was odd because considering how free sexually every character is on that show, I didn't think Lucretia would be unnerved just because another woman kissed her. But, now I see, and your comment helped illustrate, that Lurecita responded to those earlier kisses because she was uncomfortable with Illythia feeling so comfortable 'invading her space' and because Illythia seemed to use those kisses as a way to put Lucretia in her place, ya know. Like, I'm gonna kiss you just for the fact that I can and you can't refuse. It was a power trip and now that power is back in Lucretia's hands she's all about returning in kind!

Love it! I thougt that was really clever. Of course my endorsement doesn't really mean much. I'd probably be riveted if you dangled keys in front of me. Oooo, shiny!

[lilcam2525.livejournal.com]

I have never been so vindicated to have a Netflix subscription than these last couple of episodes. 'Whore' was such a delicious little mind-screw that I may rewatch just for the hell of it.

"Stop Laughing" might just haunt me something fierce. And Lucy with Viva? Genius! I wouldn't mind some more Mira screentime either.