Spartacus: Gods of the Arena: Season 1

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 6 Critic Reviews

See All

USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 173 Ratings

See All

8.6

VOTE NOW

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8.6	Your Score
8.6	User Score Universal acclaim based on 173 Ratings

Would you like to write a review?

There is a 75 character minimum for reviews. If your review contains spoilers, please check the Spoiler box. Please do not use ALL CAPS. There is no linking or other HTML allowed. Your review may be edited for content. 0/5000

Check box if your review contains spoilers

Play Sound

Please enter your birth date to watch this video:

You are not allowed to view this material at this time.

Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena: Dressed To Kill

Now Playing: Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena: Dressed To Kill

Season Details & Credits

Starz | Season Premiere Date: January 21, 2011

Starring: Marisa Ramírez, Lucy Lawless, Jeffrey Thomas

Summary: The prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand features the life of the first gladiator of Capua, Gannicus (Dustin Clare).

Creator: Steven S. DeKnight

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

Watch Now

Stream On

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E6. The Bitter End
Air Date: February 25, 2011
tbd
S1:E5. Reckoning
Air Date: February 18, 2011
tbd
S1:E4. Beneath The Mask
Air Date: February 11, 2011

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

Darren Franich

Jan 18, 2011

Spartacus Minus Spartacus is an engrossing piece of wheel spinning. Read full review

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Jan 21, 2011

It's obviously not for the squeamish, nor perhaps for the refined. But it's al-i-i-i-i-i-ve in so many ways. So what the hell, let's rock. Read full review

Mark A. Perigard

Jan 21, 2011

Starz's Spartacus - Gods of the Arena is endlessly creative when it comes to all things stabby. It seems to have a bottomless bucket of fake blood in its production budget. Read full review

Ginia Bellafante

Jan 20, 2011

The result is a production even more fantastically soapy than the first, visually elevated by an apocalyptic video-game look in which the orgiastic sex and violence are presented with a studied, syncopated choreography. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Jan 18, 2011

Still, worrying overly much about plot misses the point. Spartacus is all about atmosphere, and even its cheesy "300"-type visual style (a little more polished than last time) and slow-motion action exist entirely to advance that aspect. Read full review

Verne Gay

Jan 20, 2011

Unadulterated rubbish, and exactly what fans expect. Bravo, Starz. Read full review

User Score

Write a Review

8.6

User Reviews

yoniw18

Feb 22, 2011

Do not be dissuaded by the promotional material for this show depicting lots of flashy sex and violence. This is no '300' clone. Beneath the veneer lies a show with profound depth and character development, and one of the best plots I have ever seen on any screen. This speaks even more toDo not be dissuaded by the promotional material for this show depicting lots of flashy sex and violence. This is no '300' clone. Beneath the veneer lies a show with profound depth and character development, and one of the best plots I have ever seen on any screen. This speaks even more to the original Spartacus season, which literally had me and my friends on the edge of our seats. Give it four episodes to work out its identity and the story will catch you like a fish on a hook. Watch it with your friends. Me and my buddies have been doing a weekly Spartacus night for months with no girls allowed. Highest Marks! GO out of your way to watch this!… Expand

7 of 8 users found this helpful71

Pahn

Jan 21, 2012

Look at the disparity between critic and user reviews! As of the time I'm writing this, all 20 user reviews are POSITIVE. An excellent idea by Starz to create a mini-series prequel to the first season of Spartacus: Blood & Sand, Gods of the Arena delivers intriguing backstories on theLook at the disparity between critic and user reviews! As of the time I'm writing this, all 20 user reviews are POSITIVE. An excellent idea by Starz to create a mini-series prequel to the first season of Spartacus: Blood & Sand, Gods of the Arena delivers intriguing backstories on the major characters while introducing a few new ones. I just hope Gannicus rejoins his gladiator brothers in Vengeance.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

WaGyu

Feb 10, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Ok! I watched all the three episode and I can't wait to watched for the next episode, so far it's really addicting. I thought the series will be less interesting when I watched the trailer that this season is all about the house of batiatus, but it turns out to be good.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

peoplescritic

Feb 13, 2011

Absolutely the best TV serious in the history of mankind. This is the perfect combination of fighting in the arena, training, corruption, sex, and scandals. Please note, that if you don't like the following you will not like Spartacus: Blood,Sex,Gore,Extreme violence, and LOTS of adultAbsolutely the best TV serious in the history of mankind. This is the perfect combination of fighting in the arena, training, corruption, sex, and scandals. Please note, that if you don't like the following you will not like Spartacus: Blood,Sex,Gore,Extreme violence, and LOTS of adult language. Don't waste your time then, because Spartacus is the best.… Expand

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

oz1967

Feb 19, 2011

This is bold, well written, for the most part well acted and visually stunning television for a long time, in a desert of crap and bland ("Better with Your" gets a higher metacritic rating...Really???) its nice to see a program that challenges the viewer as well as shocks and hey lets faceThis is bold, well written, for the most part well acted and visually stunning television for a long time, in a desert of crap and bland ("Better with Your" gets a higher metacritic rating...Really???) its nice to see a program that challenges the viewer as well as shocks and hey lets face it, sexy as hell and has the story to back up its use of adult content unlike the sick murder shows that are almost pornographic in it depiction of murder and it abused victims. Fight the bland and the oh so constant predictable American TV and enjoy a sinful pleasure.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

nonchalantgamer

Jan 13, 2014

the prequel to blood and sand, gods of the arena was a very dark and emotional prequel that i felt gave great insight into how batiatus rose to where he was and how crixius became champion it definitely explains alot up to blood and sand. the acting was great just as in all other seasons.the prequel to blood and sand, gods of the arena was a very dark and emotional prequel that i felt gave great insight into how batiatus rose to where he was and how crixius became champion it definitely explains alot up to blood and sand. the acting was great just as in all other seasons. the fight scene were great as well.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

brockcheese

Apr 20, 2017

This season of the show is actually incredibly interesting without Spartacus. It still keeps the bad effects and gratuitous sex scenes, but clearly that's what audiences like.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

SEE ALL 28 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

55

Series Overview
Season 1

55
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 21, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E6. The Bitter End
  Air Date: February 25, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E5. Reckoning
  Air Date: February 18, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E4. Beneath The Mask
  Air Date: February 11, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E3. Paterfamilias
  Air Date: February 4, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E2. Missio
  Air Date: January 28, 2011
- tbd
  S1:E1. Past Transgressions
  Air Date: January 21, 2011