Spartacus sleeps on a cot. His wife appears, comforting and straddling him, but as they begin to make love, blood explodes from her mouth and Spartacus awakens from a dream.
Batiatus appears and instructs his slaves to have Spartacus shorn in the Roman style and bathed. As the Traumatic Haircut takes place, Batiatus observes his gladiators and inspects a papyrus scroll.
With busts of Batiatus' forefathers in the background, Batiatus' wife Lucretia inspects an empty tub accompanied by her slave Naevia. Lucretia comments to Batiatus that the pool is dry and he cites lack of rain. She cites lack of wealth and particularly excessive expenditure in purchasing Spartacus. He argues for the worth of the choice, mainly in securing the visit and potential patronage of the Legatus, Gaius Claudius Glaber, who had been frustrated and humiliated by Spartacus. As they use their slaves for foreplay, the couple discuss investments in hospitality and religious sacrifices and then have sex.
Cut to the gladiators' dungeon in the basement of the ludus, where champion Crixus is being scraped of olive oil and Spartacus emerges from shaving and bathing, a new man sporting only crafted stubble and a short haircut. The gladiators comment on Spartacus and his earlier arena performance, explaining that he is in a ludus, a gladiator school, and that he is to be tested as a recruit. A generous amount of insulting mocking is included and Spartacus responds by insulting Crixus. Crixus pauses, then laughs and tells Spartacus to recover and become strong, after which he plans to address the insult.
Outside the ludus, on its training field resting at the top of a cliff, the weather is hot and dry. The new recruits are made to stand out in the sandy courtyard, enduring both the sun and the jeers of the established gladiators, who are permitted to stand in the shade of the building. Fellow slave Ashur attempts to share status and camaraderie with Crixus, who rebukes him.
Now emerges an imposing, whip-armed African figure: the stern, impassive Doctore (professor/teacher). He asks what will become an Arc Phrase: "What is beneath your feet?" A recruit with a "FUGITIVUS" tattoo across his forehead offers, "Sand". The gladiators laugh. Doctore repeats the question to Crixus, who offers a rehearsed answer that sets up Doctore to introduce Batiatus, who appears on the balcony and delivers a speech to the recruits on the dangers and rewards of becoming a gladiator. The gladiators shout Batiatus' name in unison and Doctore cracks his whip for attention.
Doctore waxes poetic and is chuckled at by the "FUGITIVUS" recruit, who receives a light but effective smack to the groin for his impertinence. Attention is called to Spartacus' appearance in the arena, but it is asserted that he only survived by luck both in his performance and in facing the weaker gladiators of the rival Selonius' ludus; Doctore states that any gladiator who passed the tests of Batiatus' ludus would easily defeat the Thracian.
To illustrate, Spartacus is ordered to practice against Crixus with wooden swords, but refuses. He is then given the advantage of a real sword and still refuses. Doctore tells Batiatus that Spartacus is useless and best sent to the mines; Spartacus then siezes the sword and attempts to strike Doctore's back, but is blocked by Crixus.
A match ensues where Spartacus is soundly thrashed, Doctore describing his errors to the assembled group as it plays out. Beaten and frustrated, Spartacus tries to throw his sword at the champion's back, as had proven effective on the battlefield, and Crixus' spinning block sends the thrown blade careening into a recruit's neck, killing the hapless bystander.
The gladiators howl with laughter and Doctore again scolds Spartacus. Crixus moves to kill Spartacus for the underhanded attempt, and Doctore explains the arena's surrender rules to the subdued Spartacus. Spartacus will not yield and Doctore gives instruction for Crixus to kill him, but Batiatus waves him off, explaining quietly to Lucretia that he wants Spartacus alive for Glaber's coming visit.
After Batiatus steps into the house, complaining of heat and drought, a meaningful glance is exchanged between the victorious champion Crixus and the lady of the house Lucretia still observing from the balcony. A slave wafts the lady's heat away with a palm frond; she smiles and steps away into the ludus after her husband.
In montage, Spartacus engages in training under Doctore's whip, training proficiency with sword and shield, as well as strength and endurance. Taking an exhausted food break, he meets and bonds with fellow recruit Varro, revealed to be a free man who sold himself into bondage with the ludus to relieve gambling debts and support his wife and child.
Doctore complains to Batiatus about the quality of the recruits. Batiatus explains that he can't afford better stock at the moment but offers hope of near profits and prospects. In the meantime, he orders Doctore to train the recruits harshly and see them either become gladiators or be instead broken and sold for mine slaves. Doctore acquiesces as commanded.
Batiatus is visited by creditor Ovidius, who asks repayment for three months' grain and imposes punishing interest when payment is not forthcoming. Batiatus agrees to the terms but is distraught.
In the recruits' quarters, "FUGITIVUS" is boastful but rebuked by Varro. The gladiator test is discussed: potential for defeat, victory, future rewards, freedom. They ask Spartacus, the only one among them to have fought in the Arena, his opinion. He tells them they are all going to die. Doctore suddenly appears in the recruit's quarters and informs them they are not yet entitled to sleep. The recruits re-commence backbreaking training overnight, lifting and carrying massive wooden beams under Doctore's whip.
Batiatus, observing the recruits, is visited on the balcony by Lucretia, who complains about the quality of the wine on hand. Batiatus promises that their fortunes will improve if Glaber can be impressed. Lucretia calls him to bed and Batiatus, staring at the rainless skies, privately entreats the gods, "Do not fuck me" before retiring.
In the light of dawn, the recruits are still hauling the huge wooden beams and are instructed by Doctore to eat before the day's training begins. Varro and Spartacus bond under shared suffering.
In the mess hall the gladiators continue to haze the recruits; prominent fighter Barca topples the gruel bowl before Spartacus and Varro, denying them breakfast to general amusement and mockery. Ashur approaches Spartacus and offers him bread, explaining that he is able to provide goods within the villa. Spartacus questions his motivations and Ashur reluctantly reveals he also plays bookie and wishes to influence fights to that end. Spartacus accepts the bread with no promise of debt and shares it with Varro. Guards appear and spirit Spartacus back into the dungeon.
Spartacus is visited in a cell by Legatus Glaber. Spartacus demands to know the whereabouts of his wife and begs for mercy for her. Glaber is unmoved and recounts the perceived sleights made against him by Spartacus. He informs the Thracian of his decision to let him suffer and die as an enslaved gladiator. Glaber further reveals that he has in his posession the purple ribbon Spartacus tied around his wife's thigh before leaving for war. The Legatus states he took it from her before giving her to his men for rough use and ultimate sale into slavery. Spartacus grips the piece of cloth in grief as Glaber leaves.
Lucretia and Illythia are lavishly attended with food and drink by slaves. Illythia turns her nose up at inexpensive wine and requests water, also in precious short supply. She complains about conditions and brags about her lifestyle to Lucretia, who indulges her and claims to be similarly uninhibited. Illythia is attracted to the balcony by the sounds of gladiators training, and watches them with curiosity. Lucretia recognizes her interest and they talk about life in the ludus. The conversation's flow ends up forcing Lucretia to reveal she is childless, with embarassment before the younger woman. Glaber appears and commands Illythia to return with him to Rome; she briefly protests, then shares a friendly, conspiratorial kiss with Lucretia before following her husband Glaber.
Spartacus appears in the training field. Doctore briefly stares him down before ordering the "FUGITIVUS" recruit to spar with Spartacus and get him up to speed on what he has missed. Having the advantage of new sword techniques, the other recruit lands a hit on Spartacus. When Glaber stops by for a glance on the way out, Spartacus is distracted and "FUGITIVUS" makes another, harder strike on him. Glaber moves to leave and Spartacus, enraged, tackles the other recruit and beats him with fists, then strangling him until Doctore's whip seizes Spartacus' neck and pulls him away. Spartacus loses his wife's purple ribbon as he is beaten by guards.
Doctore discusses the incident with Batiatus, who is frustrated with the display of indiscipline before the Legatus. They discuss the value of the recruits and Batiatus asserts that Spartacus was too expensive to be written off. Doctore produces the purple ribbon lost by Spartacus and explains that the man fought to keep it even while beaten. Batiatus takes the cloth and has Spartacus summoned.
Spartacus arrives in Batiatus' chamber and the lanista describes the origins of his gladiator school. Spartacus is reluctant to serve. Under questioning, Spartacus reveals he only wishes to be reunited with his wife. Batiatus presses the purple ribbon into the hand of Spartacus, who is touched. Batiatus offers to reunite them in exchange for loyal service fighting in the arena.
Out in the training yard, Varro fights a gladiator upon on a narrow platform. The fight ends in a draw and Varro passes his test to join the gladiators. Spartacus reappears during the fight. Barca is called to be the next seasoned gladiator to test a recruit, Marcus; when the test begins, Barca anti-climactically kills the man with a single parry and strike, resulting in laughter from the other fighters.
Doctore calls for Crixus to test Spartacus. The other recruits are grim-faced. The fight is harsh and Spartacus ends up on his back, subdued. Batiatus gives clearance for Crixus to kill the Thracian, but Crixus is standing on the dropped purple ribbon and Spartacus yanks it, tripping the Gaul champion and sending him toppling from the fighting platform down onto the sand. Spartacus moves to kill Crixus but is instructed to hold back by Batiatus, who informs him that he has passed the test.
Spartacus swears loyalty to his Dominus Batiatus and the ludus, before receiving the "B" brand burnt into the inside of his right forearm. Batiatus welcomes him into the brotherhood.
Tropes:
- Actually Pretty Funny: Subverted. Crixus starts laughing when Spartacus taunts him with "you smell like a woman" but then says they'll revisit that remark once he's recovered from his wounds.
- Badass Back: After Doctore lectures recruits to not "allow advantage to your back", Crixus turns his back to Spartacus (twice!) and showboats, but still doesn't let Spartacus land a single blow.
- Bait-and-Switch Comment: Doctore's introduction speech states that none of the new recruits would last in the arena, "except one", and then details how Spartacus survived his planned execution and defied the odds. He tells the others to study him and realise "he is nothing", because he's also a deserter and the arena win was "as hollow as his courage". He then adds that he was up against the untrained men of Solonius, and therefore would not have stood a chance against Batiatus's gladiators.
- Brick Joke: Lucretia at one point jokes about the bad wine. Later, when she has Illithyia for luncheon, the latter asks about the wine and Lucretia can only say it's of a certain quality.
- Curb-Stomp Battle: Even when Crixus is clearly holding back, and Spartacus using a gladius, their fight on the sand isn't exactly evenly matched...
- Early-Installment Weirdness:
- Naevia makes her first appearance as a Living Prop, and no apparent significance beyond being a slave of Lucretia's. She wears a different costume and hairstyle than she would be known for; a much simpler grey tunic rather than the blue that would indicate her status as Lucretia's personal handmaiden.
- This episode seems to treat Lucretia as a natural redhead, as she continues to wear the red hair while in a state of undress with her husband. Later episodes would show that she wears wigs and is a natural brunette.
- Fan Disservice: Sura is topless when she appears in Spartacus's dream. Then, mid-orgasm, blood starts shooting out from behind her, turning it into a Catapult Nightmare.
- Foreshadowing: While showing off against Spartacus, Crixus takes the time to look up to the balcony and share a look with Lucretia.
- Innocent Innuendo: Batiatus walked into this one.Batiatus: Not every venture ends in climax.
Lucretia: A fact well known to many women. - Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: Ashur gives Spartacus bread after Barca spills all the porridge as a hazing ritual. Of course it's not out of the goodness of his heart; he's placed bets on Spartacus's survival and wants him at full strength.
- Male Frontal Nudity: Spartacus memorably meets the rest of the gladiators when he's tossed into a room where they're all bathing. Most of the named characters have Modesty Towels, but Crixus is even introduced with a shot tilting all the way down to his junk.
- Manly Tears: Spartacus is close to tears when Glaber tells him what he did with Sura, and actually does get watery eyed when he tells Batiatus about her.
- Men Don't Cry: Crixus tries to mock Spartacus for shedding tears before their fight.
- Nerf Arm: Crixus wields a wooden training sword against Spartacus, who gets a real sword and still gets knocked flat on his ass.
- Proper Lady: Discussed by Lucretia to mark her disdain for the trope."Proper is a word men would use to enslave us."
- Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil: Glaber insinuates that he let his men gang rape Sura before she was sold into slavery. Spartacus is horrified and enraged.
- Redhead In Green: Lucretia wears a splendid green dress to go nicely with her red wig during the first training session.
- Rewatch Bonus: Lucretia seemingly wants Spartacus punished for "trying to kill your best man" during training. Once her affair with Crixus is revealed, you know she's more annoyed at someone attacking her man candy.
- Rule of Three: Doctore listing the ways Spartacus would get killed in a real fight:"Allow advantage to your back, and you are dead."
"Become entangled with a more powerful opponent, and you are dead."
"Hurl your sword in the arena, and you are dead again!" - Sexposition: An unusual case (although not by the standards of this show). Batiatus explains his plans to Lucretia while both are being masturbated by their slaves. The scene actually ends just as they begin doing it themselves.
- Sophisticated as Hell: This exchange between Lucretia and Illithyia.Lucretia: Perhaps we've done something to offend [the gods].
Ilithyia: I try to do a little something every day.
Lucretia: (grinning) So you're the cause [of the drought].
Ilithyia: I'd stand a bit away. Jupiter could hurl a bolt at any moment.
Lucretia: He'd have to choose between targets. - Throwing Your Sword Always Works: Subverted. Spartacus throws his at Crixus while his back is turned. He deflects it, and it hits one of the other recruits standing in line.Doctore: "Hurl your sword in the arena and you are dead again!"
- Traumatic Haircut: At the beginning of the episode, Batitatus has his slaves chop most of Spartacus's hair and beard off, and he stays short-haired for the rest of the series.
- Unflinching Walk: Doctore doesn't break stride as Spartacus charges at him and gets intercepted by Crixus.
- Wall Bang Her: Batiatus and Lucretia have passionate sex against the wall.
