Spartacus: Vengeance

[Rendakor]

Yeah, Doctore's wife was SUPER hot.  Off the charts.  Naevia doesn't really do it for me.  Nor does Mira, really.

Ilythia is the business, too, but so is that new noble chick...the sister of the other Prater.  Sephia or something?  Look forward to her banging Ilythia.

Seppia, and she's my favorite of this season. I liked Sura as well.

[murdoc]

I pretty much got caught up on this on the weekend and I'm not finding it quite as good as the other seasons. Only thing I can really think of is that it's weaker after taking it pretty much out of the arena. Too many brooding characters, Even Spartacus is becoming somewhat of a one-note cliche.

The previous seasons had twists and turns and a little bit of humour that made it good, so far this season hasn't had much of that.

[Ironwood]

While I'm still enjoying it enormously, I'm missing Hannah.

Really, really missing his character.  I'm starting to realise that his character and the warmth that Whitfield brought were what made it for me.

[murdoc]

While I'm still enjoying it enormously, I'm missing Hannah.

Really, really missing his character.  I'm starting to realise that his character and the warmth that Whitfield brought were what made it for me.

I think that must have a lot to do with it. It just seems to be missing something. I still am enjoying it, but it's just not to the extent I have enjoyed it previously.

[Ironwood]

I've also noticed that the 'latin speak' is toned down, which annoys me.  I also miss the often exclamations from Hannah about Jupiters Cock.  That always made me laugh, no matter the context.

[angry.bob]

While I'm still enjoying it enormously, I'm missing Hannah.

Really, really missing his character.  I'm starting to realise that his character and the warmth that Whitfield brought were what made it for me.

Yeah, I think the original cast had a really great chemistry with each other and a portrayal of their characters that made the show greater than it would otherwise be. As simple as a character as Spartacus really is, Whitfield made him feel believable and real. The new guy is trying but pretty much character on the show now feels interchangable with any other character of the same gender with a couple of exceptions. Does anyone know if they have new writers?

Anyway, something seems to have gone wrong because I'm finding the most sympathetic character so far to be Glaber and that cannot be intentional.

[Bunk]

I think part of the issue is with the character they've given Glaber. He's just so brooding and emo, where as you had Batiatus, who would run around raving about Jupiter's Cock and trying to break shit. I think the actor is handling Glaber quite well, it's just a dull character.

The Syrian on the other hand - it looks like he's going to start getting to show off just what an utter cock he can be, which is a good thing. Plus he really looks like a smarmy, evil douche after the shave.

I really want to like the new Spartacus, but he's just not reaching me - not able to empathize with the character.

[Ironwood]

I'd like to make clear that while this is low level bitching is still probably the best game in town.

[Velorath]

While I'm still enjoying it enormously, I'm missing Hannah.

Really, really missing his character.  I'm starting to realise that his character and the warmth that Whitfield brought were what made it for me.

I think that must have a lot to do with it. It just seems to be missing something. I still am enjoying it, but it's just not to the extent I have enjoyed it previously.

I think it's picked up a bit with Gannicus showing up and more focus on Ashur (I think the last two episodes in fact have been really good), but yeah, the cast from the first season was a lot better.  No Whitfield, Hannah, or Jai Courtney.  The old Naevia was a lot better.  Oenomaus needs more screen time.  Agron seems less interesting without his brother around.  Could use less Lucretia and Ilithyia.

[Aez]

It's still a good show but can't compare to the original.  The new Spartacus and the new Naevia are awful. Liam McIntyre (New Spartacus) is ridiculously small, he looks like a child compared to the other gladiators.  Ashur used to be the small one in the Brotherhood but he now looks more dangerous than Spartacus. The height I could forget but he's not even cut. He's especially bad for the fighting scenes and his angry face is pathetic.

Compare :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2CqtNeRK_w
to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNdutDDCUQU

It's not even close.

I know he's overbudget but they needed this guy :



The rest of the show is awesome.

[MuffinMan]

Compare :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2CqtNeRK_w
to
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHxn8mTpAJU

It's not even close.

I disagree, Spartacus is VERY similar in both of those you linked.

[Aez]

Hehe, I double checked but figured out It was ok because the codes were different.  Oh well, I'll edit the original post.

[Cyrrex]

I will echo that I miss Hannah's character a great deal.  His was some of the best swearing ever on film.  I don't hate Liam in any way, but Andy was just really, really good.

Crixus has always been one of my favorites, so there is still that.  The show still has its moments, but I suppose it has lost a little something.

But yeah, this is the picking of nits.  Still my favorite show.

[JWIV]

Just catching up to it now (I'm really behind due to work and kid crap).  Two episodes in, and god do I miss John Hannah and his insanity. I seriously almost cheered tonight when we had a flashback sequence and someone swore about slipping cock into ass.  It made me so very happy.   

[Cyrrex]

I suppose this technically counts as a necro, now that we have all travelled 2 years into the future....

Anyway, got caught up this last weekend and watched the last four episodes.  Things are looking up! 

-The re-insertion of Gannicus into the series helps things out immensely.  Really great character (and well acted).
-Ashur fucking rules.  Loved it when Glaber made him "prove his boast"    He could have his own prequel series.
-Starting to appreciate Glaber more.  You start to believe he is becoming a sympathetic character, and then he becomes a total asshole instead.
-Faces getting motherfucking sliced off.  And brains seeping out.  Oh my.
-T&A goodness.

I was really feeling the post-Andy dreariness, but my optimism has returned.

[Ironwood]

I actually preferred it when Ashur was sneaky and sly, rather than just an out and out evil murdering rapist.

He's really lost any charm he once had.

[Cyrrex]

I don't know...for me it was always his backstabbing douchiness that made him interesting, and he still has all that in spades.  It probably helps that I watched the last four episodes back-to-back.  He is going to end up in deep shit with Glaber again sooner or later.  .  There is every chance he will soon revert back to his usual scorned self.

And while I don't care much for the rape thing, it still gave me that Oh Snap reaction that these writers always seem to invoke.

[tgr]

The rape thing made me go more "wait, what? ", which is one of the things I love about this show. They're still pretty good at just throwing hilariously unexpected curveballs.

[Cyrrex]

Yeah.  And whether you like it or not, it kinda fits pretty well.  I'm sure he was pretty well fucking fed up after all the years of servitude, and now he is paying it back in a way that his asshole personality deems appropriate.

Anyway, she won't take it lying down.  So to speak.

[Ironwood]

That's the only way the writers can redeem it.  Use it as an opportunity to show the Steel that is Lucretia.

"Sure, I'm getting painfully sodomised and humiliated by an ex slave of mine, but I've just spotted a bracelet that's going to fuck up your day."

[Ginaz]

Wow.  If that was the season ending episode...holy fuck.  You think half the cast had the last name of Stark.

[Ironwood]

Holy Shit.

[Samwise]

Fuck you all!  Now I have to go find this on bittorrent.

[Evildrider]

Awesome ending, they really cleaned house on the cast though. 

[Bunk]

I don't know whether they plan another season to cover the "war" or not, but if they don't, this was a pretty fitting finale. I figured there'd be some twists regarding what happened at the villa, but that was certainly not one I anticipated.

[Aez]

Liam McIntyre grew on me on the last 3 episode. 

You know it's going to be a massacre when the first major character die and they don't even spend a full scene on him.

[nurtsi]

Season 2 (or whatever you call it) may have started a bit iffy, but the last few episodes really reminded me of the quality of the first season. The show still managed some awesome scenes and WTF moments that I don't think anyone could see coming. I had my doubts about Liam McIntyre as well. He had some big boots to fill. As the season progressed, I think he nailed the role pretty damn well.

The show has been renewed for a third season. I wonder how they are going to handle the roman legions and increased scale if the show follows history somewhat accurately.

[Cyrrex]

Well, damn.

I think Liam did a fine job, and were it not for memories of Andy doing this role, he was a wholly decent Spartacus.  It's just that Andy was amazing.

 

[tgr]

I think the fact they're not afraid of anything is what'll save the next season. And yes, Liam did a fine job, particularly towards the end. I think the main problem I had at first was the fact that he wasn't Andy, who'd built the role, and he probably just hadn't gotten into the role yet. I think he has, now.

[Samwise]

Just finished catching up on this.  Wow.

I'm almost disappointed they're doing a third season, because that was a solid finale.

[Speedy Cerviche]

Halfway through this season catching up... So far haven't been as wow'd. It's kind of been one giant chase so far, which I guess makes sense since it's a slave escape, but still... It doesn't help that the Roman intrigue isn't as interesting. They probably should have spared Batiatus from the massacre instead of his wife, he was by far the most interesting Roman.  Lucretia isn't nearly as interesting, tho I'm really starting to like psycho-blondie, she's still no Batiatus, and her main target of her intrigues, her husband is such a waxwork, always hanging around as sir buzz killington. Homefully he'll be offed soon.

So far McIntyre is growing on me, but I wish he would smile once or twice. I am pretty sure it's zero while Whitfield had a charming killer smile that made him a lot more likeable and not just as an actor-character, but also his character believable as a leader, cuz you can see people following him not just because of his honour, cunning and skills, but cuz of some personal charm too. McIntyre so far is just kind of barking and scowling.

[shiznitz]

Overall the season was good, but no Batiatus is hurting it for me.  The final eps were hurt by the low budget - in the sense that there should be more romans and more slaves overall at this point.   

[HaemishM]

I finally watched the whole of season 2. It started REALLY slow. I almost gave it up after the first episode, but kept on. There were weak moments, the biggest being the lack of John Hannah as Batiatus - he really stole the show in the first season/prequel season. I think McIntyre did grow into the role, especially as he and the writers got more comfortable with the story they were trying to tell this season. Lucretia's final act surprised the fuck out of me. I knew Ashur would die but was hoping he wouldn't, as he has been one of my favorite characters. The show really got better when Gannicus returned because that character and actor really bring something to the series.

With the cast sweep outs they did in the finale, season 3 is going to have a helluva job on its hands.