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Spartacus: Blood and Sand

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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52

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 43 Ratings

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8.7

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8.7	Your Score
8.7	User Score Universal acclaim based on 43 Ratings

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Spartacus: Blood and Sand

Series Details & Credits

Vertex | Starz | Release Date: January 22, 2010

Starring: Lucy Lawless, Erin Cummings, John Hannah, Manu Bennett, Peter Mensah, Nick E Tarabay, Katrina Law, Andy Whitfield, Viva Bianca

Summary: Starz is set to bring gladiators to the small screen with "Spartacus: Blood and Sand" from executive producers Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Joshua Donen. The high budget 13-episode first season premieres on January 22, 2010 with a second season already scheduled for 2011. The show will star Andy Whitfield as the infamous title character Spartacus.

Creator: Steven S. DeKnight

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

Recent Episodes

tbd
S1:E13. Kill Them All
Air Date: April 16, 2010
tbd
S1:E12. Revelations
Air Date: April 9, 2010
tbd
S1:E11. Old Wounds
Air Date: April 2, 2010

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

52

Positive:

7

Mixed:

10

Negative:

5

Critic Reviews

83

Entertainment Weekly

Ken Tucker

Season 1 Review: After artistic duds like the TV version of "Crash," Starz may have found its destination series in Spartacus. This might prove to be the not-at-all-guilty pleasure of the season. Read full review

75

Chicago Sun-Times

Paige Wiser

Season 1 Review: There's no denying that stylized decapitations are entertaining, especially when accompanied by a generous helping of soft porn. Read full review

70

Zap2it (Inside the Box) Hanh Nguyen

Season 1 Review: Eventually, the series makes way for just enough plot to give our poor, overstimulated eyes a rest. There's a bit of political maneuvering, fierce rivalries, the examination of slavery vs. free will, ludus-yard hazing and even romance. Read full review

58

San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times

Chuck Barney

Season 1 Review: Some viewers will be riveted to the sex, violence, beautiful nude bods and sensory gluttony of Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Others will be turned off almost instantly. Read full review

50

USA Today

Robert Bianco

Season 1 Review: There's no denying that Spartacus does what it sets out to do fairly well--and in a way that doesn't duplicate anything else now on TV. Were it broadcast free over the air where children might find it, one might blanch, but that's not the case. Read full review

40

TV Guide Magazine Matt Roush

Season 1 Review: Spartacus is derivative as entertainment and primitively pandering as a diverting spectacle of campy historical fiction. Read full review

0

San Francisco Chronicle

Tim Goodman

Season 1 Review: Spartacus is an exercise in some of the worst writing, acting and directing you'll ever see (or not). Read full review

SEE ALL 22 REVIEWS

Write a Review

8.7

User Reviews

10

ty92

May 23, 2019

The first season Blood and Sand was my favourite season of Spartacus. The writing in this show is amazing. Unlike Game of Thrones they actually set up storylines and pay them off. The attention to detail, story, action, sex and violence is matched by no other show or movie. It might turnThe first season Blood and Sand was my favourite season of Spartacus. The writing in this show is amazing. Unlike Game of Thrones they actually set up storylines and pay them off. The attention to detail, story, action, sex and violence is matched by no other show or movie. It might turn some people off but it's a great show. It has more heart than most. You cant help but to love every character good and bad. The acting is excellent. Andy Whitfield as Spartacus was so good. One of my favourite characters of all time. R.I.P Andy.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

10

SwiftRespite

Jul 25, 2020

One of the best shows ever. Beneath the sex and violence is a show with twists and plots that lead to an absolute emotional rollercoaster. Don't miss this one.

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

10

HellMordred

Jul 11, 2020

Spartacus tem vários defeitos: cenas de nudez e sexo gratuitas, gore exagerado, computação gráfica ultrapassada; mas suas qualidades ultrapassam muito seus defeitos. Em poucas séries você vai ter uma trama tão fácil de te prender e tantos personagens memoráveis e fascinantes.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

10

Kanesux

Oct 21, 2020

Best show everrrrr!

Good usage of green screen.

Solid acting

Nice slow-mo

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

10

tay2

Jul 23, 2021

Spartacus is ridiculously underrated and absolutely one of my favorite tv shows ever! It is one of the rare shows where each season is just as incredible as the others, all 4 seasons are fantastic & some of the best tv I've ever seen! I've watched the entire series 3 times already. After theSpartacus is ridiculously underrated and absolutely one of my favorite tv shows ever! It is one of the rare shows where each season is just as incredible as the others, all 4 seasons are fantastic & some of the best tv I've ever seen! I've watched the entire series 3 times already. After the original actor (Andrew Whitfield) who played Spartacus sadly died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after Season 1, they had to recast it and the actor who replaced him (Liam McIntyre) as Spartacus was just as terrific! Do yourself a favor and watch this incredible series immediately...you will not be disappointed! It really is the perfect show!… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

8

afm185

Aug 9, 2020

The first few episodes are rough. But the show gets continuously better over time, and ends in a great finale. The entirety of it is a little too gratuitous in its violence (particularly the blood effects) to take totally seriously, but you do end up caring for the characters, which areThe first few episodes are rough. But the show gets continuously better over time, and ends in a great finale. The entirety of it is a little too gratuitous in its violence (particularly the blood effects) to take totally seriously, but you do end up caring for the characters, which are portrayed excellently. They have a believable physicality of gladiators, but also act as real human beings who react realistically to the things happening around them. Of course the standout is Andy Whitfield as Spartacus, who’s thoroughly fantastic the entire length of the season, and who I’m genuinely going to miss watching the others. The writing is a bit melodramatic at points, but more often than not gets the point across in entertaining or emotionally affecting ways, and the storyline is really good. Everything is set up well, and the payoff to literally everything is just as good. If I’d have to give any criticism it’s obviously to the first few episodes but I’d say the main thing I had an issue with is a lack of location variety. I think I can count on my hands the amount of places they go not including the different rooms of the lutus. Not an egregious issue but one I’d like to see change. Excited for the next season.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

1

Greenscreenlife

Oct 21, 2020

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Did the best with what they had

Similar to a crusty sock from a salty sailor… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

SEE ALL 14 REVIEWS

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Seasons & Episodes

52

Series Overview
Season 1

52
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 22, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E13. Kill Them All
  Air Date: April 16, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E12. Revelations
  Air Date: April 9, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E11. Old Wounds
  Air Date: April 2, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E10. Party Favors
  Air Date: March 26, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E9. Whore
  Air Date: March 19, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E8. Mark of the Brotherhood
  Air Date: March 12, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E7. Great and Unfortunate Things
  Air Date: March 5, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E6. Delicate Things
  Air Date: February 26, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E5. Shadow Games
  Air Date: February 19, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E4. The Thing in the Pit
  Air Date: February 12, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E3. Legends
  Air Date: February 5, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E2. Sacramentum Gladiatorum
  Air Date: January 29, 2010
- tbd
  S1:E1. The Red Serpent
  Air Date: January 22, 2010