Spartacus

The Bitter End (Season Finale)

I don't know about "bitter," but it worked. The prequel as a whole did what it was meant to, which was to add layers to Batiatus and Lucretia and restate / revisit some of the thematic elements of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Specifically, it was about establishing just how corrupt Roman society is as motivator for Spartacus' rebellion. (Beyond the Dead Wife Syndrome.) This particular episode was a bit muted compared to the finale of Blood and Sand. Of course, when so much of everything rotated around poor dead Melitta... I mean, Gannicus is walking out the door and still takes time for One Last Anguished Glance.

I was suprised that they got Tullius out of the way as soon as they did. I presume it was to leave space for Solonius' turn against Batiatus. That might have been set up a bit more effectively if Solonius hadn't been so absent for the past couple of episodes. But the ending to Crixus and Ashur's tale worked for both characters. There was poor poor Diona (further maligned by the fact that I seem to have been spelling her name wrong the whole time) and her fate deepening the reasons why Naevia would be skittish around Crixus and then willing to risk so much for him.

And in the end, it was about John Hannah and Lucy Lawless powering the whole show. A riveting watch, start to bloody finish.

Reckoning

Doesn't really racket up the tension as high as the penultimate episode of Spartacus: Blood and Sand did. On the other hand, the whole miniseries has been a showcase for Lucy Lawless and John Hannah and they both deliver here in so many ways.

Hannah makes the moments with his father work so well, aided by Jeffrey Thomas - who I am so loving as Titus. His disgust at having to deal with Tullius, despair at his son, and fury at Lucretia, combine so well to paint this character as noble and principled, but unable to break beyond his own perceptions and traditions.

Beneath the Mask

Gaia's end was unexpected. (As much as bloody death can be said to be unexpected on this show.) I had her pegged for a showdown with Lucretia, but it turned out Gaia was a true friend in the end. Albeit, one who probably should have reconsidered some of her life choices. The "upstairs" plots continue to be strong with this and the Titus/Batiatus tension.

"Downstairs," however, is weak. The thing with Gannicus and Melitta just feels so old. Is that really the best the writers can come up with here? I'm half hoping that Ashur is the one to out them. I'd be on his side at that point: anything to stir this up for real instead of half-conversations and longing looks.