TV Review: SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE: Season 2, Episode 5: Libertus

Spartacus Vengeance Season 2 Episode 5 Libertus Review. Spartacus: Vengeance: Season 2, Episode 5: Libertus featured a dramatic moment between husband and wife rivaling many of the great moments found in the first season of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. This particular scene was between Ilithyia (Viva Bianca) and Cladius Glaber (Craig Parker) and what their marriage has come to mean to the both of them. A very emotional scene, more so for the latter than the former.

Libertus featured the arena (its destruction symbolizing the past being destroyed) but also showcased what this season of Spartacus is missing: Gladitors that the viewer gradually gets to know. There is no ludus, no lanista this time around. Because of that the viewer has no emotional stake in the people in the arena fighting and becuase of that, they confrontations are merely spectacle without emotion or feeling.

The blood splattering and spraying is really getting overboard in this season. It’s gone from 300 to comic book and it is not helping the show.

If I were show creator and writer Steven S. DeKnight, I would add a ludus and gladiors as a side story to recaputure the magic of season one. Only the first episode of this season and part of this episode retain that magic.

I do not like how certain story lines are ended within a few episodes, this episode housing the end of Ilithyia’s scheme to get rid of her current husband for another one. When her would-be new husband Varinius (Brett Tucker) hears Glaber’s intention to keep her, he just walks away. He supposedly wanted Ilithyia so much and then just walks away from her? Right.

Gannicus (Dustin Clare)’ appearance was a breath of fresh air in the episode and a much needed personality on the show. I hope his presence continues. I wish the showdown between Ominous (Peter Mensah) and he had been a little different. Since they are both top-tier gladiators, their showdown should have been amplified, though Ominous was chained and had only a blunted gladus to wield.

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