TV Review: SPARTACUS: GODS OF THE ARENA: Season 1, Ep. 1: Past Transgressions

Spartacus Gods of the Arena Past Transgressions Review

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, Season 1, Ep. 1 – entitled Past Transgressions – was everything the mini-series was promised to be. Grannicus (Dustin Clare) was even more bold and arrogant than I initially perceived. Unlike Spartacus (Andy Whitman) and Crixus (Manu Bennett), Grannicus  is extremely foolhardy and revels in the adoration of the arena crowds that love him.

This mini-series reminds me of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode – The Best of Both Worlds – where new characters were introduced into the already established Next Generation universe but only for a brief time yet they were well-written and well-acted. I am looking forward to seeing what happened to all of these new friends, enemies, and how relationships soured.

The best part of Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, Season 1, Ep. 1 – Past Transgressions was the rivalry between Batiatus (John Hannah), a younger lanista, and how Tullius (Stephen Lovat) insinuates himself into their drama for profit.

It’s unfortunate that Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is only a mini-series and will not have a full season.