[Rob Babcock]

Yikes!   What a doozy of a finale!   Liam goes a long ways towards making Spartacus his own!  I will post no spoilers but the world will be very different in S4, and of course in some ways for the worse.   But overall it was a great episode!

[krikor]

My wife and I both enjoyed the first season, but the violence, blood, gore and sex (often blended in the same scenes) got to be too much for her and I've become the solitary watcher in our house.  I agree... great wrap up to the third season yesterday!  Hope it continues, though I was sad to see one of the main characters die off (no spoiler).

[kbuzz3]

This show is great trash aka popcorn tv.  One thing not mentioned is very good use of the 5.1 surround effects!

now as stated above, this season was very uneven to say the least.  Way up and down and often bogged down e.g. the woman who tried to kill the praetor not pretty and boring.....

However, the finale was excellent. characters came and went and certainly ended opratern a high note. 

Also not sure but i think that the vines going down vesuvius was based on some historical fact....

[kingdeezie]

This show is great trash aka popcorn tv.  One thing not mentioned is very good use of the 5.1 surround effects!

now as stated above, this season was very uneven to say the least.  Way up and down and often bogged down e.g. the woman who tried to kill the praetor not pretty and boring.....

However, the finale was excellent. characters came and went and certainly ended opratern a high note. 

Also not sure but i think that the vines going down vesuvius was based on some historical fact....

I would have to completely disagree with you here. At its best, Spartacus is one of the better written shows on television right now. I don't know what you would consider the opposite of "trash," but I would have to disagree that the show is trash by any stretch of the imagination.

Yes, the vines are based on actual historical events.

I did find the show was very uneven this season, but given all of the obstacles it has had to endure, I am quite happy with the overall season.

The finale was excellent, and like I stated before, when the writing is on, its ON.

See you in 2013 for Season 3!

[django11]

As a history buff I was looking forward to Spartacus.  I just recently got HBO and watched the first episode.  I only got about 10 minutes in as I found it to be a pointless gore fest.  I "watched" (while on the computer at the same time) maybe half of another episode which culminated in the nasty fellow getting his face sliced in two length wise. We got a lengthy view of this. 

I really don't care for the graphic violence.  In my view it is unnecessary and doesn't carry the story.   I haven't watched enough to comment on the writing.  I can't say there was any memorable dialogue.

[chrisby]

I would have to completely disagree with you here. At its best, Spartacus is one of the better written shows on television right now. I don't know what you would consider the opposite of "trash," but I would have to disagree that the show is trash by any stretch of the imagination.

Yes, the vines are based on actual historical events.

indeed, as unreliable at our friend Wikipedia might be, a quick perusal there reveals that there could be than a bit of historical accuracy to the overarching  story line- and of course it wouldn't be particularly thrilling entertainment if some artistic license weren't taken with minor details

I did find the show was very uneven this season, but given all of the obstacles it has had to endure, I am quite happy with the overall season.

The finale was excellent, and like I stated before, when the writing is on, its ON.

See you in 2013 for Season 3!

the writing quality and opinions as to the relevance of  explicit gore, sexuality and profanity aside, this is some of the best production values and most distinctive visual style I can remember seeing on the tube in years  - if masters of the big screen epics were conscripted to this medium, how many could maintain this level of work for what's it been, over 60hrs of screen time? 

"Game of Thrones" debuted second season last night, and it's still on my PVR, so I'll likely have to avoid the forums 'til viewing it - but by comparison it's almost Masterpiece Theater.

[kbuzz3]

Great comments from everyone. Glad to see the show is still firing on all cylinders and there will be a new season.  Agreed that production values are excellent.  As a semi joking matter re dialog i would like to see the end of questions, statements and comments utilizing the word "purpose"

I dont have a script generator but its got to be the most overused word on the show. 

[chrisby]

I don't have a script generator but its got to be the most overused word on the show.

well, actually the only one you can type here

[kbuzz3]

well, actually the only one you can type here

You are right I should have qualified that as none curse word.

[Tyson]

Great movies are like great short stories.  Great TV series are like great novels.  IMO, Spartacus is a great TV series. 

[chrisby]

Great movies are like great short stories.  Great TV series are like great novels.  IMO, Spartacus is a great TV series.

funny you say that,  I was chatting with my son the other day (28yo), and as often does, the question of "whatcya watchin?" came up  - so we swap a few names, and one of his telling comments was "I can handle a 3hr movie (say, Watchmen - which I quite liked myself), but those series that go on and on - I just lose interest"

I'd almost blame it on the Nintendo generation, but his mom's the same way - anything longer than 1 hr at a stretch is entirely for hypnotic / sleep aid purposes (even though that doesn't really work)

back to subject of this thread - being even loosely based on historical events, it'll be interesting to see how artfully this series might be continued / concluded - 'cause there's not much doubt about the major "data points"   

[Bigfish]

My wife and I both enjoyed the first season, but the violence, blood, gore and sex (often blended in the same scenes) got to be too much for her and I've become the solitary watcher in our house.  I agree... great wrap up to the third season yesterday!  Hope it continues, though I was sad to see one of the main characters die off (no spoiler).

This was exactly what took place in our home.  My wife did not like the bloody violence and the brutal sex scenes so she quit watching.  It is hard to imagine that next season can improve on this one!

[Noseyears]

Just a quick update about the Series:
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/starz-spartacus-julius-caesar-marcus-crassus-299087

Anyone knows when the next season is coming?

[Lissnr]

I was fortunate to catch the entire series from the get go and was quite taken by it (I was also a huge fan of ROME of which I now have both complete seasons  thanks to Santa a few years ago...). I thought Andy Whitfield defined the Spartacus roll brilliantly and was truly saddened by his loss...[and for his young family's grief]. I didn't expect much when they ran the sequel but found it also well worthwhile and am very pleased they did such a good job with the second season... I saw an interview with the "new" spartacus - to - be who was very humble and unassuming and I think, considering the shoes he had to fill, he has also done an excellent job as the new lead.
While my wife also can't handle too much of the gory graphics, I find it all completely appropriate and involving, along with well written dialog and acting. I like this stuff! WAAAAY better than your average network dreggs and please get the reality stuff away from my living room.  I'm looking forward to season 3.

[weitrhino]

I've watched it all since episode 1 and started mainly due to the relentless promo spots Starz was running for months in advance.  As for this just completed season, I felt it started off slow and seemed to be losing intensity.  Part of that may be because everyone, myself included, was studying Liam as Andy's replacement so it took me a couple of episodes to relax into the transition.  Andy was excellent but I've since become accustomed to Liam although he seems a bit small for the role as defined by Andy.  I'll be interested to see if he bulks up by the next season.  Glaber really shined as did Ashur but I tired of the Ilythia/Lucretia drama and was surprised to find out the Naevia character changed.  Honestly, I had a harder time with that change than I did for the title character.

Starz has pissed me off a little bit.  Since when does 10 episodes constitute a full 'season?'  It seems we're about 3 hours short.

[Noseyears]

I'm looking forward to season 3.

It will be a long wait, till 2013. ahhhh 

[chrisby]

Starz has pissed me off a little bit.  Since when does 10 episodes constitute a full 'season?'  It seems we're about 3 hours short.

while the graphic violence and sex/nudity is certainly not family fare - (hey, gramma, wanna come watch on my new big screen?), even a shortened season of this show continues to exemplify riveting story telling and outstanding production values from which most other broadcast networks and more than a few big screen veterans took take some refresher lessons

"Terra Nova" anyone?