And as fanservice goes, this is easily the tamest example.
Batiatus: What would you do to hold your wife again? To feel the warmth of her skin, to taste her lips? Would you kill? Spartacus: Whoever stood between us. Batiatus: How many men? A hundred, a thousand? Spartacus: I would kill them all. Batiatus: Then do it in the arena. Fight for me, and the honor of my forefathers. Prove yourself, climb to the pinnacle, gain your freedom, and that of the woman you've lost.
A very graphic, very violent, very foul-mouthed, very sexual Starz television series produced by Sam Raimi, Rob Tapert and Steven DeKnight. It was initially picked up for 13 episodes and then got a second pick-up before a single episode aired.The show's look is reminiscent of 300. Each episode is chock full of slow-motion fight scenes, in-your-face blood spatters and explicit sex. The production possibly owed its greenlight status to the runaway success of HBO's recent Rome.Season 2 was postponed after star Andy Whitfield was diagnosed with cancer. He passed away on September 11, 2011, and was replaced by Liam McIntyre. A prequel miniseries, Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, premiered on January 21, 2011. Spartacus: Vengeance premiered on January 27, 2012 and ran to the end of March. Several months later, Starz and DeKnight announced that Spartacus: War of the Damned, which premiered in January of 2013, would be the show's last season.Stanley Kubrick's version of the 1951 novel Spartacus had a similar reputation; the movie was banned from TV for decades.Has a recap page, under construction. Be advised that the folders below may contain unmarked spoilers from previous seasons.
Alike and Antithetical Adversaries: Heterogeneous Heroes vs. Homogeneous Villains. While Spartacus' band comes from a multitude of backgrounds (Thracian, Celtic in general and Gaul in particular, Germanic, Numidian, Assyrian and Ambiguously Brown in Naevia's case), the Romans lack variety in that regard - the exception being Ashur and his mercenary band.
Antiquated Linguistics: Everyone periodically drops articles (such as "a," "my," and "this") from their speech to sound more poetic and old-fashioned. Latin lacks the definite and indefinite articles.
Blood and Sand was especially full of arc words, foremost being "blood" and "sand" themselves. Some of them carried over to Vengeance though mostly as Ironic Echos.
The shadow of Rome is vast, and you will yet die under it.
A gladiator does not fear death.
Kill them all.
Armor Is Useless: The Romans' heavy armor seems to do little besides slow them down in fights with more nimble gladiators, who almost always manage to strike blows right through any gaps in the armor. The revolting slaves don't trouble to loot or wear any of it, often fighting fully armored soldiers in loincloths.
In the slave market scenes, the prices mentioned are a fraction of what any slave - let alone a gladiator - would actually have cost at the time. Since understating the prices doesn't help the story, this is probably a genuine mistake.
Several events in the show differ from the historical record. The initial escape was carried out by seizing kitchen utensils, Varnius survived the war and didn't even field troops until after Glaber's defeat, and Crassus wasn't given command until after the split between Spartacus and Crixus, and Crixus' death.
The type of Roman armor known today as lorica segmentata (segmented plate armor) appears in the show but it was invented much later in the days of the Roman Empire. This kind of thing shows up a lot in ancient Roman-themed media.
In War of the Damned, the movements of Spartacus' army are essentially reversed from the historical record. note Historically he moved north,historians believe to escape over the Alps before turning south after the split with Crixus and Crixus' resulting death, historians are unsure as to why, exactly, but revenge is a popular theory, eventually moving to the southern tip of the Italian penensula, records indicate with the intention of sailing to Sicily, and getting boxed in between Crassus and the sea. In the show, Spartacus moves south first, and his intentions towards Sicily are for strategic purposes, not escape, before fleeing north and being caught between Crassus and the Alps.
Batiatus: "I will not! NOT be FUCKED, you FUCK you fucking cock-sucking, you haemorrhoid-sucking FUCK, YOU FUCK!"
Chekhov's Skill: The show takes time to highlight Spartacus' tactical mind, showing that he's capable of formulating plans and adapting them to new situations, skills that will later prove crucial during the revolt. It also shows Crixus as having a knack for inspiring loyalty and admiration in those around him, which will come into play when Crixus breaks off with half the rebels when Spartacus decides to leave for Gaul.
Combat Pragmatist: Between throwing sand, faking surrender, and surprise attacks to the balls, Ashur lives and breathes this trope.
Coitus Ensues: "Subtext" is pretty much a non-existent concept on the show. If characters are getting it on then it will be shown. There is no such thing as an "implied" sexual relationship, to the extent that they even avert the But Not Too Gay trope.
Coitus Uninterruptus: Since this is set in Ancient Rome, this happens often. Batiatus and Lucretia are especially guilty of it. They have slaves act as fluffers before they get down to business with each other, and Lucretia even once asks Batiatus to have anal sex with one of her slave girls in the bath for her viewing pleasure. Barca and Pietros also have sex in their cell, which is easily visible to anyone who walks by.
Cruel Mercy: Several times, by both the Romans and the Gladiators. It always backfires.
Crusading Widower: While specific to Spartacus himself, this basically serves as the launch pad for everything else that happens in the series.
Doomed by Canon: Spartacus's rebellion will ultimately fail.
The Empire: Rome, obviously. Though technically it was a Republic at the time.
Eternal Sexual Freedom: While Romans did have lots and lots of sex, the show still plays this trope straight in regards to it's use of female on female relationships; Roman men felt very threatened by the concept, and it wasn't allowed or well liked.
Evil Versus Evil: None of the bad guys really seem to have any real loyalty towards one another. Once they're done using each other, all bets are off.
Fake Nationality: Nobody is from any of the areas of the Roman Republic where their characters would have originated:
Welsh-Australian Andy Whitfield and Australian Liam McIntyre play a Thracian, who inhabited south-eastern Europe, beyond the borders of Ancient Greece.
Scottish John Hannah plays an Italian.
Kiwi Lucy Lawless plays an Italian.
American Erin Cummings plays a Thracian.
Half-Maori Manu Bennet plays a Gaul.
Maori Antonio Te Maioha plays a Carthaginian.
American Nick Tarabay (of Lebanese descent) plays a Syrian.
Fanservice: Both male and female actors are almost uniformly chiseled and gorgeous, and the men especially spend most of their onscreen time bare-chested and glistening. Gratuitous female nudity also abounds. There's even an intersexed person in there. Truly equal opportunity fanservice.
Fanservice Extra: Some of the arena spectators like to flash their breasts at the gladiators.
Fight Clubbing: While the arena is socially acceptable, the Pit is an underground fight club that is considered a shameful den of depravity.
Finagle's Law: Responsible for much of the series' drama. Batiatus in particular seems to fall foul of it a lot.
Batiatus: "Once again the gods spread the cheeks and ram cock in fucking ass..."
Marcus Crassus (the Roman general who will become the ultimate nemesis of Spartacus and his men) gets mentioned several times by other characters.
Combined with Tempting Fate when Ilithyia sees the gladiators for the first time, and wonders aloud what would happen if they were to go berserk and try to escape.
Crixus had so many Near Death Experiences by turning his back on his enemies, only to be saved by Spartacus. Once he led an army and separated himself from Spartacus, guess what happened?
Blood And Sand: Ends with Spartacus and the other gladiators successfully launching their rebellion against the house of Batiatus.
Gods Of The Arena: Is a prequel, so this is even more of a given. Batiatus and Solonious' friendship is doomed, Ashur will be injured by Crixus, and Oenomaus will become Doctore.
Vengeance: Builds up to the showdown at Mt Vesuvivus, where Oenomaus and Glaber will die.
War Of The Damned: Is the end of the tale. Rome will crush the rebellion and pretty much everyone is going to die. The real Spartacus will be presumed dead and his body never found. His specific fate is therefore open to Artistic License.
Germanic Depressives: Averted by virtue of antiquity. The ancient German tribesmen are boisterous, fun-loving and if anything overly-enthusiastic to the point of being difficult to manage.
Pretty much the only reason to include a sex scene between Lilah and Xena in Gods of the Arena.
Illthyia and Lucretia also kiss each other multiple times in the show.
Invoked a few times, various male characters (typically Roman elite) clearly enjoy seeing women kiss or have sex. In War of the Damned, Gannicus also clearly enjoys seeing Saxa make out with another woman.
Gladiator Games: Mostly limited to the first season and prequel.
Good Is Not Nice: Most of the gladiators are about as nice as you'd expect a bunch of hulking, bloodthirsty killers to be, though they fight injustice.
Gratuitous German: The Germanic characters occasionally speak German (as a stand-in for ancient Germanic languages). Not very well, though - people fluent in modern German shouldn't expect to fully understand what they're saying.
Headbutt of Love: In a show with this much overt sex (and rape), this is often used as a way to convey more tender emotions of love or caring.
Crixus and Naevia on more than one occasion. But most dramatically at the end.
Nasir is also a popular recipient, and not just from Agron. He even gets one from Spartacus himself after being injured during Naevia's rescue.
High Pressure Blood: Copious amounts of blood sprays and gouts across the screen whenever a gladiator lands a blow, though, even from ostensibly bloodless wounds such as being thumped in the back with an axe shaft. However, there's rarely any bleeding afterwards, probably because most of the blood effects are CG.
Historical Domain Character: Spartacus obviously, but also Crixus, Oenomaus (Doctore), Batiatus, Glaber, Gannicus, Julius Caesar and Marcus Crassus.
Glaber is a monumental asshole in the show. Not much is known about the real man, but nothing suggests that he wasn't just some hapless Roman commander.
Crassus was apparently just as brutal as he's shown in the series, but he probably wasn't such a keen swordfighter on top of it all.
While Julius Caesar was pretty badass in real life, here he's also a scruffy fistfighter, a special ops saboteur and a one-man-army on the battlefield.
Hollywood Atheist: Spartacus and most of his followers are atheists in a time period where it was practically unheard of to be atheist.
Hollywood Healing: The protagonists often suffer some pretty gruesome injuries, in particular from bladed weapons, during fight scenes. Yet these usually heal with a speed that implies Healing Factor and aside from a few signature scars distinctive to their characters many of these wounds leave no permanent marks. Injuries that cut to the bone on the show often heal faster and better than minor scratches do in real life.
Hollywood Tactics: Often employed by the Roman Legions in War of the Damned.
Infant Immortality: Averted big time, whether they're teenagers (Numerius who is killed by Aurelia as revenge for Varronote though technically he was an adult by the standards of Roman society), children (the child with the ball in Sinuessa en Valle that's killed by the rampaging slaves), toddlers (the son of the money lender killed by Barca off-screen), newborns (Lucrecia jumping down the cliff with Illythia's baby) or unborns (Crixus stabbing a pregnant Lucretia in her womb).
Interplay of Sex and Violence : basically the trope personified for TV viewing. Particularly juxtaposed in the arena scenes, where shots of bloody violence is intercut with topless women gyrating in the crowd.
Blood and Sand refers to Spartacus' and the Gladiators' lives and the arena itself.
Gods of the Arena featured the people who run the games and made the arena, as well as the past (champion) gladiators. It is also the Supporting Protagonist's Red Baron.
Vengeance pretty much deals with most characters' personalRevenge.
No Name Given: Spartacus himself, whose Thracian name is never revealed. Batiatus labels him Spartacus, after a legendary Thracian king, because Glaber never bothered to learn his name. Afterwards, he refuses to go by any other name. His real name is occasionally subject to an unreveal.
The Other Darrin: Liam McIntyre will be replacing Andy Whitfield as Spartacus as of Season 2. Cynthia Addai-Robinson will also be replacing Lesley-Ann Brandt as Naevia in the same season due to Brandt's preoccupation with CSI:NY.
Playing to the Fetishes: Naked wrestling, hermaphrodites, sex shows, a large, muscular black man with a voice like Zeus himself - add a whip and his promise to turn you into perfect physical specimens, and you get an extra ten percent of female fans. The ones who weren't already here for the shirtless bronzed gladiator bodies and rampant nudity.
Plenty of Blondes: Many of the Roman noblewomen favour blonde hair. Ilithyia is a natural blonde while Lucretia sometimes wears blonde wigs.
Poirot Speak: Characters do not drop into Latin at random or with any frequency, but the English dialogue is often interrupted by a few specific Latin nouns related to the military, political office or gladiatory games and training (See also Shown Their Work below)
Pride: Ends up causing a lot of the drama in the story.
Real Life Writes the Plot: Main star Andy Whitfield has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. While waiting for him to recover, Starz made up for the gap with a prequel mini-series. Whitfield has since bowed out of the series to continue treatment. Sadly, he lost the battle on September 11, 2011.
Crixus and Naevia start off as Star-Crossed Lovers, kept apart by their status as slaves and their domina Lucretia, but once the gladiators rebel...
Agron's homosexuality is not even made apparent in Blood and Sand. It is only after he gets together with Nasir in Vengeance that the the truth comes out. By War of the Damned they are perhaps theOfficial Couple. Especially because they are the only two survivors from among the major characters at the end of the series.
Averted with Spartacus himself, who was in an Official Couple with his wife Sura. His subsequent romantic involvements strongly suggest a case of the Cartwright Curse.
Reluctant Fanservice Girl: Widespread, and applied to both genders. Slaves are often forced to go partially or completely naked for the entertainment of their Roman masters either for erotic reasons, especially with household slaves and prostitutes, or simply because in some jobs, such as mining, they see no reason to provide them with clothes.
The fight scenes. Popping someone's head off with a chain, for example.
Gladiators tended to have a layer of kevlard to protect themselves from the bloody, slashing wounds that fans loved without serious internal injury. In the show, however, most gladiators have bodybuilder physiques with washboard abs.
Screaming Warrior: Screaming when you fight is absolutely necessary.
In the match between Crixus and Spartacus in episode three both men are armed according to their gladiator types: Crixus, a Gaul, is a murmillo, and Spartacus is armed as a thraex, which is a stereotypical Thracian). The matchup of these sets is one that was actually used in the real arenas, though the murmillo wasn't actually used until several decades later.
Though the language itself is entirely in English, all titles and positions are referred to with their proper Latin terms, and even correct gender and tense declension. The dialogue also omits the definite and indefinite articles to match Latin's lack of same.
Slave Brand: The gladiators are branded with the mark of the house. Slaves from the house of Batiatus all have a B on the inside of their forearms. Body slaves get a tattoo.
Agron in particular stands out here. Most of the time he sounds awfully cultured for a backwoods barbarian. But he also uses profanity very frequently.
Batiatus, despite (or perhaps because of) his Large Ham tendencies, often combines the the virtues of a Roman orator with lengthy explosions of extremely graphic profanity.
Underestimating Badassery: The Romans generally underestimate Spartacus and his followers, thinking them "common slaves" and mere "savages". Completely ignoring the fact that this fighting force is made primarily of slaves who were trained day in and day out on nothing more than how to fight and kill. It comes to a head in Vengeance's "Chosen Path" after Ashur tries to desperately point out, for the thousandth time, how dangerous the gladiators are compared to the average Roman mook. Glaber's response is to throw Ashur into a dogpile of soldiers and tell them to go nuts. Ashur kicks the crap out them.
Ashur: And I was considered lowest among the Brotherhood.
Subverted by Marcus Crassus who seems to recognize the threat the rebels pose, going so far as to purchase a former gladiator in order to learn the gladiator mindset and tactics. Played straight by his son, Tiberius, who clearly holds the view that his position as a Roman citizen makes him better than mere slaves, a view his father strongly condemns.
Walking Shirtless Scene: A lot. This gets particularly ridiculous in the pilot, where Spactacus is shirtless and bare-legged in the snow. Also, it isn't restricted to the men, not by a longshot. It's easier to list the cast members who don't get a shirtless scene.
Affably Evil: Batiatus loves his wife, dreams of being a father, and does some pretty awful things to his peers and slaves alike.
Anyone Can Die: The list as of the end of Season 1: Sura, Varro, Batiatus, Barca, Pietros, Duro, Good Solonius, Calavius, Numerius, Ovidius and too many minor characters to count.
Arch-Enemy: Batiatus and Good Solonius, Crixus and Ashur, and for a while Spartacus and Crixus. Despite the early set-up, Spartacus and Glaber are not arch-enemies as after several episodes Spartacus explains that even though Glaber is the man who took his wife, he is not the one who killed her.
Barca: Myrmex has the advantage. Batiatus: Thank you for the fucking obvious.
Bad Boss: Batiatus and Lucretia toward their slaves when it suits their purposes, though they often try to make it seem like they're Benevolent Bosses.
Bash Brothers: Agron and Duro, "the German Brothers".
Most of the slaves, obviously. Batiatus and Lucretia are fond of having slaves act as fluffers before they get down to business with each other. Invoked with Mira who is (repeatedly) sent to Spartacus to act as this. She is implied to have been this, possibly for much of the ludus, as well. To his credit, he turns her down as she is not there willingly, though they later become willing lovers. Naevia is an interesting example, Lucretia protects her virginity, but only so that she will be worth more later.
Pietros is a male example, though he and Barca genuinely love each other. Gnaeus on the other hand...
Bed Trick: And how. Notably, both of them are victims of it.
Benevolent Boss: Batiatus plays this straight when it suites his purposes, primarily with Ashur and Oenomaus. Ashur was granted a promotion to the villa and was given Crixus' woman, and Oenomaus was slated for freedom and being hired as lanista. He averts the trope whenever he feels that he can wring more advantage to do so (See Bad Boss above)
Aurelia castrates a rapist, and later stabs an adolescent boynote Technically he was legally an adult by the standards of roman society, though most of the main characters still considered him a child to death for having her husband killed.
Sura, to a lesser extent. She is not an easy mark for a Geddi gang-rape, and does not run for safety when her husband comes to her rescue. She also gives Spartacus his marching orders: Kill them all.
Body Paint: A number of slaves at a party are painted white to resemble marble statues. Ironically, real Roman statues were painted to look like people. Also used for the Bed Trick mentioned above.
Bullying a Dragon: Ovidius (the loan shark) tries to intimidate Batiatus in early episodes, but has a difficult time of it since Batiatus is usually followed by at least one famous and deadly gladiator.
The Dog Bites Back: Ilithyia in episode 13. She gets the last laugh on Lucretia by escaping the massacre at the ludus and having her soldiers seal the doors behind her.
The Dreaded: Theokoles. Crixus nearly shits himself when it's announced he and Spartacus are to face him. Doctore is sure they'll both die.
Dual Wielding: Theokoles. Later, Batiatus orders Spartacus to adopt the style as an in-universe invocation of the Rule Of Cool. Oenomaus, though it is not his signature style, shows that he is capable of this as well in episode 5.
Empathic Environment: When Theokoles (aka the Shadow of Death) steps into the arena, the sky clouds over.
Enemy Mine: Spartacus and Crixus against Theokoles. And again at the end of the first season.
Ashur refuses to accept Good Solonius's bribe, saying, "I am a villain, but I'm not your villain."
Ilithyia is horrified when she kills Licinia in a fit of rage and shows genuine guilt for it.
Batiatus is also furious with his wife for manipulating the events that lead to Ilithyia murdering Licinia, although this could be explained away as him being worried about what the costs might be. He does however apologize to Spartacus over Lucretia tricking him into sleeping with Ilithyia, and seems to genuinely mean it.
Lucretia is at first pretty horrified when she realises that Batiatus was behind the massacre of Ovidius' family. However, this is because she thinks his motive was to get out of paying his debts - when he explains that Ovidius had tried to have him killed, she's fine with it. (It looks as if she'd have considered killing just Ovidius to get out of debt perfectly ok - it was the wife and child that were overkill, and killing THEM is fine once she finds out it's revenge.)
Green-Eyed Monster: In episode 12, Mira all but foams at the mouth when Spartacus asks to speak to Varro's widow.
Hearing Voices: Spartacus periodically has hallucinations of his wife. She tells him to kill everybody.
I Have Your Wife: Batiatus promises to find Sura and buy her for Spartacus if he behaves and does well in the Arena. He does buy her, but has her killed right before they reunite.
Improbable Hairstyle: Crixus has a modern military crew cut that would be nigh impossible to get at the time. Although the Romans did invent the military cut, the one Spartacus gets would be more accurate. Also Suro has a modern fringe and layers. Subverted with Lucretia, who has unnatural red hair, but episode 3 reveals she wears wigs, which is Truth in Television for some Roman women.
Infant Immortality: Whether Barca disobeyed orders because he could not bear to kill a child drives the plot of episode 6. It turns out that he did not disobey orders, and he was lying to Pietros to make him feel better.
An interesting example for Ilithyia. In one episode, Batiatus gets a few more slaves to be turned into gladiators. Ilithyia who loves big strong men with large endowments, purchases one of them as her own slave. Later Spartacus speaks out of turn in front of her and her friends, and she states that she would have him crucified were he her slave. She later tries to have her slave kill Spartacus in the washroom but is stopped by Crixus. The slave's punishment: Castration and crucifixion, in the training yard for all to see, especially Ilithyia.
Jerkass Façade: Spartacus adopts a jerkass facade to get respect in the arena, while still remaining a decent guy at heart. For example, when Gnaeus is harassing Pietros, Spartacus angrily orders Pietros to bring him some water, which gives Pietros an excuse to get away.
Karma Houdini: Ilithyia, Glaber and Ashur as of the season 1 finale.
Karmic Death: Batiatus, Numerius and a whole slew of Capua's elite are slaughtered when the blood games they were attending turned against them. Lucretia was stabbed through her womb, but Word Of God states she will return for Season 2 and is thus not dead.
Glaber makes a point of telling Spartacus what he has done to his wife.
Ashur's cruelty to Pietros after Barca is killed.
Ashur again: he is allowed to have any of the slaves as his sex slave, and he chooses Naevia because he knows that she and Crixus are in love. This was also likely to get revenge on Crixus, it works flawlessly.
The Lost Lenore: Murdered wife Sura is a classic example. She appears after her grisly demise in flashbacks and dream sequences, and Spartacus' subsequent love interest is a Replacement Goldfish who bears more than a passing resemblance to her, and a lot of their relationship tension revolves around Spartacus' ongoing love and grief for his murdered wife.
Lady Macbeth: Ilithyia convinces Glaber to go against his orders and make a grab for glory (at the expense of Spartacus and his Thracians), which arguably kicks off the entire plot. She is also perfectly capable of making life difficult for Spartacus in her husband's absence.
Made of Iron: Several characters, but special mention must go to Theokoles, the Shadow of Death.
Manipulative Bastard: Batiatus and Lucretia, who play their slaves and Roman countrymen to whatever tune they like. To a lesser extent, Ashur. The way he goes about getting Barca killed is worthy of mention, as is his revenge on Crixus, the gladiator who wounded him, in episode 12.
Mythology Gag: The scene introducing Mira to Spartacus bears striking similarity to the introduction of Spartacus and Varinia in Spartacus, possibly Foreshadowing their future relationship.
Not Quite Dead: Lucretia in Season 2, according to Lucy Lawless.
Not So Different: Spartacus and Crixus in the Season 1 finale. Crixus even laments that had things been different, they would have been as brothers; and even though they stand in each others way, both of them are fighting for a just cause.
Not What It Looks Like: Good Solonius, knife in hand, standing over the corpse of Calavius.
Offscreen Moment of Awesome: DeKnight said in commentary for the finale that the only scene he regrets having to cut was after Duro's death. Apparently, Agron kills everyone, and Oenomaus comes to find him surrounded by the bodies of the guards.
Batiatus' slimy henchmen Aulus, who was ordered to kill Spartacus' wife, has one in episode 11; Towards the end of the episode, he finds himself all alone with Spartacus while he "questions" him about the absence of the supposed wound he received trying to rescue her from alleged attackers while en route to the ludus.
Batiatus has a massive one when Spartacus nearly impales him through the head in Episode 13.
Ominous Latin Chanting: During a sex scene, no less. It makes sense if you have worked out that it is actually Ilithyia not Licinia under the mask, making both of them victims of a very brutal Bed Trick.
Pass the Popcorn: Of all times and places, Ashur does this on Sura's funeral.
Pet the Dog: Batiatus goes against the crowd to spare Spartacus' life when he submits in his fight against Crixus.
Playing Against Type: To most American tropers, John Hannah. Widely known as bumbling brother Jonathan in the Mummy movies, he shows a very dark side in the fifth episode. To a lesser extent, Lucy Lawless as his conniving wife. The two actors enjoyed playing against type so much that they both came back to reprise their characters for the upcoming prequel mini-series.
Punctuated Pounding: Batiatus is fond of combining this with the Cluster F-Bomb, whether it's kicking a dead slave or beating someone round the head with a cup. Aurelia also does this in the finale while stabbing Numerius.
Redemption in the Rain: For Spartacus in the arena in episode 5, after he and Crixus fight Theokoles. The rain breaks the heat wave and drought that had been gripping the city. He is thereafter repeatedly referred to as "bringer of rain."
Retired Badass: Oenomaus (Doctore) certainly counts, though he is only retired from the ring. He was the only man to ever survive a fight with Theokoles and is able to teach both Spartacus and Crixus a thing or two.
Reality Ensues: A cut Spartacus receives in his fight with Varro that he doesn't get treated results in a wicked infection that nearly kills him.
Stripperiffic: Ye Gods and how. Many of the gladiators go into battle with their chests completely exposed and train in what amounts to a loincloth. There are frequently scantily dressed female slaves as background extras and several episodes where the background extras are fully nude.
Tear Off Your Face: An underground pit fighter named Ixion does this to defeated opponents, then wears their faces as masks.
Batiatus: Friends! We are perfectly safe inside the villa!
(cue the enraged gladiators storming into the villa)
Then Let Me Be Evil: When Ashur gets berated for his slimy Manipulative Bastard behaviour, he pulls this line of defense, pointing out that everybody treated him like pig feed and that nearly every git move he pulled benefited his master, Doctore and the ludus, so screw the gladiators and their honour. From what we see in Gods of the Arena, his attitude is at least partially justified.
All the time in the pilot. It's practically Spartacus' signature move.
Subverted in the second episode — a thrown sword is still lethal, but when your opponent is fast enough to parry it, it becomes lethal to a random innocent bystander. Oops. Then lampshaded immediately by Doctore: "If you throw your sword in the ring, you are dead."
Throwing an axe however is apparently okay, as Spartacus saves Batiatus' life this way in Episode 4.
Ironically played straight by Doctore in the final episode of the season. Doctore is apparently badass enough to pull it off.
Tragic Monster: While not in the series, Theokoles is painted as this in the prequal comic. Basically speaking he was a good natured, hard working boy who turned out to be exceptionally good at killing, and not much else. Some of the details are especially tragic, but best not to get into them.
Traumatic Haircut: In episode 2, Spartacus's long hair is hacked off when he becomes a gladiator. For some reason, Barca and the two German brothers are allowed to keep their hair long.
Unholy Matrimony: The series is actually rather good about this - being complete bastards does not stop Batiatus/Lucretia and Glaber/Ilithyia from being relatively loving and devoted couples.
The Unreveal: Twice in episode 2, when Spartacus is about to tell us his real name. The first time Crixus cuts him off, the second time the Doctore invokes Talk To The Whip. He gets cut off again in a flashback, this time by Sura.
Batiatus begins to break down during the revolt at the end of Season 1, when he sees not only his plans for office, but his own ludus falling apart.
Lucretia trashes her room after Ilithyia demands a night with Crixus, who until then had been her personal sex toy.
Ilithyia has a murderous one after she realizes she has been subjected to a particularly nasty Bed Trick.
Visual Pun: When the gladiator who wears his opponents' faces in the Pit turns to the audience with his newest trophy and says, "You wanna face me?!"
“Well Done Son” Guy: Ashur just wants a little respect from the other gladiators, to the point that he is initially reluctant to accept an elevated position because it will mean that he will never get the chance. He comforts himself with cold blooded vengeance.
What the Hell, Hero?: Mira calls Spartacus out on his selfishness twice in Episode 12. First by telling him that if he tries to kill Batiatus, whether he succeeds or not, every slave and gladiator in the ludus will be killed. When she learns that he did not take his revenge because Aurelia is now a slave for Batiatus, she tears into him even more for the fact that he'd let everyone except her die.
Woman Scorned: Lucretia reacts pretty much as expected when she finds out why Crixus has lost that loving feeling.
Would Hit a Girl: Ilithyia gets this a lot. Spartacus tries to strangle her after he finds out he had sex with her and her own husband headbutts her when he finds out she murdered Licinia. Crixus on the other hand manages to stab Lucretia in the gentlest way possible.
Xanatos Gambit: Batiatus arranges Good Solonius' murder, then sends Ashur to warn him. If Good Solonius doesn't listen then he dies, if he does then Ashur gains his trust to exploit later.
Gambit Roulette: His plan to frame Good Solonius for the magistrate's murder however relies on precise timing that would be nearly impossible in an age without clocks.
Ambition Is Evil: Played with — more so than in Season 1. Batiatus' ambition to rise above his station is a sympathetic goal, but the measures he takes to ensure that he does are questionable. Titus, meanwhile, comes across as more than a little cowardly as he remains humble before the villains of the series and refuses to allow Batiatus and Lucretia to take revenge on Tullius for killing Gaia.
Bad Ass: Gannicus and Oenomaus are the established badasses of this series, with Barca not too far behind. Other characters from Blood and Sand are seen to be still in training.
Benevolent Boss: Lucretia is shown to care about her servants and only allowed certain things happen to them because of pure social pressure, although she's not above blackmailing Melitta into convincing Oenomaus not to tell anything about the orgy to Titus. But then again, she apologizes later.
Betty and Veronica: After their forced sex, Gannicus is the "bad boy" for Melitta while her husband Oenomaus is the Nice Guy.
Big Bad: Tullius is the primary antagonist, with Caburus acting as one for the arena.
Black and Gray Morality: Batiatus, who might count as a Villain Protagonist given the events of Blood and Sand, comes across as significantly less evil than the competition.
Blade on a Stick: The hoplomachi, most notably Barca and Auctus.
Blonde Guys Are Evil: Vettius, though he's more of a jerk than really evil. Tullius is one in the truest sense of the trope.
Gannicus starts out as a devil-may-care gladiator who loves the arena and enjoys all the perks of victory. The rest of season sees all his joy destroyed, as he receives no credit or standing for seemingly impossible victories, is forced to withstand various humiliations just because he's the best, is used as a pawn in the brutal chess game between Batiatus and Tullius, and his relationship with his only true friends is poisoned. Even the finale, where he receives much-deserved freedom, leaves him adrift, with no idea where he should go or what he should do.
Then there's Diona, who is raped repeatedly until she's on the point of suicide. Naevia helps her escape, but she is soon caught and executed in the arena, in front of her only friend's eyes.
Broken Bird: Diona after her traumatic first time.
But Not Too Gay: Averted. The series doesn't shy away from gay kisses, Barca and Auctus most notably. Lucretia and Gaia are played with Girl on Girl Is Hot in mind.
Call Forward: All over the place, including extensive Backstory for even seemingly incidental details such as why Oenomaus doesn't drink wine any more, why Lucretia favours her red wig, and how Ashur got his burn scars and crippled leg.
Rather subtle one and possibly unintended but when Batiatus and Titus are inspecting slaves Batiatus refuses to purchase a Thracian of the Maedi tribe as they are hard to control and aggravate Gauls. Many historians believe Spartacus to be from that tribe, he was hard to control in the first season until Batiatus found out about Sura and of course his initial rocky relationship with Crixus.
Depraved Bisexual: Varus, and the same can be said about other numerous Roman visitors to the house of Batiatus.
Oenomaus will become Doctore but will lose his wife and the faith he has to his Ludus, and never see glory in the arena again.
Affable and cheerful Ashur will become a bitter schemer who manages to kill Barca.
Good Solonius and Batiatus will not stay best friends.
Barca and Auctus won't last, as Barca is with Pietros in the original.
Dramatic Irony: Being a prequel, the series provides this in spades.
Drunken Song: Gannicus sings a very crude one while celebrating his victories in episode 1. While he's balanced on the edge of a cliff no less. It's the same song the gladiators were singing during the party in "Delicate Things" while Barca was being murdered.
Happily Married: Oenomaus and Melitta, they're like a benevolent version of Batiatus and Lucretia.
I Am Not My Father: In the first two episodes, several people have made this comment regarding Batiatus (and he essentially fires Doctore for mentioning it). He feels that his father's patient attitude has held the family fortunes down, and episode three makes it very clear that Batiatus and his father are not on good terms.
Incendiary Exponent: Invoked for the primus in the final episode, which takes place inside a Ring of Fire. Gnaeus cranks it up another notch by setting his net on fire during the battle.
Interplay of Sex and Violence: During the primus, there's a crowd shot with a couple having sex while the battle takes place. Gannicus and Melitta having sex is also juxtaposed with Oenamaus fighting (and killing) the original Doctore.
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Gannicus is extremely cocky, but also really amiable around Oenomaus and Melitta, and later acts surprisingly nice towards Crixus. Auctus is arguably this as well; while he treats the new recruits badly he saves his gentler side to his birds and, of course, Barca.
Karma Houdini: Batiatus - but only within the context of this series, with the events of the first season turning it into Dramatic Irony.
Batiatus: "And one day, we will see proper reward for all we have done!" (scene cuts to him dead on the floor at the end of Blood And Sand)
Gannicus
Kick the Dog: A Roman man aproaches Dagan, who can't speak Latin, and asks if he is interested in having a good time, Ashur and his not so Tactful Translation says Dagan is okay with it and adds that he likes it rough. Later Ashur casually blinds one of his eyes after feigning helplessness while he was taking him down in combat. With A Friend Like This indeed.
King Mook: Caburus. He gives Gannicus and Crixus a run for their money in the finale. Gannicus finally kills him by shoving a spear tip into his mouth, before ripping his jaw off.
Lady Macbeth: Lucretia is quite capable of taking the problem of Titus' stifling influence into her own hands. Indeed, she is revealed to have been doing so from the very beginning.
Perfect Poison: How Lucretia killed Titus and Melitta, though the latter was an unfortunate accident. Just a sip of the poisoned wine was enough to make them cough blood and die messily. Actually, she has been poisoning Titus for a long time, not exactly to kill him, but to make him sick and leave them alone. We don't know if it is the same poison in a bigger dose or another, stronger, one.
Ring of Fire: The showdown between Batiatus and Good Solonius' gladiators in the final episode.
Roaring Rampage of Revenge: Batiatus, Gannicus, and Oenomaus go on in the season finale. Ironically what they really what revenge for (the deaths of Titus and Melitta), are the things Tullius isn't guilty of.
Sensitive Guy and Manly Man: Auctus and Barca. Of course Auctus is only sensitive as a gladiator can possibly be, but his liking of birds shows he's a bit more warmthearted than you would expect from a man who lives to kill.
Sequel Hook: After Gannicus is freed in the final episode, he tells Crixus and Oenomaus to come find him when they earn their own freedom.
Start of Darkness: While not exactly moral, fives years prior Lucretia seemed to care for her slaves. Ashur was more compassionate even showing grief at having to kill a fellow slave. And while impetuous, Batiatus was at least bothered by some of the actions he took towards forwarding his ambition.
Tactful Translation: Ashur plays it straight, but never with good intentions.
Team Mom: Melitta to the other slave girls, especially Naevia and Diona.
Good Solonius gloats to Vettius in episode 6 "We were not found knife in hand, kneeling beside body!" This almost perfectly describes the Frame Up from the first season that leads to his death.
Also this exchange between Gannicus and Melitta in Episode 2.
Melitta: "And what happens, brave Gannicus, when presented with circumstance you cannot laugh or fight your way clear of?" Gannicus: "Well I may have to fuck my way clear of it!"
Three-Way Sex: It doesn't take long for Gaia find her way to Lucretia and Batiatus' bed.
Title Drop: In every episode except number 4. Batiatus also refers to Gannicus as a "god of the arena" in the finale.
Oenomaus, Melitta and Gannicus starts of as type 4 after the latter two were forced to have sex with each other. It eventually evolves to type 7.
Batiatus, Lucretia and Gaia falls to the type 8 category.
Two Guys and a Girl: Gannicus, Oenomaus and Melitta who are true friends (the latter two are married), but then Gannicus and Melitta are forced to have sex an event that shakes everything up.
Villain Protagonist: Batiatus, the Big Bad of Blood and Sand for Season 1, is front and centre and only a bit less of a vile schemer. It works because his enemies are even bigger dicks.
This series reveals that Batiatus and Good Solonius, bittier rivals in Blood and Sand who each arrange to murder the other, used to be the best of friends in days past.
Also, Crixus and Ashur. While by no means best friends, they get along very well, and Ashur even shows concern when he believes Crixus is going to die in his fight against Gannicus. Ashur is absolutely shocked when Crixus cripples his leg.
With Friends Like These: Ashur and Dagan are good friends, and Dagan even saves Ashur's life. When Dagan starts receiving more praise as a gladiator, however, a jealous Ashur puts him in a very uncomfortable situation.
Women Are Wiser: Melitta has shown wisdom, kindness and patience like no one else in the series. It is particularly emphasized when she interacts with the irresponsible and boisterous Gannicus and her husband is always seeking her for advice. Lucretia is also more level-headed and cautious than Batiatus and this trope may apply to all the other women with Gaia being an notable exception, but only in the "morally-superior" part though.
Young Future Famous People: Gannicus, Crixus and Oenomeus will one day be leaders of a rebellion which will shake the Republic. Here, Gladiators in a mid level ludus in a provincial town.
Spartacus: Vengeance
Vengeance provides examples of:
Achey Scars: Lucretia's wound starts to ache when she sees Crixus.
Played with in episode 8, Glaber takes an arrow to the shoulder, and despite wearing armor is knocked off his feet. He isn't seriously hurt though. The Egyptian completely ignores a dozen arrows sticking out of his chest, arms, and legs; but he seems to just be that tough. However, there is the occasional instant death arrow thrown in the mix.
After Mira offers to teach someone bow skills, Saxa screams (in "German") "This bitch and her fucking arrows!"
Anyone Can Die: Continuing the trend of Blood and Sand, we have Aurelia, Marcus, Rhaskos, Albinius, Lucius, Seppius, Seppia, Varinius, Mira, Ashur, Oenomeus, Glaber, Lucretia, Ilithyia and Ilithyia's newborn baby.
When the gladiators arrive at the mines, Mira is presented as an "apology" for the slaves arriving late. The lead Roman wastes very little time in trying to rape her. She however will have none of it, and puts a knife on his crotch and demands he tell her where Naevia is. Turns out that was their plan all along.
One of the Rhines attempts this on Naevia. It did not end well.
Bawdy Song: The Gauls, particularly Rhaskos, have one called My Cock Rages On. Rhaskos starts singing it naked at one point, much to the other gladiator's displeasure. This is apparently the only song gladiators ever learn, as it's the same one from Blood and Sand and Gods of the Arena.
Beauty Is Never Tarnished: Mostly averted in that many characters acquire cuts that become permanent scars. Exceptions include:
By the end of episode 4, after constant running and fighting through the woods Spartacus' and Mira's faces are both stained with blood and mud. It's all gone by the next episode though.
Only three characters in the entire show have ever been bruised: Ilithyia, Naevia, and Pietros. It's worth noting that their bruises come from more "domestic" fights, compared to battles: Ilithyia is hit by her husband, while Naevia and Pietros receive bruises at the hands of their rapists, Ashur and Gnaeus, respectively.
Big Damn Heroes: After fleeing the mines, Spartacus finds his forces picked off one by one. Just as he convinced he's going to die, Agron shows up with the rest of his men.
In episode 4, Spartacus, Mira, Nasir, and Naevia are accompanied by 4 unnamed gladiators three of whom are black. Admittedly, all four of them die, but the black ones do die first.
Oenomaus is the first of the four generals to die, but he was historically the first to die as well.
Brother-Sister Incest: Seppius is in love with his sister Seppia, and gets jealous whenever she has the attention of other men. Glaber notices and is creeped out.
Bullying a Dragon: In the first episode, three street toughs try this with a side order of blackmail ("We won't tell who you are if you give us Spartacus") on Oenomaus. The guy who they already know was the only man ever to survive against Theokoles, who is in-universe pretty much the second most terrifying man to have ever lived. And they do it armed with one small dagger. It works out pretty much how you would expect for them.
Gannicus is introduced as "A true God of the Arena". Ashur also calls him this.
In episode 8, Spartacus presents a thin piece of cloth to Glaber as proof of Ilithyia's capture, perfectly mirroring what Glaber did to him at the beginning of Blood and Sand.
In episode 9, The House of Ashur, reminding Lucretia and everyone of the House of Batiatus.
In episode 10, "At last the Roman knows his place before us! On his knees!"
Captain Obvious: Ashur states the Gannicus has made his choice after Gannicus single-handedly slaughters a Roman honor guard, kidnaps Glaber's wife and leaves his rudis impaled in the gladiator Ashur had sent to watch him.
Blood and Sand and Gods of the Arena hinted at this, but Vengeance is proving that this is the way Roman Politics were handled. Nearly everyone in the Roman Upper Class is shown to have a case of this.
Ilithyia accuses Ashur of having this toward Glaber which is probably the one time in the series when he's actually not an example.
Cold-Blooded Torture: A pretty horrific example happens in episode 4 when one of the captured Gauls is selected by the Roman elite as a means of both revenge for the massacre at the end of Blood and Sand, and for their own personal amusement.
Spartacus is not terribly happy with Crixus and the Gauls saving him from Glaber's soldiers. Crixus later states they weren't there to save him, but to stop him from killing Glaber, as the Roman reprisal would be more than they were ready for.
Naevia believing that Crixus died so that she could escape, and knowing how many others died in the attempt, she angrily chastises the rebels for throwing away so much to rescue her. Notably, she chastises Agron, who was the one opposed to the rescue from the start for this very reason. When he tells her this, she says he should have tried harder to talk them out of it.
Creator Cameo: Michael Hurst appears as a Roman soldier in episode 9. He's the one who says, "Praetor, the rebels are in retreat."
Cruel Mercy: In episode 8, Spartacus turns Ilithyia loose into the woods, telling her that Glaber does not love her (which she probably already knew). He even says that it isn't a kindness, as she is now lost without food or water. As with every other instance of this, it backfires.
Ilithyia: Oh! Gaius. You give hot cause to flutter.
Glaber: The water ripples in evidence.
Death By A Thousand Cuts: The fate of one captured Gaul in episode 4, until Ilithyia gets fed up and finishes him off.
Death by Disfigurement: Oenomaus loses an eye and is killed in the following episode. Likewise, Varnius and many other Roman soldiers were killed after being hit by the catapult.
Death Seeker: Oenomaus. After the fall of House Batiatus, he begins to fight in The Pit as a means of punishment.
Designated Girl Fight: In a massive brawl between the brotherhood and the new German recruits, of course Mira ends up tangling with the only action girl on the other side. Though it's about as brutal as the other fights.
Died in Your Arms Tonight: Mira presumably dies in Spartacus' arms, though no one knows she's dead until he puts her down. Oenomaus in Gannicus' arms.
Glaber kills Senator Albinius after he's had enough of Albinius mocking him and he's discovered the conspiracy against him.
After Lucretia tries to put the new and improved Ashur in line with insults, he calmly explains to her that she owes him a lot. And then drives the point home by brutally raping her.
A villainous example. Ashur seems to be the embodiment of this trope in his own eyes. He did all of Batiatus' dirty work before AND after he was marked as a member of the Brotherhood. He was the one who rescued Lucretia and nursed her back to health and is alluded to have done countless other favors and deeds for other gladiators. Yet he is still seen as someone who is below standing.
Glaber also once he learns that despite his rank, no one likes or respects him.
Easy Amnesia: Lucretia now remembers nothing of the events of the last few months due to the trauma of what happened at the ludus. Turns out she was lying about that, at least partially. She's certainly remembered by the end of the season.
Exactly What It Says on the Tin: A great many of the characters are motivated by Revenge. And in the end Spartacus, Naevia and Lucretia take it all in brutal ways.
Lucretia's natural brown hair has now grown through and reflects her now fragile state. Agron's long hair has now been cut completely short to symbolise the level in badass he has taken.
Ashur shaves his beard when he becomes a man of influence and power through Glaber, since proper Romans go clean-shaven.
Evil Versus Evil: It is still great fun watching the various Roman characters screw each other over.
Eye Scream: The Egyptian stabs Oenomaus in the eye in episode 9.
Fate Worse Than Death: The mines were hinted to be this in Blood and Sand and Gods of the Arena, and Mira certainly believes it to be as well. From what we see, she's right.
Fire-Forged Friends: Spartacus invokes this in Episode 9 by having 2 gladiators/slaves who don't get along fight as a team against another two who don't get along. He hopes this will lead forge a sense of camaraderie between them.
In Episode 5, Spartacus and his forces establish a camp at the base of Mount Vesuvius. Historically, Spartacus' final confrontation with Glaber happens on Vesuvius.
Gannicus witnessed numerous crucifixions throughout the series. Historically, Spartacus' army was punished through this. By the end of the series, this canonical even did took place and Gannicus was one of those crucified rebels.
Genius Bonus: Although its possible that the writers did not know, one of the speeches at the arena in episode 5 is one of these. A Roman character says to a Capuan crowd that "Hannibal is at our gates" and then says words to the effect of "but we beat him ultimately". The in-universe audience and the knowledgeable amongst the viewers will know that Capua switched sides and supported Hannibal against Rome and was punished for that, and at the time of the Third Servile War still had a Roman garrison in order to keep the city under Roman thumb.
Heal It With Fire: In episode 4, Nasir has a wound treated this way. It even gets a Call Back to Blood And Sand, when it's mentioned Crixus survived his wounds from Theokoles this way.
Spartacus also tries to do this with Mira, but it's too late.
Heel Face Door Slam: Any possible chance that Aurelia and Spartacus can finally be on good terms is lost when he sends her away to find her son but they are ambushed and she is fatally wounded. With her last words she orders him to keep away from her son.
Historical Domain Character: In addition to all the returning ones, Varinius. Though historically speaking he shows up a little early, and depending on the source may be a Composite Character of two separate Roman generals who fought Spartacus shortly after Glaber.
Hooker with a Heart of Gold: Marcia, a prostitute Gannicus becomes acquainted with. She gets crucified for talking about the rebellion.
The Hunter Becomes The Hunted: Hunted up the mountain, the rebels finally turn the table and it is Glaber and the Romans in the end who have to defend themselves in the temple
Human Ladder: The Romans stand on each others' shields to storm the temple walls in episode 9.
If You Kill Him, You Will Be Just Like Him: Spartacus' reason for not having Nasir killed, despite the fact that Nasir just tried to kill him. Spartacus claims that he would be just like Glaber if he killed Ilithyia.
I Did What I Had to Do: Agron said this almost verbatim after Crixus confronted him about lying about Naevia's status.
Infant Immortality: In the final episode, Lucretia takes this trope and throws it off a cliff. Literally.
"We'll get through this together, as husband and wife."
Spartacus bringing Glaber Ilithyia's ribbon, the same way Glaber brought Spartacus Sura's ribbon.
"Is there nothing left between us?"
"At last (he) learns his place before us; on his knees!"
"We are friends, are we not?" This gets echoed twice in Vengeance, but was originally said in Blood and Sand.
Lucretia dropping her red wig from the balcony was reminiscent of the way Gaia's body (she often wore a red wig) was disposed of in the prequel.
Instant Expert: Mira masters the bow very quickly. Though Lucius does say that she has a natural talent for it. Taken Up to Eleven when later in the same episode, when she shoots an arrow between a dueling Gannicus and Spartacus and hits Chadara in the throat (though it's then immediately subverted when Mira reveals she was aiming to wound).
Shortly after Crixus shows her how to wield a sword, Naevia fights and defeats a gladiator (Ashur).
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Well...maybe gold's a bit strong, but aside from being loud and obnoxious, he seems to have his good qualities. Foremost being his Undying Loyalty to Crixus.
Ashur taunts Oenomaus about Gannicus and Melitta's affair from Gods of the Arena. Later, he brutally rapes Lucretia just to prove he can.
Glaber crucifies one of Ilithyia's slaves, despite knowing she is innocent, just to show his power, and even forces Ilithyia to confirm that the slave was a traitor.
Nemetes' actions get Mira killed. He later makes some insulting remarks about both her and Spartacus. This leads to a rather savage beating, even Saxa dumps him in disgust.
In episode 5, while Spartacus and Agron enter the arena as part of a rescue, Mira and a team of gladiators set fire to the arena's foundations causing it to burn and collapse.
In episode 9, Glaber's forces catapult flaming debris at the rebels' base. Crixus shoves Varinius in the way of one and he is incinerated.
Knife Nut: Mira, before becoming Archer. Also, the Egyptian.
Large Ham: Glaber. A fairly unremarkable villain in season one with very little screentime, in season three he seeks to make up for Batiatus' absence by letting his inner ham free at last.
Last Stand: Episode 4. Subverted. Spartacus and Mira, who refuses to abandon him, prepare to make one against an approaching army. But it turns out the forces approaching are their own.
Leeroy Jenkins: What Marcus turns out to be. A few gladiators act like this Wrath of the Gods, and get Mira killed. Needless to say, Spartacus is pissed.
The Lost Lenore: Batiatus for Lucretia. and it looks like as of Season 3 Spartacus will have not one but two, given how Mira exited the show.
Love Is A Weakness: Ashur mockingly points out how love has led to ruin for Gannicus, Crixus, and Oenomaus. Gannicus later laments this as well. Ironically he meets his downfall for trying to wed Lucretia.
Mad Oracle: Lucretia. Turns out that she doesn't really think that she's an oracle, but is at least a little insane.
Mook Lieutenant: Marcus. Unfortunately he is also a Leeroy Jenkins and dies for it by Ashur's hand. He is then replaced by Salvius (another Roman officer), while Ashur gets promoted to The Dragon.
The Needs of the Many: Agron's justification for lying about Naevia. Spartacus admits that it is a lie for the greater good—and then immediately states that, if they discard the needs of the few/one, they're just as bad as the Romans.
Neck Snap: The Egyptian does this to a random brothel patron, his head doing a full 180.
Agron seems to be this for Spartacus' side of the Rebels.
Rhaskos for The Gauls.
Ashur and Salvius butt heads frequently over which of them is (or should be) Glaber's Number Two.
Obfuscating Insanity: A tricky one, since Lucretia often appears insane to the viewers, but to the Romans she appears perfectly sane. She's faking the whole thing to get vengeance on Ilithyia.
Oh Crap: Ilithyia gets two in one episode; first when she finds out she has to return to Capua and second when she finds Lucretia still alive in the Ludus.
Spartacus gets a rare one when Aurelia's dying and beaten body is dragged out in front of the market by Glaber's soldiers. Having previously thought she was safely on her way to finding her son.
Ominous Latin Chanting: During the climax of the final episode (fittingly, reprised from the final battle in Gods of the Arena).
Only Sane Man: Mira. Spartacus wants revenge, Agron wants to fight, and Crixus wants to find Naevia. She seems to be the only main character who simply wants to get out of dodge and start a new life while they still can.
Subverted as the season progresses. She's now just as deep as the rest of the Rebels and is usually the only female that goes with the group into battle. Though she typically remains the most level headed.
Gannicus could be considered this, since he seems to be only one who realises it's a lost cause trying to take down the Romans.
Psycho for Hire: Ashur enlists several of these, after finally making Glaber realize his men are not good enough to fight gladiators.
Most notable is the Egyptian, who very nearly manages to kill Crixus (and later Oenamaus) with nothing but a pair of knives.
Unfortunately, as they're ultimately, well, psychos for hire, when Glaber offers them money and land in exchange for betraying Ashur, they all do so instantly.
Rape as Drama: Naevia, Lucretia. Both caused by Ashur.
Red Shirt: Lucretia gets to decide which captive gladiator gets to be tortured to death. Among her choices were Crixus, Oenomaus, Rhaskos, and a guy we've never seen or heard from before this episode. Guess who she picks.
Retired Badass: Gannicus has been out of the game for five years, and is just as tough as he was in Gods of the Arena.
Shipper on Deck: Chadara encourages Nasir to get with Agron.
While their lack of watchfulness merely amuses Mira and she sends them away to have fun in bed and so she can go strangle someone.
Shoot the Messenger: After Ashur's terms of surrender are rejected he attempts to leave to deliver their response, only for Crixus (who's pissed about what Ashur did to Naevia) to point out that Ashur's head will be suitable response. Spartacus agrees.
Slow Clap: Lugo initiates a particularly cool one with his sword and shield in episode seven, as a sign that he and the other Rhines will follow Spartacus.
Throwing Your Sword Always Works: Several times. Surprisingly, it also applies for the villains, as throwing an axe earns Salvius the honour of being the only Roman legionary to kill one of the main characters.
Ashur goes from a Smug Snake to quite a force to be reckoned with.
Ilithyia. In Blood and Sand she proved she could kill. In Vengeance, she proves she can kill in cold blood with a smile on her face.
Mira has gone from a slavegirl/concubine in Blood and Sand to having a pretty impressive killcount building up in Vengeance. Actually, her badass level triples per episode.
Naevia: the delicate flower got thorns indeed.
Nasir progresses from body slave to pretty decent warrior.
Glaber's Jerkassitude gets turned Up to Eleven this season. It's hard to not feel sorry for Seppius as he dies knowing his sister is at the mercy of the man who slaughtered everyone in their household.
Ashur from an opportunistic traitor to a sadistic rapist and cutthroat.
The entire upper-class of Capua/Rome seems to have a minor degree in this. Driven home with Glaber as his execution of choice is crucifixion.
Ashur tries his hand at this to break Oenomaus and get information about Spartacus' whereabouts. While he proves a brutal physical torturer, it's ultimately his calm, smug delivery of psychological torture that breaks Oenomaus' silence.
Unholy Matrimony: While Ilithyia and Glaber showed signs of this in Blood and Sand, its taken further here. Ilithyia even states "We are both monsters Gaius, let us be monsters together."
Villainous Rescue: Ashur saves Oenomaus from death in the pits so he can hand him over to Glaber for interrogation.
Waif-Fu: Admirably averted. The female characters who fight all look convincingly strong and hardy.
What Measure Is a Non-Badass?: In-universe example. The gladiators, mostly the Gauls, are initially contemptuous of any slave who isn't a gladiator. Mira is initially only tolerated because she's sleeping with Spartacus, she only gains their respect once she Takes A Level In Badass and becomes a warrior.
What the Hell, Hero?: Mira and the others give one to Spartacus for letting his desire for revenge against Glaber blind him.
Agron dismisses Naevia as just one life and insignificant. Spartacus calls him out and rightfully points out that Agron wouldn't feel that way if Duro was in Naevia's place.
Spartacus gives one to the Rhines (Agron's kinsmen) after they promptly act like the worst house guests ever.
Spartacus again chews out a few of his gladiators for trying to leave the mountain in a way doomed to fail, which gets Mira killed.
Worst Aid: In episode 10, Spartacus takes the axe out of Mira's chest before carrying her up the mountain, leading her to bleed to death before they can help her. Though, she was unlikely to live anyway.
Wrestler in All of Us: Episode five features several gladiator matches where the gladiators drop their weapons and end up grappling on the ground in styles very reminiscent of MMA.
You Have Failed Me: Glaber nearly has Ashur executed for failing to capture Spartacus and getting Marcus killed before Lucretia saves him.
Ashur himself becomes a victim of this trope in the finale, when Glaber sends him to offer surrender to Spartacus's army knowing they'll refuse and kill him.
Your Cheating Heart: Glaber and Seppia; Ilithyia and Varinius attempt this, but it is ultimately subverted.
You Shall Not Pass: Lucius does this in episode 8. The Egyptian eventually marches up to him and slices his head off.
Spartacus: War of the Damned
Attack! Attack! Attack!: The Roman mooks' answer to every situation. Often the men who charge the rebels don't have shields while their buddies in formation do, giving the slightly amusing impression that they threw them away as they rushed forward.
Anyone Can Die: Continuing the tradition. It'd be easier to list the characters that live. Crassus, Caesar, and Pompey obviously, Agron, Nasir, Laeta, and Sibyl.
The Bad Guys Win: Zig Zagged — Crassus does defeat Spartacus's army, but is defeated by Spartacus in personal combat only to be saved by his men who deal a mortal wound to Spartacus instead, and then Spartacus escapes him yet again, then the defeat of Spartacus's army is credited to Pompey a character who only appears in the show for one brief scene.
This is Crassus's signature move, where he stabs his opponent with their own weapon. It gets turned against him by Spactacus in their climactic duel.
Later, Donar and Gannicus do this, with similar damage to their hands.
Bawdy Song: In episode 8, there is a party the night before Crixus and his group leave on their own mission. Several gladiators can be heard singing (what else?) "My Cock Rages On." Perhaps proving once and for all that is really is the only song they know.
Better to Die than Be Killed: In episode 6, Gannicus advises Sibyl to due this if the Romans are about to capture her, but it proves unnecessary. Later, Donar does this, denying Cesear the honor of killing him, and overall spoiling the Roman's party.
Big Damn Heroes: Just when Crassus is about to kill Spartacus, Agron and Nasir arrive to drive him and the other Romans away. Spartacus still dies from his wounds, but they get him away to safety.
Bittersweet Ending: Most of the rebels are dead, including Spartacus, but a handful have survived, and Spartacus goes out peacefully, prepared to be reunited with Sura.
Blond Brunette Redhead: By the the end of the series, Spartacus has been involved with two brunettes, a blond (though unknowingly and unwillingly) and a redhead.
The closing shots of the final episode featured Laeta and Sibyl accompanying a blond rebel.
The red serpent from Sura's dream, way back in the pilot episode, shows up on another shield in the finale. Spartacus notices, and comments on it. Ultimately, the red serpent shield is laid on top of Spartacus' grave.
Bury Your Gays: Averted as Agron and Nasir are among the only ex-slaves left alive to escape from the Roman legions to the mountains to live in peace at the end after the final battle.
The Butcher: Pompey is regularly referred to as "The Butcher."
Call Back: Crixus and Agron reference Oenamaus' "what is beneath your feet?" line during a Rousing Speech in Separate Paths.
Call That a Formation?: Oh how the Romans are guilty of this. A particularly hilarious case is when the leader in a Roman convoy barks "Keep formation!" and then they all immediately break it, literally two seconds later, when some rebels leap out in ambush.
Another egregious example: Arrius' legion in Separate Paths, some of whom respond to the slave ambush by counter-charging (but not even the whole legion - some Romans hold formation while others rush forward!). The iron Roman discipline that Spartacus sometimes talks about is very much an Informed Ability this season.
The craziest part is that when the Romans do keep formation (such as the retaking of Sinuessa, and the final battle) they tend to win!
The Cavalry: Both sides get this in the third episode, first with Mummius charging to Tiberius' rescue, only to be immediately Out-Gambitted by the Silician pirates and their ship-mounted artillery.
And again in Blood Brothers, with Crixus arriving to save Spartacus at the docks, and the Roman legions smashing through the city gate to rescue a cornered Caesar.
Once more in Separate Paths for the Romans. Crixus has just defeated the final legion standing between the rebels and Rome when the horns blare and all of Crassus' legions appear behind them. Also counts as an Oh Crap moment for the rebels.
Chekhov's Gun: In an early scene of Blood Brothers you can see stone-smiths carving the shape of a beast onto a stone. Then, at the final scene of the episode, that stone carving appears as the ram used to break the wooden gate of the city.
Subverted with Sicily; In Blood and Sand, Varro talks of moving to Sicily with his wife once he gains his freedom, describing it as "an island blessed by the gods'', and inviting Spartacus to visit him there once Spartacus himself is free. Genre savvy and historically informed viewers might have guessed this would be where Spartacus got the idea of fleeing to Sicily from towards the end of the war. However, with the show's artistic license, that never happens; Spartacus' intentions towards Sicily occur earlier in the show and with an entirely different purpose than in history, and Varro's lines are ultimately forgotten.
Chekhov's Skill: Crassus' Bare-Handed Blade Block is used against his gladiator trainer in the premier, and against Spartacus in the finale. Pity Spartacus knows it too.
Combat Pragmatist: The Romans are able to defeat the rebels using superior numbers, firing into combat hitting their own men and attacking from behind.
Continuity Nod: In Vengeance Spartacus expressed a desire to free all the slaves in the mines, and when convinced they could not do it now swore to return and do it later. Early this season it's mentioned that his ranks were bolstered when he did free all the slaves in the mines.
Cool, but Inefficient: In Victory, Nasir hammers a blade through a shield so Agron can fight despite his crippled hands. Not a particularly good idea for a weapon, but Agron is Bad Ass enough to make it work effectively.
Dark Reprise: Sura's theme is reprised on melancholy strings towards the end of Victory.
The Dead Have Names: At Crixus' funeral, the gladiators call out the names of their deceased friends and allies. Impressively, just about every significant deceased character is mentioned.
Demoted to Extra: Castus was historically the German general of Spartacus' rebellion. Here he's a guy who's seems to be causing problems to the Nagron ship. Granted, this demotion may be because Agron was already given his supposed role and characterization for much of the series.
Dies Wide Open: Crixus, Saxa, Castus and Spartacus, though Agron closed his friend's eyes after his death.
Distribution of Ninjutsu: As in previous seasons, it is only the main characters that get anything done in a fight; this starts to look strange in the big, sprawling battles (for example Separate Paths, where Crixus, Agron and Naevia end up fighting Crassus, Caesar and Tiberius).
Caesar even lampshades this trope in Spoils of War, wondering aloud if he has to kill every rebel in Sinuessa himself.
Dressing as the Enemy: In "Spoils of War", Gannicus disguises himself as Heracleo to pass through the Romans. Caesar sees through it. Not that it does much good.
Again in "The Dead and Dying." Two of Spartacus' men disguise themselves as envoys of Pompey. Caesar sees right through but pretends not to in order to send Tiberius into a trap.
Due to the Dead: Crixus's remains are cremated, and the rebels remember their fallen allies before shouting the name Crixus repeatedly.
Entertainingly Wrong: A meta example - episodes 4 and 5 seem to be setting up the historical split between Spartacus and Crixus, only to reveal it as a Batman Gambit by Spartacus to deceive the Romans, with him and Crixus reconciling at the end. For now.
Even Evil Has Standards: Caesar is appalled by the state of a woman the rebels have been gang-raping, his Mercy Kill also leaves him shaken.
However later on he seems to have no problems with condemning Laeta to a similar fate with the Cilician pirates.
Evolving Credits: The ending credits change as new characters drop in and old ones are killed. The finale has a roll call of all the major characters from all four seasons, ending with a tribute to the late Andy Whitfield with him shouting “I AM SPARTACUS!”
Failed a Spot Check: In "Separate Paths", the rebels fail to spot all of Crassus' legions assembling right behind them.
Every gambit the rebels pull in the final battle, while undeniably cool, relies on the Romans doing this (e.g neither seeing nor hearing the rebels digging a spiked pit, or circling half their army round their rear, when both armies are deployed on a flat, open plain).
Foreshadowing: Pompey, see Foreshadowing in Vengeance above, is mentioned as having returned from his war in Hispania. Just in time to help defeat Spartacus.
Arguably subverted. While some of his soldiers are seen in "The Dead and the Dying", they are nothing more than scouts and are quickly killed. Pompey himself isn't seen until the end of the series finale, having taken no part in the final battle, but still tries to claim full credit for slaying Spartacus, despite only having killed most of the rebels that had fled before the battle. Which is pretty much what actually happened.
Four is Death: This is, theoretically, the fourth series.
Freudian Excuse: For all the horrible things the rebels do over the course of the war, they have the excuse of having been torn from their homelands, or born into slavery, and suffering under their masters for years. At best, this means constantly feeling powerless and helpless, knowing that your live and die at the whims of someone else. At worst, this means years of physical and often sexual abuse. The romans have no such excuses for their cruelty.
General Failure: Arrius in Separate Paths. Assuming he didn't Fail A Spot Check, he forms up to meet Crixus in the bottom of a valley when there is a perfectly good defensive slope right behind him (granted, Crixus does specifically call him a fool, and Caesar doesn't have much faith in him either).*
This is actually a bit of a disservice to the historical Arrius, who was part of the force that defeated Crixus
Grey and Gray Morality: Some Romans are shown as perfectly decent, innocent people caught in the war. Likewise, some rebels are shown as psychotic murderers.
He Who Fights Monsters: A number of the rebels are showing signs of this, as seen when they slaughter innocent civillians including children. Spartacus wants them to be better than the Romans, but is unable to keep them in line. Gannicus is aware of what they are becoming, but seems to have resigned himself to the inevitability of it.
Heroic Sacrifice: In the finale. The rebels realize they cannot win, so they all prepare to fight and die to allow the noncombatants to escape.
Hollywood Tactics: All over the place thanks to Rule Of Cool, but particularly notable for the Romans, who tend to devolve into Onrushing Army more often than not (then again, it usually does get them killed). Also (possibly due to Small Reference Pools) the only alternate formation they ever use is testudo*
historically testudo was used against missiles, and while the Romans did have a defence formation, orbem formate, it was more of a circle
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I Am Spartacus: Variation: this is done at the beginning of the series finale by several of the rebels in order to trick Crassus and Pompey as to Spartacus' true location. Crassus doesn't buy it for a minute.
Right at the end of the credits of the last episode the late Andy Whitfield reminds us all that He is Spartacus.
"Do not shed tear. There is no greater victory than to fall from this world a free man."
Impaled Palm: Agron when he's crucified in "The Dead and the Dying." His injuried prevent him from using a sword.
Important Haircut: Caesar gets a Roman haircut and shaves once he returns from his undercover mission, reclaiming his Roman identity.
Infant Immortality: In "Separate Paths" one of the rebels gives birth to a son. Both she and her son manage to escape to safety at the series end.
It Has Been an Honor: Hilarus the former champion gladiator to Crassus after Crassus kills him. Crassus, as per the tradition, responds: "The honor was mine."
Know When To Fold Them/Screw This, I'm Outta Here: In the first episode, Roman commanders Cossinius and Furius realize their army is beaten and bid a hasty retreat. Apparently, they have done this several times.
The Lancer: Played with. Crixus is/was The Rival of Spartacus who often challenged his authority, Agron is the official Number Two of the rebel force while Gannicus is the Foil to the entire team, especially Spartacus. Though it's explicitly mentioned that should Spartacus fall, Crixus would assume sole command over the rebels.
Made a Slave: In "Spoils of War", Crassus sells Laeta to Heracleo in exchange for his help. Laeta is branded on the arm before Gannicus and Sibyl save her. This the the motivation for Laeta to join the Rebels.
The Main Characters Do Everything: Even in the big battles. Particularly noteworthy is the start of "Spoils of War," where the Romans' Mook Chivalry apparently extends to standing back and watching while Crassus and Caesar dispatch a squad of Red Shirts by themselves.
In "Wolves At The Gate", a slave is sentenced to be stoned to death. Unable to save him, Spartacus instead throws a stone hard enough to kill him instantly to end his suffering.
In "Decimation", Caeser does this to a woman who has been raped so many times that she's lost the will to live. He's deeply shaken up about it.
Mook Lieutenant: Rufus, one of Crassus' tribunes. He's mostly seen being given orders. He also saves Caesar's life from Gannicus in "Spoils of War." In the finale, he saves Crassus from Spartacus, and is the last Roman to stand against Spartacus before the two leaders clash.
Morton's Fork: Crassus commands his gladiator instructor to fight holding nothing back, to actively try to kill him. Hilarus replies that that is a death order. If Crassus wins it will be done by killing him, but if he kills Crassus he will be executed for it. To settle matters, Crassus has his son swear to pay Hilarus and set him free if he does win.
My God, What Have I Done?: Spartacus has this look at the end of "Wolves At The Gate", when his army sacks a city and he finds the little Roman girl and her mother that he befriended earlier among the dead.
Noodle Incident: In "Enemies of Rome", one of Gannicus's friends talks about a time Gannicus peed on some defeated Romans. Gannicus defends himself by saying he was really drunk when that happened.
There are numerous instances of the freed slaves being compared to Romans in the atrocity department. There are also a few episodes of slaves forcing Romans to fight in gladiatorial fashion for their amusement. This was true to one account of history.
Crassus also notes the similarity between himself and Spartacus: they are both fighting for what they believe in.
Pay Evil unto Evil: How the rebels justify their treatment of the Romans. Unfortunately, years of torture and abuse have left many of them incapable of seeing any Roman as anything but evil.
Pyrrhic Victory: Crassus did defeat Spartacus' army, but Pompey stole his credit.
Pirates: Heracleo leads a group of them. Steven DeKnight admits they were mostly included due to Rule Of Cool, but points out historically Spartacus did ally with pirates at one point.
Poor Communication Kills: In "Blood Brothers", Spartacus doesn't tell Crixus and Nemetes his plan, which nearly leads to a disaster. Then it turns out he was counting on this, in an effort to mislead the Romans about his true plan.
Reality Ensues: For all their ferocity and ingenuity, the rebellion is overwhelmed by sheer numbers.
Right in Front of Me: Diotomos talks to Spartacus about how horrible the conditions in the rebel camp are, namely the lack of food and warm clothing. He also laments that Spartacus hasn't thought of any of these things. It initially appears that he does know he's addressing Spartacus and simply using Brutal Honesty, before it turns out he doesn't. He's initially worried, but Spartacus merely thanks him for pointing out the problems.
Sequel Hook: The last-minute introduction of Pompey, Crassus' plans to form a triumverate, and Caesar's impatience to eschew long-running schemes and seize glory. In an interview, the creators mentioned the possibility of a future spin-off.
Tag Team: In Victory, one scene shows the Romans rotating their front ranks*
This might be a Shout Out to the series Rome, where the legionaries did the same, although it is unlikely that the real Romans did this in the middle of hand-to-hand combat
That's What I Would Do: Crassus sends a messenger to Roman commanders promising aid. However, he sends him on a trail near Spartacus' camp. Spartacus kills the messenger, and uses it to track down and kill the other Roman commanders. When his son asks how he knew Spartacus would attack and not run, Crassus responds with this.
Trojan Horse: In "Blood Brothers", Heracleo reveals his ship is full of Roman soldiers, who leap out and attack.
Unspoken Plan Guarantee: In "Blood Brothers," Spartacus reveals to Crixus that he's been running a Batman Gambit on him, and proceeds to lay out the rather brilliant plan that he's set in motion to defeat Crassus. Unfortunately, he's Out-Gambitted.
Vasquez Always Dies: Saxa is killed in the final battle, while Sibyl escapes with the rebellion's remnant.
We Have Reserves: In a style similar to the Trope Namer, during the final battle Crassus orders his catapults and ballistae to fire into the fighting masses as some of the shots will hit the rebels. Since the gladiators are worth about fifty men each in this story, it actually makes tactical sense.
"Decimation". Since Spartacus is actually trying to keep standards in a rebellion, most of his army goes insane under Crixus's lead while Naevia, who jumps off the Moral Event Horizon this episode, eggs him on to overthrow Spartacus at the end of the episode.
"Separate Paths". Crixus leaves with the part of the Rebels loyal to him and they attempt to attack Rome. They fail and Crixus is executed.
The series finale is one wham after the other.
Worthy Opponent: Defied by Donar. When Caesar tells him, "well fought, brother" before striking the death blow, he responds, "Swallow cock, you Roman shit." Before stabbing himself clean through the skull.
Written by the Winners: Crassus notes that as both Spartacus and he consider themselves the hero, only history will decide who it is. Defied in the final scene, however, as the surviving rebels insist that Spartacus will be remembered as the hero long after Rome fades.
You Have Failed Me: Crassus decides to use the long abandoned practice of decimation in "Decimation" to punish and discipline his troops. One soldier is ten is executed by the others.
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