Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

[Cyrrex]

Decided to make a new thread, because of how awesome Spartacus is.  This shit is starting up again on January 21st.  Only a six part mini-series (a prequel!) to buy time while they prepare for the sequel.  Obligatory link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spartacus:_Gods_of_the_Arena

Anyway, this is going to be amazing.  I have no doubt.  Much of the original cast will still be there.  I hope like hell that Netflix will be picking this up via Starz Play again.

[Slayerik]

Nice.

[Mrbloodworth]

\o/

Yay!

[MuffinMan]

I'll still watch it for sure but it's making me sad to think that this is when the full 2nd season with Whitfield might have been airing. 

Thanks for the heads-up.

[Paelos]

Squee! 

[tgr]

Squee!

[Oban]

No Viva Bianca though :-(

[Evildrider]

The real question is, will Lucy Lawless finally wear her merkin!

[Velorath]

Starz has announced Andy Whitfield's replacment.

Australian actor Liam McIntyre will take over the role as the fierce Thracian warrior in Starz’ cult hit series.

The decision comes after a lengthy and difficult process to find a new lead on the show after star Andy Whitfield had to depart the series to resume treatment for cancer. Earlier this month, Starz decided to move forward with a second season as the number of contenders for the role narrowed.

“Since no one can really replace Andy, we realized that we should instead find an actor who can truly lead Spartacus forward,” said Starz president and CEO Chris Albrecht in a statement. “It was important to us to have Andy endorse the idea of recasting this part, which he did in the same heroic manner that he’s dealt with his whole ordeal. And that, coupled with our fortune in finding a young actor with the gladiator credentials and the acting ability of Liam, makes it easier for us to keep this hit franchise going.”

The actor, who was recently seen in HBO’s The Pacific, beat out a field of contenders that included Stephen Amell and Aiden Turner. McIntyre also appeared in Aussie series Neighbors and Rush. The Spartacus saga returns on Jan. 21 with the premiere of prequel series Gods of the Arena (trailer here). Season two of Spartacus: Blood and Sand will debut next year.

I still think that maybe the should have just come up with a new series instead of continuing on with Spartacus.  I'm really hoping that they surprise me though.  Can't say I really remember this actor from the Pacific, but that's probably more a failing of the show than it is the actor.  He does seem to have a similar look to Whitfield though.

I don't know, more than anything, anytime I hear news about Spartacus I always just end up thinking, "man, I hope Whitfield gets better".

[HaemishM]

I had to look him up, but I remember the character he played on the Pacific - Lew. I liked that character. Quiet, leader type. He might be a good replacement. I do hate the recasting but I think the writing and production crew can pull it off.

[MuffinMan]

This premiered last night, I require discussion from people who watched it. I probably won't get a chance to catch it until after Monday.

[waffel]

Half way through... and wow. Same awesomeness as the 'first season'

Plenty of killing.

Plenty of tits.

Plenty of fucking.

Many returning cast members.

Oh and there is some hot:

[Samwise]

Half way through... and wow. Same awesomeness as the 'first season'

Plenty of killing.

Plenty of tits.

Plenty of fucking.

Many returning cast members.

This is welcome news.  I've had this nagging fear that they would have somehow lost the magic.

I'm going to save this until we've finished [re]watching the first season, I think.  

[waffel]

My review of the first episode:
 

[Oban]

Pretty awesome, but Jaime Murray is no Viva Bianca.

[Evildrider]

all I have to say is 

[Segoris]

First episode lives up to the Blood and Sand season 1 level of awesome. The marketplace fight is quite possibly my new favorite fight from this series, and now I'm anxiously awaiting episode 2.
 

[Vaiti]

I was worried they might run out of steam. My worries were unfounded. This series and it's writing. It's got to be one of the few times I can't 100% predict what is going to happen and actual plot twist are clever.

[JWIV]

Fuck yes!  It's now on Starz! Play on Netflix!  I was worried I was going to regret canceling my movie package, and looks like I'm safe!

[Trippy]

Fuck yes!  It's now on Starz! Play on Netflix!  I was worried I was going to regret canceling my movie package, and looks like I'm safe!

Whoa! Awesome!

[Segoris]

Not only is it available there, but for those who without Starz or netflix, it is on Starz Screening Room. I don't know how long it will be there, but it's cool of them to have the full episode up.

[JWIV]

By Jupiter's cock, they in fact have not missed a beat with this.

 

[Zaljerem]

So far so good!

[Threash]

I liked how everyone looked slightly younger, specially how Crixus looked not nearly as buff as season one Crixus.  The fights were  , I am not disappoint.

[shiznitz]

This was excellent.  None of the slow build of cheese in the first season.  Lots of variety in the nudity, too!

[Cyrrex]

Fucking outstanding.  If only if were going to be a full season.  Makes me beyond optimistic for the future season(s) without Andy.

In honor of how awesome this was, I busted out my Blood and Sand blu rays (which are gorgeous, btw).  This is the first time I've re-watched the first season, and it's still great.  Amazing how much more of the politics and intrigue you pick up on second viewing.

[angry.bob]

It's got 100% more Jango Fett than season one. It's going to be great to see how they get from where they are now to where they were when season one started.

[Slayerik]

Just watched it....and hell yeah!

[Velorath]

Just watched the second episode.  In just about any other series, that would be a season finale.  In Spartacus, it's just a third of the way through.

[waffel]

Just holy shit. The second episode is literally pure awesome from start to ESPECIALLY end. Like Velorath said, this would easily be a season finale in other series.

I still can't get over the pure awesome of the last 10 minutes. Just unbelievable.

My complete review of the 2nd episode:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLUQ3tDLfHQ

[DLRiley]

Spartacus - Why television isn't this good all 7 days of the week I don't know. But I'm buying your DVD set while I torrent everyone else 

[Oban]

I agree, it is one of the few shows I would actually purchase on blu-ray. 

The second episode was quite powerful, here's hoping they can keep it up.

[Teleku]

This show seriously has set historical record as being the first TV show to successfully meld a Cinemax softcore porn series with an amazing storyline.  The writing, story, acting, style, EVERYTHING is amazing, but there is also glamorous over the top fucking and tits left and right.  The god damn episode ended in a three way between 3 main characters.  Previously, this only happened on Cinemax, and it certainly didn't have any of the aforementioned virtues going for it.  I can't believe how much I love both of the series so far.  When I watched the first episode, I thought the whole thing would turn to shit.

Also, black dudes wife is really really god damn hot.

[Oban]

[waffel]

duh