Spartacus: War of the Damned: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 9 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 166 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	Your Score
7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 166 Ratings

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Season Details & Credits

Starz | Season Premiere Date: January 25, 2013

Starring: Todd Lasance, Anna Hutchinson, Dustin Clare

Summary: The final season of Spartacus sees the rebel army continuing to win against Rome. The Roman Empire turns to Marcus Crassus (Simon Merrells) and Julius Caesar (Todd Lasance) to stop the rebels.

Creator: Steven S. DeKnight

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure

Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Victory
Air Date: April 12, 2013
tbd
S1:E9. The Dead and the Dying
Air Date: April 5, 2013
tbd
S1:E8. Separate Paths
Air Date: March 22, 2013

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

Aaron Riccio

Feb 5, 2013

As the tactics of these two characters [Marcus Crassus and Spartacus] grow all but indistinguishable, it becomes clear why this final season is labeled War of the Damned, and all but guarantees that while their fighting will lead to a bitter end, it will lead viewers to the most savory of conclusions. Read full review

Mark A. Perigard

Jan 25, 2013

You think you know how this story will end, but trust DeKnight and his company of players to surprise us to the last bloody moment. Read full review

Brian Lowry

Jan 22, 2013

As the program comes to an end with this final season, subtitled "War of the Damned," it's hard not to admire its improved quality and heightened sense of purpose. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Matt Roush

Jan 25, 2013

Making things more intriguing this time, Spartacus' main adversary as the series builds toward its final showdown isn't the usual sniveling, craven, oversexed patsy. Read full review

Uncle Barky Ed Bark

Jan 23, 2013

War of the Damned doesn't spare any of it en route to its no doubt hellish conclusion. But the characters aren't as compelling as they once were, rendering the fight scenes even more voyeuristic. Read full review

Rob Owen

Jan 25, 2013

Spartacus worked best when it was an ancient "Upstairs Downstairs" with the house of Battiatus as the "upstairs" component and the gladiator school as the "downstairs." With that element gone, the show has no natural home base and feels a bit unmoored. Read full review

David Hinckley

Jan 24, 2013

The plot often just seems to be killing time between endless battles in which throats are slashed, limbs severed and torsos bisected. Read full review

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User Score

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7.9

User Reviews

vincesz

Jan 27, 2013

This is a love it or hate it show. It is awesome if you ever saw something like Legend of the Seeker or Xena and wanted a very much R-rated version of it. This is basically a campy, brutal, sexy historic drama. It takes a lot of creative liberty with the source material as well. You'reThis is a love it or hate it show. It is awesome if you ever saw something like Legend of the Seeker or Xena and wanted a very much R-rated version of it. This is basically a campy, brutal, sexy historic drama. It takes a lot of creative liberty with the source material as well. You're either going to think this show is hilariously awesome and hot or think anyone who likes this show is crazy. For my part, I can't help but smile every time they do the slow-mo/speed-up/slow-mo action sequences with incoherent yelling in the background.… Expand

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

bebalien

Apr 30, 2013

For a series with some very poor first episodes, the third and last reason is so epic that it is perhaps one of the most astonishing thing we have seen on TV lately. Even Game of Thrones might be a bit under, in term of emotions. And if you're a guy, prepare yourself to cry, really....

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

mollys

Jan 26, 2013

Excellent show.Excellent show.Excellent show.Excellent show..Excellent show..Excellent show..Excellent show..Excellent show..Excellent show..Excellent show..Excellent show..Excellent show..Excellent show..Excellent show.

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

THASE_Team

Apr 25, 2013

I would give it a TEN but since the series changed so many things from the real historic events i would also like to have it as a fairy tale where Spartacus wins and we have a happy ending. I read a lot about unnecessary sex and violence... well it is ancient times guys come on... oh whatI would give it a TEN but since the series changed so many things from the real historic events i would also like to have it as a fairy tale where Spartacus wins and we have a happy ending. I read a lot about unnecessary sex and violence... well it is ancient times guys come on... oh what was that? you like the gore but not the sex scenes? You like blood and guts but not the guys on your screen? Then, maybe you have issues and must go to a psychologist to check it out... Anyways... The show is a Masterpiece it's fast when it has to be it's emotional whenever it needs to be so, it is Gory as HELL and honest to the people watching it. Nice show and it is sad that it has come to end.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Bruce722

Dec 29, 2014

Spartacus: War of the Damned is the epic conclusion to one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. The failures of Spartacus: Vengeance were largely based on changes to the pace, style, or actors of the show. The biggest problem with Vengeance was that I had trouble accepting Liam McIntyre andSpartacus: War of the Damned is the epic conclusion to one of the greatest shows I've ever seen. The failures of Spartacus: Vengeance were largely based on changes to the pace, style, or actors of the show. The biggest problem with Vengeance was that I had trouble accepting Liam McIntyre and Cynthia Addai-Robinson as the characters of Spartacus and Naevia, respectively. After two seasons, that was no longer really a factor. The other problem I had was that the feel of last season was so drastically different from the first two seasons. Again, that was no longer a problem. As with the other three seasons, the action sequences were incredible, the acting was fantastic, the drama developed well, and the atmosphere created by the style and the setting was amazing. There were some annoying elements, namely the annoying son of Crassus and Naevia's temporary betrayal of her previously developed character, but those elements are largely resolved with substantial time for proper conclusion. Speaking of which, I absolutely loved the conclusion of this season and, as a result, the series itself. The speech before that final battle was epicly awesome and moving and the way the characters' stories wrapped up, while not necessarily happy, felt appropriate and stayed true to both history and what the show developed for each of them. Overall, this was a fantastic show that I very much enjoyed watching.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Iamthejuan

Apr 9, 2014

9 for the story and acting, -2 for the constant reliance upon slow-motion (can't tell if they are ripping off the matrix or 300, but either way it's pretty much 70% of every fight scene that is slow motion).

Certain occurrences in the story did not make sense, while some of it was9 for the story and acting, -2 for the constant reliance upon slow-motion (can't tell if they are ripping off the matrix or 300, but either way it's pretty much 70% of every fight scene that is slow motion).

Certain occurrences in the story did not make sense, while some of it was outright unbelievable.There are many, many scenes where it shows well over a 100 Romans charging at a group of what looks like 40 Gladiators, and yet the Romans with their heavier armor and better weaponry somehow get beat almost every time, or watch as they run away.

Too much blood splatter and skulls getting smashed open or cut in half...no it doesn't bother me, it is just unnecessary and unrealistic at that.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Johaze

Mar 5, 2013

It's not the blood or the sex that's the problem here (after all, if you've made it this far, as I have, that's part and parcel of the shows' appeal), it's the story. As has been stated, the plotting and pacing is weak, especially when measured against previous seasons. I can't reallyIt's not the blood or the sex that's the problem here (after all, if you've made it this far, as I have, that's part and parcel of the shows' appeal), it's the story. As has been stated, the plotting and pacing is weak, especially when measured against previous seasons. I can't really determine what the writers/producers are trying to accomplish, but it's not working for me. Julius Caesar as an action hero was the last straw for me. Too cheesy. I'll stick it out, but I'm not as excited, and I'm ready for it to end now. Meh...… Expand

2 of 5 users found this helpful23

SEE ALL 25 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

56

Series Overview
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: January 25, 2013
Season 1

56
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 25, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E10. Victory
  Air Date: April 12, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E9. The Dead and the Dying
  Air Date: April 5, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E8. Separate Paths
  Air Date: March 22, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E7. Mors Indecepta
  Air Date: March 15, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E6. Spoils of War
  Air Date: March 8, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E5. Blood Brothers
  Air Date: March 1, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E4. Decimation
  Air Date: February 22, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E3. Men of Honor
  Air Date: February 8, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E2. Wolves at the Gate
  Air Date: February 1, 2013
- tbd
  S1:E1. Enemies of Rome
  Air Date: January 25, 2013