What I'm Lovin': Spartacus Blood and Sand (Episode Guide)

The series tells the story of a Thracian warrior who leads a rebellion against the Roman army that enlisted him so he can return home to defend his village from barbarians, only to be captured by the Romans. With his wife forced into slavery, the warrior is taken to Capua to be put to death by gladiators before the public. Here the warrior proves his worth as a fighter and is sent to the House of Batiatus to be trained as a gladiator, earning the name Spartacus. The series premiered on the Starz Network on January 22, 2010.

S01E01- THE RED SERPENT

In the series premiere, a Thracian warrior and his fellow fighters align themselves with Rome to protect their homeland. But disenchantment with the Romans soon sets in when their allies' battle strategies leave their villages unprotected from barbarian invaders. The warrior leads a rebellion and deserts the Roman army to return to his village and his wife. Invaders attack and he and his wife escape, only to be captured by the Romans. The warrior's wife, Sura, is forced into slavery and he and the other deserters are taken to the arena in Capua to publicly be put to death by gladiators where he proves his worth and is given the name Spartacus.

S01E02- SACRAMENTUM GLADIATORIUM

Enslaved warrior Spartacus enters the ludus of Batiatus to receive training to fight as a gladiator. He quickly makes an enemy of the champion of Capua, Crixus, and receives training by the whip-wielding taskmaster Doctore. He meets Varro, a fellow recruit, who becomes his ally in training. Spartacus's owner, the crafty Batiatus, makes him an offer he finds difficult to refuse. Spartacus faces the test which determines whether he is fit to be a gladiator and bests Crixus through the use of a small ribbon of cloth belonging to his wife when Crixus stops fighting to gloat. Spartacus swears to the oath of the brotherhood of the gladiator.

S01E03- LEGENDS

As the gladiators prep for an important competition that will be the highlight of a festival, Spartacus cleverly maneuvers to secure the right to battle Crixus, the unbeaten champion of Capua, in the main event. Despite Lucretia's objections, Batiatus reminds her that Spartacus' bravery and previous exploits have "struck a chord with the public's interest." Meanwhile, Crixus is desired by a number of noblewomen, but he is enamored of one of Lucretia's slaves (Naevia).

S01E04- THE THING IN THE PIT

Spartacus' disgrace at surrendering to Crixus leads Batiatus to punish him by forcing the Thracian to fight in the "pits of the underworld," a hellish, vicious subterranean arena where anything goes. Meanwhile, when the slave girl Naevia rejects Crixus' gift, he misunderstands the reason for her refusal.

S01E05- SHADOW GAMES

Bitter enemies Spartacus and Crixus are charged with learning to fight as a team in order to take on an unbeaten champion in the arena. Meanwhile, a financially strapped Batiatus receives an opportunity of a lifetime that involves his battling band of gladiators.

S01E06- DELICATE THINGS

Lies, distrust and duplicity plague the house of Batiatus and impact the hopes of both Barca and Spartacus, who have benefited from good fortune and envision a future away from the grounds. Barca expects to buy his and his lover's way out, while Spartacus anticipates his promised reunion with his enslaved wife, part of his reward for a monumental victory in the arena. But just in case things go wrong, Spartacus dreams and schemes an escape plan.

S01E07- GREAT AND UNFORTUNATE THINGS

Spartacus has to find new meaning after his world is changed by the death of his wife and finds it in the arena. In the absence of Barca, Pietros struggles without a protector in the ludus and the attentions of Gnaeus. Varro is visited by his wife and receives unwelcome news. Spartacus faces the truth about those left behind by warriors when they leave through speaking with Pietros. After a tragedy occurs, Spartacus faces off with Gnaeus and earns Batiatus's displeasure. Doctore seeks the truth behind Barca's departure from the ludus.

S01E08- MARK OF THE BROTHERHOOD

Spartacus continues his victory in the arena, while Batiatus purchases new slaves at market to be trained as gladiators. One slave, Segovax, stands out and is purchased by Ilithyia who becomes his Domina. Tensions rise high as Crixus slowly recovers, and Ilithyia presents new deception by manipulating Segovax to do her bidding.

S01E09- WHORE

Licinia meets with Lucretia to arrange an intimate visit with Spartacus. Ilithyia stumbles upon the meeting and seeks her own gladiator to bed with: Crixus, a thought that drives Lucretia mad. Meanwhile, Varroseeks Ashur's help to receive word from his family. Crixus resumes his training, while Ashur, newly relieved of his leg brace, is forbidden by Batiatus to resume his own gladiator training. Ilithyia unknowillingly beds Spartacus and upon being surprised by Lucretia and Licinia, rampages and kills the latter.

S01E10- PARTY FAVORS

To celebrate his passing into manhood, Numerius requests an exhibition match between Spartacusand Crixus. Batiatus approves the ceremony to happen at his villa, along with a full showing of his gladiators.Ilithyia recovers from her distraught mood and menacingly takes note of Spartacus' friendship with Varro, and her deception continues to spiral the ludus into chaos. During the exhibition Crixus is preterred for Varro and upon Spartacus victory on a purely exhibtional match, Varro is ordered to be executed by Spartacus. Varro pleeds that his friend do so to prevent both of them being killed by the guards and asks him to guard his family. Spartacus reluctantly complies..

S01E11- OLD WOUNDS

Spartacus is haunted by yet another misfortune, and Crixus takes his place against Pericles. Humiliated by Calavius in his own house, Batiatus seeks his revenge against Calavius and Solonius by protagonizing a kidnapping of the magistrate to blame his rival. With Calavius dead and Solonius looking toward execution, Batiatus faces no rival impediments to his political pretensions.

S01E12- REVELATIONS

The shocking truths behind Batiatus are finally revealed. A visit by Glaber illicits his patronage forBatiatus, who is still seeking political office. Spartacus pries the truth about Sura from Aulus, and is returned to his former Thracian being. Fear of Roman retribution upon his fellow slaves becomes the sole motive preventing Spartacus from seeking revenge on his master.

S01E13- KILL THEM ALL

Spartacus solicits the other gladiators and slaves to revolt against Batiatus. Roman and slave blood will be shed in Batiatus' Ludus, but will Crixus and Doctore stand in his way?


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