The TV Chick

Premiering tonight on the Starz network is one of their biggest and most interesting projects to date. Spartacus: Blood and Sand tells the story of a man who was betrayed, beaten, enslaved and emerges a warrior. You probably read about Spartacus in high school, or you at least remember the epic movie with Kirk Douglas. The real Spartacus was separated from his wife, and thrown into the arena to die but instead fought back and was given a second chance to live and train to become a warrior. The show is full of many gruesome and graphic moments, slow-motion fighting and blood baths, as well as a lot of sex and nudity. If you are bothered by this, you might want to skip Spartacus. However, the visuals are what make the show very appealing. They were interesting, intriguing and unique.

Spartacus is forced to learn the politics of the arena (and the school) and fight for his life, his freedom and his wife. And in the midst of all this angst and bloodshed, there are other ancient rules and politics that we come to learn. The show comes to us from Sam Raimi (a director I very much respect) and the creative team from “Xena: Warrior Princess” and “Legend of the Seeker.” It stars Andy Whitfield as Spartacus (a beautiful looking man if you get get past the blood constantly dripping from his face), and Lucy Lawless as Lucretia, a fiery red head who is power hungry.

I have to say, the pilot was a little rough. There was so much blood and so many graphic sex scenes, that I wasn’t sure if I should push through. By the end of the episode, I was getting more into it. When I watched the second episode, which got much more into the politics of the arena, and behind-the-scenes world, I found myself really enjoying it. The acting is phenomenal, and the story is inspiring. It’s an ambitious historical figure to take on, but I think Starz has done it in the right way. I really suggest you check it out, and if you feel similarly about the pilot, give it one more episode and I think you’ll be hooked. In addition, you don’t have to worry about this show getting canceled right away because in an unprecedented move by the network, it has already been renewed for a second season.

Spartacus premieres tonight on Starz at 10 pm.

Check out a trailer of the show before you watch: