Is Spartacus' win vs Crixus during the test the cheapest and most unearned win in the entire series?

Crixus dominated this match. He didn't lose because of the training Spartacus received and applied in the match. Crixus lost because of a random event, i.e., Spartacus dropping Sura's cloth at the beginning of the match. Ultimately, the Undefeated Gaul would lose his footing on the platform to that very cloth after getting the OK to finish Spartacus.

Now, I get why it was done that way. Hell, it even increases the tension between Spartacus and Crixus. Perhaps this only way Spartacus would ever survive the test against the Champion of Capua. I'll admit, we all need a little luck. Still, a fortuitous event can cheapen the hero's journey if it comes in the face of extreme challenge.

What are your thoughts?

It started with scrolling through Facebook shorts and seeing the clip of Spartacus having to kill Varro. I was shocked... and hooked.

At the start I struggled with the unnatural dialogue and it seemed comedic how often the word "cock" was used. By the end, I loved the dialogue and couldn't imagine it any other way.

The violence and nudity was extreme (spotting the prospethic dicks was fun) but by the end it seemed like the background of the series and the character development dominated.

My favourite character was actually Crassus - he clearly admired and respected Spartacus despite being tasked with destroying him. Their dynamic was complex and fascinating and the short dialogues they got to have were hypnotizing.

The entire show culimated in the ultimate scene where Crassus turns to see the bloodied Spartacus charging up the hill for the final battle. I could watch this 100 times and it is still hair raising.

omg.

I genuinely felt that there is no point starting any other TV series as nothing could ever compare to Spartacus.

To the producers - gratitude.

https://preview.redd.it/fmiseu85kvxd1.png?width=2874&format=png&auto=webp&s=6b010d97b2c54a0ab57d77a38145e80e8bdec715

“Be Here Now” - a motivational reminder

There was so much more he could have gifted us..

From what I've read on the subject (a fair bit) Spartacus and his 'army' made it all the way to the foot of the Alps. Freedom, or at least the illusion of it, was right there but he decided to turn around and head back south. This eventually led to him being betrayed by Herakleo, trapped and then beaten by the Roman legions.

No-one knows what made him turn from the Alps and head towards Sicily, but based on the show, what do you guys think was his reason?

Okay, I just finished the show and I was not expecting him to die. I had all my faith in him killing crassus and surviving. A few days ago, I had looked up some of his famous quotes, and they had his last words on point. I almost cried while he was dying. I have mixed feelings about it. And I'm probably going to draw a picture of him or some shit. Thanks for reading,

Mako'z out 🤟

What if spartacus and the crew spent more time liberating more ludus or going for more imported fighting type slaves once they arrive in Rome like they did with lugo and them? Obviously the show was based on real life events but I can't help but wonder what if sparty went for more fighters instead of regular slaves how would that have impacted the story? Would they have been able to hold sinuessa? Would they have been in good enough shape to outpace crassus and leave rome all together? Would they have had so many fighters they could have temporarily split into more groups and liberated more slaves from the other houses like in the I am spartacus episode? It just seems like they never had enough true fighters in their ranks

“Solonius…I hardly placed you. The years weigh heavy on a man, do they not?” The delivery WAS PERFECT. Titus Batiatus actor killed it almost as much as his son’s

lmfao coming from a man in Titus much older than Solonius but appearing of similar vigor and less grimacing toothy appearance and absent leathery skin - that was hilarious IMO. He said Solonius looked like an old piece of shit essentially

I know it’s endgame but it’s so much fun watching all the supporting gladiators get their turn to SPILL ROMAN BLOOD. I have a permanent smile every time I watch this episode.

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So I noticed that a lot of people here think that Batiatus did not get a completely fair shake, that those around him weren't reaching high enough, or that he just got unlucky. Over a few threads, I want to explain exactly why that is not the case. Just for fun, of course. I've thought about these things over the years and looked into Roman political and societal structures a bit in the process.

On the surface of it, killing Spartacus' wife was a decent tactical move. Obviously Spartacus will need time to grieve. Even if it takes several months to a year he still has the notoriety from killing Theokoles and will be one of the most prominent gladiators in Capua for at least the next decade and could have his name etched in history. It will also allow him to fully focus on becoming quite possibly the greatest gladiator to ever live He also gets to keep him under his thumb much longer term. This issue was that this was an incredibly short sighted line of thought.

Aside from the obvious that if Spartacus ever finds out then his head will roll, keeping his wife alive actually breeds more long term loyalty. Roman society was built on patron-client relationships, something Batiatus continuously fails to understand throughout the series. If Batiatus even took a passing interesting in hearing about how Spartacus got to his execution then he'd have known that Spartacus has no real home in thracian territory to go back to. This means that once Spartacus is freed or partially freed he wouldn't have much reason to run and would stay in Roman territory. Thus freeing his wife wasn't truly a negative. If he freed her he could actually position himself as merciful and Spartacus' benefactor, and Spartacus would have been happy to advertise for him or dedicate fights, etc to him in his bid for political office or higher station in Capua.

Some of you might be wondering what’s wrong with Batiatus’ strategy of building the ultimate gladiator and keeping him under his thumb through force and fear. The problem is that gladiators were like sports celebrities. Sure, they made good money, and many people knew them, but simply having the best gladiator wasn’t going to elevate Batiatus to the political heights he aspired to. Gladiators, like Spartacus, were important for their fame, not for direct political leverage. To truly benefit from Spartacus’s fame Batiatus needed to leverage him as an advertisement, using his victories to win favor with the people, dedicating games to powerful figures, and positioning himself as Spartacus’s generous patron rather than a ruthless owner. Basically any scene you see after his victory over Theokoles where he cares so much about having the best gladiator, or having Spartacus' name etched in history surpassing all other gladiators to ever fight are him thinking too small. He is stuck in a lanista mindset.

Essentially Batiatus' short sighted decision to kill Sura and to attempt to keep Spartacus bound to him with fear and violence were decent decisions for a lanista. Not great decisions for a higher class roman since that class was mainly built on building coalitions, partnerships, and just building goodwill with others as a whole and that energy comes back to you through political power.

Lanista's think short term and transactionally. Political figures have to see the bigger picture.

And by won I mean defeat Crassus, then eventually Pompey and the rest of Rome ect. Assuming he also continued to pillage cities and free slaves and add other gladiators to his cause to help. What do you guys think? Or would he have had to add another ally along with Mithridates to have an even chance?