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* AcheyScars: [[spoiler: Lucretia's wound starts to ache when she sees Crixus.]]
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* HeGotBetter: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
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* HeGotBetter: IGotBetter: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
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* IGotBetter: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
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* IGotBetter: HeGotBetter: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
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* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
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* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
Lucretia]] again.
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* HeGotBetter: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
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* HeGotBetter: IGotBetter: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
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* OhCrap: Batiatus' slimy henchmen Aulus, [[spoiler: who was ordered to kill Spartacus' wife]], has one in episode 11; [[spoiler: Towards the end of the episode, he finds himself all alone with Spartacus while he [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique "questions"]] him about the absence of the supposed wound he received trying to rescue her from alleged attackers while en route to the ludus.]]
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* OhCrap: OhCrap:
** Batiatus' slimy henchmen Aulus, [[spoiler: who was ordered to kill Spartacus' wife]], has one in episode 11; [[spoiler: Towards the end of the episode, he finds himself all alone with Spartacus while he [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique "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' slimy henchmen Aulus, [[spoiler: who was ordered to kill Spartacus' wife]], has one in episode 11; [[spoiler: Towards the end of the episode, he finds himself all alone with Spartacus while he [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique "questions"]] him about the absence of the supposed wound he received trying to rescue her from alleged attackers while en route to the ludus.]]
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* OhCrap: Batiatus' slimy henchmen Aulus, [[spoiler: who was ordered to kill Spartacus' wife]], has one in episode 11; [[spoiler: Towards the end of the episode, he finds himself all alone with Spartacus while he [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique "questions"]] him about the absence of the supposed wound he received trying to rescue her from alleged attackers while en route to the ludus. Needless to say, It doesn't end well.]]
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* OhCrap: Batiatus' slimy henchmen Aulus, [[spoiler: who was ordered to kill Spartacus' wife]], has one in episode 11; [[spoiler: Towards the end of the episode, he finds himself all alone with Spartacus while he [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique "questions"]] him about the absence of the supposed wound he received trying to rescue her from alleged attackers while en route to the ludus. Needless to say, It doesn't end well.]]]]
** [[spoiler: Batiatus]] has a massive one when [[spoiler: Spartacus nearly impales him through the head in Episode 13.]]
** [[spoiler: Batiatus]] has a massive one when [[spoiler: Spartacus nearly impales him through the head in Episode 13.]]
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Just adding the header for Season 2.
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* He Got Better: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
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* He Got Better: HeGotBetter: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
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Just adding the header for Season 2.
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-----
!!''Vengeance'' provides examples of:
* He Got Better: [[spoiler: Lucretia]]
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* GreenEyedMonster: In episode 12, Mira all but foams at the mouth when Spartacus asks to speak to [[spoiler: Varro's widow.]]
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Adding Shown Their Work to Gods of the Arena.
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* ShownTheirWork: The Latin language lacks definite and indefinite articles. Knowing this makes the english dialogue a lot less strange.
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* BadAss: Gannicus and Oenomaus are the established badasses of this series, other characters from ''Blood and Sand'' are seen to be still in training.
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* BadAss: Gannicus and Oenomaus are the established badasses of this series, series with Barca not to far behind, other characters from ''Blood and Sand'' are seen to be still in training.
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* HarsherInHindsight: Episode 11 involves Spartacus being bedridden due to a severe infection, and the medicus doing everything he can to prevent him from dying. Andy Whitfield, the actor who played Spartacus, had to leave the role due to cancer. Tragically, he lost the battle a year later.
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* HarsherInHindsight: Episode 11 involves Spartacus being bedridden due to a severe infection, and the medicus doing everything he can to prevent him from dying. Andy Whitfield, the actor who played Spartacus, had to leave the role due to cancer. Tragically, he lost the battle a year later.
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* WhamLine: In Episode 6:
--> [[spoiler:'''Batiatus:''' As I promised, they're reunited.]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Batiatus:''' As I promised, they're reunited.]]
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--> [[spoiler: '''Batiatus''': "Friends! We are perfectly safe inside the villa!"]]
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--> [[spoiler: '''Batiatus''': "Friends! '''Batiatus:''' Friends! We are perfectly safe inside the villa!"]]villa!]]
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* WhamLine: In Episode 6:
--> [[spoiler:'''Batiatus:''' As I promised, they're reunited.]]
--> [[spoiler:'''Batiatus:''' As I promised, they're reunited.]]
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* BodyPaint: Slaves are often decorated with body paint at parties, often to make them look like living statues. Also used for the BedTrick mentioned above.
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* InterplayOfSexAndViolence: During the primus, there's a crowd shot with a couple having sex while the battle takes place.
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* FakeNationality: Gannicus is played by Australian Dustin Clare.
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* TogetherInDeath: [[spoiler: Batiatus and Lucretia.]]
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* TogetherInDeath: [[spoiler: Batiatus and Lucretia. Subverted as Lucretia lives.]]
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Has a [[Recap/SpartacusBloodAndSand recap]] page, under construction.
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--> [[spoiler: Batiatus: "Friends! We are perfectly safe inside the villa!"]]
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--> [[spoiler: Batiatus: '''Batiatus''': "Friends! We are perfectly safe inside the villa!"]]
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he\'s actually confirmed to be Numidian
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** English Peter Mensah (of Ghanian descent) plays a Gaul (although his character's heritage is not discussed in the show, the real Oenomaus was a Gaul)
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** American Nick Tarabay (of Lebanese descent) as Syrian Ashur
** English Peter Mensah (of Ghanian descent)plays a Gaul (although his character's heritage is not discussed in the show, the real Oenomaus was a Gaul)
** English Peter Mensah (of Ghanian descent)plays a Gaul (although his character's heritage is not discussed in the show, the real Oenomaus was a Gaul)
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** American Nick Tarabay (of Lebanese descent) as Syrian Ashur
plays a Syrian
** English Peter Mensah (of Ghaniandescent)plays descent) plays a Gaul (although his character's heritage is not discussed in the show, the real Oenomaus was a Gaul)
** English Peter Mensah (of Ghanian
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** English Peter Mensah (of Ghanian descent)plays a Gaul (although his character's heritage is not discussed in the show, the real Oenomaus was a Gaul)
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crosswicking
* TearYourFaceOff: An underground pit fighter does this to defeated opponents, then wears their faces as masks.
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--> [[spoiler: ''(que the enraged gladiators storming into the villa)'']]
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--> [[spoiler: ''(que ''(cue the enraged gladiators storming into the villa)'']]
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* AffirmativeActionGirl: The series adds plenty of female characters to the male-dominated traditional story.
* ClarkKentOutfit: Who was expecting Solonius of all people to be so ripped?
* ImprobableHairstyle: 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 TruthInTelevision for some Roman women.
* KarmaHoudini: Illythia as of the season 1 finale. She escapes [[spoiler: the slave uprising at the ludas and heads back to Rome]]. She obviously can't escape it forever judging from her last interaction with her husband.
* PlentyOfBlondes: Many of the Roman noblewomen favour blonde hair. Illythia is a natural blonde while Lucretia sometimes wears blonde wigs.
* {{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.
* TraumaticHaircut: In episode 2, Spartacus's long hair is hacked off when he becomes a gladiator. Which raises a few questions since Barca and the two German brothers are allowed to keep their hair long.
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* WalkingShirtlessScene: 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, [[FanService not by a longshot]].
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* WalkingShirtlessScene: 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, [[FanService not by a longshot]]. It's easier to list the cast members who don't get a shirtless scene.
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* WouldHitAGirl: Illythia gets this a lot. Spartacus tries to strangle her [[spoiler: after he finds out he had sex with her]] and her own husband headbutts her when [[spoiler: he finds out she murdered Licinia]]. Crixus on the other hand manages to stab [[spoiler: Lucretia]] in the gentlest way possible.
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** Likewise Illythia is horrified when [[spoiler: she kills Licinia in a fit of rage]] and shows genuine guilt for it while Lucretia barely bats an eyelid at her husband's numerous dirty deeds.
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[[redirect:{{ptitlelr67penz}}]]
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This Starz series executive produced by SamRaimi, Rob Tapert and Steven [=DeKnight=] was initially picked up for 13 episodes and then got a second pick-up before a single episode aired.
Early reports were that the series was going to push the boundaries of just how much sex and gore can be shown on Ye Olde Tube. StanleyKubrick's version of the 1951 novel ''{{Spartacus}}'' had a similar reputation; the movie was banned from TV for decades.
The show's graphic-novel look is definitely being informed by techniques used in ''[[ThreeHundred 300]]''. We got your slo-mo fight scenes and in-your-face blood spatters right here. The production also possibly owed its greenlight status to the runaway success of HBO's recent ''[[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Rome Rome]]''.
Season 2 is currently back on schedule for filming, but without the return of star Andy Whitfield, who passed away from cancer on September 11, 2011. [[TheOtherDarrin He will be replaced by]] Liam [=McIntyre=]. A prequel miniseries, ''Spartacus: Gods of the Arena'', premiered on January 21, 2011.
----
!!''Blood and Sand'' provides examples of:
* AdrenalineTime: At least once per fight scene. Even ''John Hannah'' executes a slo-mo kick at one point.
* AffablyEvil: Batiatus loves his wife, dreams of being a father, and does some pretty awful things to his peers and slaves alike.
* AllDevouringBlackHoleLoanSharks: Ovidius, who reminds Batiatus of his owed debts in three different episodes. However, [[DeconstructedTrope it turns out to be a bad idea to browbeat a guy with a stable of gladiators at his beck and call.]]
* AmbiguouslyJewish: Ashur uses the biblical metaphor "forbidden fruit" in regards to Naevia. He also fulfills many stereotypes of the GreedyJew, being a duplicitous money-grubber who is physically inferior to the other gladiators. Ashur comes from Assyria, and some Assyrians were Jews.
** Also worth mentioning is the fact that "Ashur" is the Hebrew name for "Assyria".
* AnyoneCanDie: The list as of the end of Season 1: [[spoiler: Sura, Varro, Batiatus, Barca, Pietros, Duro, Solonius, Calavius, Numerius, Ovidius and too many minor characters to count.]]
* ArchEnemy: Batiatus and Solonius, Crixus and Ashur, and for a while Spartacus and Crixus. Despite the early set-up, Spartacus and Glaber [[SubvertedTrope are not arch-enemies]] (at least [[SequelHook until Season 2]]) 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.
* AsYouKnow: [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded.]]
-->'''Barca:''' Romex has the advantage.\\
'''Batiatus:''' Thank you for stating the fucking obvious.
* AutobotsRockOut: Several fight scenes break out the electric guitar.
* BadAss: Spartacus, Oenomaus, and Crixus. Since the series takes place within a Ludus almost all the characters, named and unnamed alike, are skilled fighters, but these are the men who inspire fear, envy and awe in those who see them.
* BadBoss: Batiatus and Lucretia toward their slaves when it suits their purposes, though they often try to make it seem like they're {{Benevolent Boss}}es.
* BashBrothers: Agron and Duro, "the German Brothers".
* BattleCry: Spartacus' trademark "RUAAAARGH!"
* BedTrick: And how.
* BenevolentBoss: Batiatus plays this straight when it suites his purposes, primarily with Ashur and Oenomaus. [[spoiler: 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 BadBoss above)
* BerserkButton:
** Batiatus does not like it when he is mocked and denied a higher status due to his heritage. ''Not at all''.
** Ilithyia does ''not'' like being laughed at.
* BetaCouple: Crixus and Naevia, to 'Spartacus' and his [[TheLostLenore dead wife who appears in flashbacks and dream sequences]] Sura.
* BewareTheNiceOnes:
** Aurelia [[spoiler:castrates a rapist, and later stabs an adolescent boy 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.
* BlondesAreEvil: Ilithyia; also Lucretia when she is not a [[EvilRedhead redhead]].
* BigBad: [[spoiler:Batiatus]] for Season 1.
* BiggerBad: Glaber, and the Roman Republic in general.
* BullyingADragon: 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.
* BuryYourGays: [[spoiler: None of them survive. Not Barca, Pietros, or Gnaeus.]]
* ButtMonkey: Spartacus at first.
* CatchPhrase:
** "Jupiter's cock!" might as well be Batiatus'.
** "<[[HelloInsertNameHere Insert name here]]>, you are summoned." Seriously, the guards say ''nothing else''.
** Crixus has one in-universe - "Capua! Shall I begin?"
** "Apologies."
* ClusterFBomb: To the extreme, almost borderline TourettesShitCockSyndrome. Especially Batiatus whenever he has a VillainousBreakdown.
-->'''Batiatus:''' "I will not! NOT be FUCKED, you FUCK you fucking cock-sucking, you haemorrhoid-sucking FUCK, YOU FUCK!"
* ChainedHeat: Spartacus and Varro.
* ChekhovsSkill: 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 [[spoiler: when Crixus breaks off with half the rebels when Spartacus decides to leave for Gaul.]]
* ChewingTheScenery: Batiatus chews the scenery every chance he gets.
* ChickMagnet: Crixus has three separate women, from three separate Roman social classes, all fantasizing about him throughout the first season.
* CoitusUninterruptus: 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.
* CurbStompBattle: Spartacus' 'battle' against [[spoiler: Solonius]] in episode 12 was explicitly designed as an execution.
%%
%% Please leave the "Crowning" stuff to the Crowning pages.
%%
* CruelMercy: Spartacus lets Glaber live in the first episode, forcing him to go back to Rome in shame. Glaber returns the favour.
* DeadPersonConversation: Spartacus has a few of these with [[spoiler: Sura and Varro.]]
* DepravedHomosexual: Gnaeus.
* {{Determinator}}: Spartacus gains a reputation as a man who defies death after surviving his execution and a long stretch of duels in the Pit.
* DirtyCoward: Ashur.
* DisproportionateRetribution: Batiatus tends to do this.
* TheDogBitesBack: Ilithya in episode 13. [[spoiler: She gets the last laugh on Lucretia by escaping the massacre at the ludus and having her soldiers seal the doors behind her.]]
* DoomedByCanon: Spartacus's rebellion will ultimately fail. However [[spoiler: since his body was historically never found, it's possible that the series could write him some sort of happy ending.]]
* TheDreaded: Theokoles. Crixus nearly shits himself when it's announced he and Spartacus are to face him. Doctore is sure they'll both die.
* DrivenToSuicide: [[spoiler: Pietros.]]
* DualWielding: Theokoles. Later, Batiatus orders Spartacus to adopt the style as an in-universe invocation of the RuleOfCool. Oenomaus, though it is not his signature style, shows that he is capable of this as well in episode 5.
* EmpathicEnvironment: When Theokoles (aka the Shadow of Death) steps into the arena, ''the sky clouds over.''
* EnemyMine: Spartacus and Crixus against Theokoles. [[spoiler: And again at the end of the first season.]]
* EnemyRisingBehind: When Theokoles [[NotQuiteDead stands back up]]. Spartacus and Crixus don't notice until they register that everyone else is doing a MassOhCrap.
* EstrogenBrigadeBait: Most of the male cast, especially the gladiators.
* EvenEvilHasStandards: Ashur refuses to accept Solonius's bribe, saying, "I ''am'' a villain, but I'm not your villain."
* EvilAlbino: Theokoles, the Shadow of Death.
* EvilVersusEvil: It is ''great'' fun watching the various Roman characters screw each other over.
* EvilRedhead: Lucretia, this of course when she is not a [[BlondesAreEvil blonde]]
* ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin: The Season 1 finale is called "Kill Them All".
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler: Solonius]]. He even [[GoOutWithASmile goes out with a smile]] knowing that [[spoiler: Batiatus will be following him soon enough.]]
* FakeNationality: Nobody is from any of the areas of the Roman Republic where their characters would have originated:
** Welsh-Australian Andy Whitfield plays a Thracian, who inhabited south-eastern Europe, beyond the borders of AncientGreece.
** 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) as Syrian Ashur
* FakeBrit: Combining most of the above with TheQueensLatin results in this trope.
* FanService: Both male and female actors are almost uniformly chiselled 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.
* FanserviceExtra: Some of the arena spectators like to flash their breasts at the gladiators.
* FightClubbing: While the arena is socially acceptable, the Pit is an underground fight club that is considered a shameful den of depravity.
* FinaglesLaw: 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..."
* FinishHim: An extreme example, [[spoiler: Spartacus is forced to kill his best friend Varro at the conclusion of a playful exhibition match.]]
* FollowTheLeader: The influence of ''[[ThreeHundred 300]]'', ''{{Rome}}'' and ''{{Gladiator}}'' is pretty obvious here.
* {{Foreshadowing}}:
** Marcus Crassus (the Roman general who will become the ultimate nemesis of Spartacus and his men) gets mentioned once or twice by other characters. Now that [[spoiler: his cousin Lycinia has been horribly murdered]] he has personal reasons to get involved in the story.
** Combined with TemptingFate when Ilithya sees the gladiators for the first time, and wonders aloud what would happen if they were to go berserk and try to escape.
* ForegoneConclusion: We know from history that Spartacus' slave revolt will ultimately fail. Glaber will also get his comeuppance when he chases the escaped gladiators to Mt Vesuvius. All that remains to be seen is whether Spartacus will kill him horribly or grant him a second CruelMercy.
* FrameUp: Batiatus [[spoiler: kills Calavius then delivers Numerius and a host of guards to the fresh corpse in order to frame Solonius.]]
* FreakOut: At the end of episode 10, accompanied by a track that sounds [[ShoutOut oddly similar]] to ''[[TwentyEightDaysLater In A Heartbeat]]''.
* GladiatorGames: Duh.
* GoOutWithASmile: [[spoiler: Solonius.]]
* HearingVoices: Spartacus periodically has hallucinations of his wife. She tells him to kill everybody.
* HighPressureBlood: 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.
* HistoricalDomainCharacter: Spartacus obviously, but also Crixus, Oenomaus (Doctore), Batiatus and Glaber.
* InfantImmortality: Whether Barca disobeyed orders because he could not bear to kill a child drives the plot of episode 6. It turns out that [[spoiler: he did not disobey orders, and he was lying to Pietros to make him feel better]].
* InMediasRes: Used in a few episodes.
* IronicEcho:
** "What would you do to hold your wife again?"
** "Capua! Shall ''I'' begin?"
* JerkassFacade: Spartacus at times, since [[PetTheDog petting the dog]] is highly looked down upon in the ludus.
** He actually manages to do both at once when Gnaeus is harassing Pietros. Spartacus angrily orders Pietros to bring him some water, which gives Pietros an excuse to get away.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Crixus.
* JerkWithAHeartOfJerk: Batiatus.
* KarmicDeath: [[spoiler: 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 WordOfGod states she will return for Season 2 and is thus not dead.]]
* KickTheDog:
** Glaber makes a point of telling Spartacus what he has done to his wife.
** Ashur's cruelty to Pietros after [[spoiler: Barca is killed.]]
* KillEmAll: Episode 13. It is all there in the title.
* TheLostLenore: Murdered wife Sura is a classic example. She appears after her grisly demise in flashbacks and dream sequences, and the closest Spartacus comes to a subsequent love interest is a slave whom he chivalrously does not sleep with who bears more than a passing resemblance to her.
* LadyMacbeth: 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.
* MadeOfIron: Several characters, but special mention must go to Theokoles, the Shadow of Death.
* ManipulativeBastard: 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 [[spoiler: getting Barca killed]] is worthy of mention, as is [[spoiler: his revenge on Crixus, the gladiator who wounded him, in episode 12.]]
* ManlyGay: Barca.
* MaybeMagicMaybeMundane: The show is rather vague on whether or not the Roman gods actually exist in the setting; Sura and Spartacus experience prophetic dreams at different points, and it's vague as to whether or not the gods actually make it rain after Spartacus slays Theokoles, or if it was just coincidence.
* NiceGuy: Varro.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown
* NoNameGiven: 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 they make a point of never letting him utter his original name in order to separate him from his past life.
* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler: Lucretia in Season 2, according to Lucy Lawless.]]
* NotSoDifferent: Spartacus and Crixus in the Season 1 finale.
* NotWhatItLooksLike: [[spoiler: Solonius, knife in hand, standing over the corpse of Calavius.]]
* OhCrap: Batiatus' slimy henchmen Aulus, [[spoiler: who was ordered to kill Spartacus' wife]], has one in episode 11; [[spoiler: Towards the end of the episode, he finds himself all alone with Spartacus while he [[JackBauerInterrogationTechnique "questions"]] him about the absence of the supposed wound he received trying to rescue her from alleged attackers while en route to the ludus. Needless to say, It doesn't end well.]]
* OhMyGods: "Jupiter's cock."
* OminousLatinChanting: During a sex scene, no less. It makes sense if you have worked out that [[spoiler: it is actually [[ArchEnemy Ilithya]] not Lycinia under the mask, making both of them victims of a ''very'' brutal BedTrick.]]
* OneWomanWail: Sura's theme.
* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: Crixus to Spartacus during and after [[spoiler: the Segovax incident]].
* TheOtherDarrin: 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 due to Brandt's preoccupation with [[CSINewYork CSI:NY.]]
* PetTheDog: Batiatus goes against the crowd to spare Spartacus' life when he submits in his fight against Crixus.
* PlayingAgainstType: To most American tropers, John Hannah. Widely known as bumbling brother Jonathan in the ''[[TheMummyTrilogy 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.
* PlayingToTheFetishes: 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.
* PlotArmour: Literally. Whether a sword will bounce off your helmet or go straight through and impale your head depends on how important a character you are. Especially blatant when on other occasions you see Roman soldiers [[ArmourIsUseless take a sword slash on their breastplates and still go down in a spray of blood]].
* PoirotSpeak: 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 ShownTheirWork below)
* {{Pride}}: Ends up causing a lot of the drama in the story.
* PunctuatedPounding: Batiatus is fond of combining this with the ClusterFBomb, whether it's kicking a dead slave or beating someone round the head with a cup. Aurelia also does this in the finale while [[spoiler: stabbing Numerius.]]
* TheQueensLatin
* RaceLift: Oenamaus (aka the Doctore) was historically from Gaul, like Crixus. He is reimagined as a ([[ScaryBlackMan scary]]) BaldBlackLeaderGuy.
* RatedMForManly
* RedemptionInTheRain: For Spartacus in episode 5, after he and Crixus fight Theokoles. He is thereafter repeatedly referred to as "bringer of rain."
* RetiredBadass: Oenomaus (Doctore) certainly counts. 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.
* RealLifeWritesThePlot: 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.
* RealityEnsues: A cut Spartacus receives in his fight with [[spoiler: Varro]] results in a wicked infection that nearly kills him.
* RichBitch: Ilithya.
* TheRival: Crixus and Spartacus.
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: [[spoiler: The season's finale.]]
* RousingSpeech: An [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome epic]] and genuinely [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming touching]] one is delivered by [[spoiler: Spartacus to the rest of the slaves after the massacre at the end of Season 1.]]
* RuleOfCool: The fight scenes tend to verge on this. Popping someone's head off with a chain, for example.
* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler: Varro.]]
* SayMyName: [[spoiler: '''Doctore:''' ''ASHUUUUUUUURRRRR!!!'']]
* ScaryBlackMan: Doctore. Scarred, bullwhip-wielding, bald and badass.
* ShownTheirWork:
** In the match between Crixus and Spartacus in episode three both men are armed correctly for their gladiator types (Crixus, a Gaul, is a ''murmillo'', and Spartacus is armed as a ''thraex'', which is a stereotypical Thracian), and the matchup of these sets is one that was actually used in the real arenas.
** Though the language itself [[TheQueensLatin is entirely in English]], all titles and positions are referred to with their proper Latin terms, and even correct gender and tense declension.
* SirSwearsALot: Batiatus is the absolute ''king'' of this trope.
* SmugSnake: Ashur.
* SophisticatedAsHell: Flowery language delivered in TheQueensLatin is frequently combined with the ClusterFBomb.
* [[SwordAndSandal Sword And Sand(al)]]
* TemptingFate: Episode 13 has this gem;
--> [[spoiler: Batiatus: "Friends! We are perfectly safe inside the villa!"]]
--> [[spoiler: ''(que the enraged gladiators storming into the villa)'']]
* ThenLetMeBeEvil: When Ashur gets berated for his slimy ManipulativeBastard 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.
* ThereAreNoRules in [[TheThunderdome the Pit]].
* [[ThisIsSparta This Is Sparta(cus)]]: And oddly enough, the line used is "[[IAmSpartacus I! AM! SPARTACUS!]]"
* ThrowingYourSwordAlwaysWorks:
** All the time in the pilot.
** 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 [[LampshadeHanging lampshaded]] immediately by Doctore: "If you throw your sword in the ring, you are dead."
** Throwing an ''axe'' however is apparently okay, as Spartacus [[spoiler: saves Batiatus' life]] this way in Episode 4.
** Ironically played straight by Doctore in the final episode of the season. Doctore is apparently [[RetiredBadass badass enough]] to pull it off.
** FridgeBrilliance: Throwing your sword in the arena is useless as you're paired against a highly trained enemy who's focus is completely on you, and should the attempt fail(which is likely), you're left without a weapon to defend yourself. Throwing your sword in pitched battle is doable because a given enemy is less likely to be as skilled as a gladiator, is less likely to be focused or aware enough to block the attack, and there are a plethora of spare weapons around from fallen enemies and allies to replace the thrown sword.
* ThwartedCoupDeGrace: Twice in the Season finale.
* TitleDrop: In episodes 1, 2, 6, 12, and 13.
* TogetherInDeath: [[spoiler: Batiatus and Lucretia.]]
* TookALevelInBadass: Spartacus eventually earns respect after [[spoiler: killing Theokoles.]]
* TragicMonster: While not in the series, Theokoles is painted as this in the prequal comic. Basicly 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.
* TrainingFromHell: Doctore seems to favor it.
* TurnedAgainstTheirMasters: See DoomedByCanon, this was inevitable.
* UnholyMatrimony: 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.
* TheUnreveal: 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 [[TalkToTheFist Talk To The Whip]]. He gets cut off again in a flashback, this time by Sura.
* VillainousBreakdown:
** Batiatus begins to break down [[spoiler: 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 Ilithya demands a night with [[spoiler: Crixus]], who until then had been her personal sex toy.
** Ilithya has a murderous one after she realizes she has been subjected to a particularly nasty BedTrick.
* VisualPun: 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?!"
* WalkingShirtlessScene: 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, [[FanService not by a longshot]].
* WellDoneSonGuy: 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 [[spoiler: cold blooded vengeance.]]
* WhamEpisode: Episodes 6, 10, and 13.
* WhipItGood: Doctore.
* WomanScorned: Lucretia reacts pretty much as expected when she finds out why Crixus has lost that loving feeling.
* XanatosGambit: Batiatus [[spoiler: arranges Solonius' murder, then sends [[TheMole Ashur]] to warn him. If Solonius doesn't listen then he dies, if he does then Ashur gains his trust to exploit later.]]
* XanatosRoulette: His plan to [[spoiler: frame Solonius for the magistrate's murder]] however relies on '''precise''' timing that would be nearly impossible in an age without clocks.
* YaoiGuys: Barca and Pietros.
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!!''Gods of the Arena'' provides examples of:
* AccidentalMurder: [[spoiler: Melitta]] falls afoul of this in episode 5.
* ADateWithRosiePalms: Gaia while watching Lucretia and Batiatus having sex, and later Varus.
* AllWomenAreLustful: It goes without saying that they love [[EatingTheEyeCandy watching the gladiators training]]. Naevia and Diona's curiosity about [[BiggerIsBetterInBed the size of Gannicus' cock]] is one example, but the poster girl of this trope is Gaia. That woman is {{lust}} personified.
* AmbitionIsEvil: 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 [[spoiler: refuses to allow Batiatus and Lucretia to take revenge on Tullius for killing Gaia.]]
* BadAss: Gannicus and Oenomaus are the established badasses of this series, other characters from ''Blood and Sand'' are seen to be still in training.
* BadassBoast: Batiatus' idle boast that any of his men could defeat any of Vettius' blindfolded [[SubvertedTrope comes back to haunt him when Vettius demands that Gannicus do exactly that]]. [[spoiler: [[DoubleSubverted And Gannicus wins anyway]].]]
* BenevolentBoss: 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.
* BiTheWay: Lucretia and Gaia.
* BlackAndGrayMorality: Batiatus, who might count as a VillainProtagonist given the events of ''Blood and Sand'', comes across as significantly less evil than the competition.
* BladeOnAStick: The hoplomachi, most notably Barca and Auctus.
* BlondeGuysAreEvil: Vettius, though he's more of a jerk than really evil. Tullius is one in the truest sense of the trope.
* BookEnds
* BreakTheCutie:
** 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 [[spoiler: all his joy destroyed, as he receives no credit or standing for seemingly impossible victories, is forced to withstand various humiliations ''[[TheWorfEffect 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 [[spoiler: 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.]]
* BrokenBird: Diona after her traumatic first time.
* ButNotTooGay: {{Averted}}. The series doesn't shy away from gay kisses, Barca and Auctus most notably. Lucretia and Gaia are played with GirlOnGirlIsHot in mind.
* CallForward: 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 the burn scar on his arm.
* DepravedBisexual: Varus, and the same can be said about other numerous Roman visitors to the house of Batiatus.
* DoomedByCanon:
** Oenomaus [[spoiler: 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 [[spoiler: will become a bitter schemer who manages to kill Barca.]]
** Oh and that pair of [[WeUsedToBeFriends best friends]] Solonius and Batiatus...
* DramaticIrony: Being a prequel, the series provides this in spades.
* DrunkenSong: Gannicus sings a [[BawdySong 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 [[CallForward same song]] the gladiators were singing during the party in ''Delicate Things'' while [[spoiler: Barca was being murdered.]]
* DualWielding: Gannicus' preferred fighting style.
* FemmeFatale: Gaia, [[spoiler: though her charms failed her in the end.]]
* GreyAndGrayMorality: Batiatus' struggle with his father is this, everything else is [[BlackAndGreyMorality Grey vs Black]].
* HappilyMarried: Oenomaus and Melitta, they're like a benevolent version of Batiatus and Lucretia.
* HeyItsThatGuy: On top of the characters who also appeared in ''Blood and Sand'':
** Jaime Murray, from ''{{Hustle}}'', ''{{Dexter}}'' and ''{{Warehouse 13}}''.
** No wonder Oenomaus feels like he's got big shoes to fill: he's taking over as Doctore from [[StarWars Jango Fett]]. While his most notable accomplishment was being [[ThisIsSparta spartan-kicked]] down the hole by [[ThreeHundred King Leonidas]].
* IAmNotMyFather: 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.
* InadequateInheritor: Titus considers Batiatus to be this.
* IncendiaryExponent: Invoked for the primus in the final episode, which takes place inside a RingOfFire. Gnaeus cranks it up another notch by ''setting his net on fire'' during the battle.
* {{Jerkass}}: Vettius.
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: 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.
* KarmaHoudini: Batiatus - but only within the context of this series, with the events of the first season turning it into DramaticIrony.
-->'''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'')
* KickTheDog: 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 TactfulTranslation 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. [[WithFriendsLikeThese With A Friend Like This]] indeed.
* KingMook: One of these gives Gannicus and Crixus a run for their money in the finale.
* LadyMacbeth: Lucretia is quite capable of taking the problem of [[spoiler: Titus' stifling influence]] into her own hands. Indeed, she is revealed to have been doing so from the very beginning.
* ManlyGay: Auctus.
* ManipulativeBitch: Gaia.
* MyLifeFlashedBeforeMyEyes: The series is Batiatus' dying flashback.
* NoHoldsBarredBeatdown: Batiatus gets one at the end of the first episode, he returns the favour later.
* NothingCanStopUsNow: Batiatus at the end of the final episode.
* OhCrap: Titus in episode 5.
-->'''Titus:''' "Tell me you're not the serpent I thought you to be."\\
'''[[spoiler: Lucretia]]:''' "I'm not. I'm far worse."
* APartyAlsoKnownAsAnOrgy: Episode 4.
* ThePatriarch: Titus.
* PerfectPoison: [[spoiler: 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.]]
* PreAssKickingOneLiner: "Apologies."
* PsychoticSmirk: Tullius is fond of doing this.
* RapeIsLove: [[spoiler: Gannicus and Melitta fall in love after they're forced to have sex with each other.]]
* RingOfFire: The showdown between Batiatus and [[spoiler: Solonius']] gladiators in the final episode.
* SelfMadeOrphan: [[spoiler: Batiatus thought of doing this, but was stopped at the last minute by [[ThickerThanWater his father's attempt at reconciliation]].]]
* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: Auctus and Barca. Of course Auctus is only sensitive as a gladiator can possibly be, but his [[PetTheDog liking of birds]] shows he's a bit more warmthearted than you would expect from a man who lives to kill.
* [[SuicideByCop Suicide By Gladiator]]: [[spoiler: Doctore]] all but forces Oenomaus to kill him.
* SequelHook: After Gannicus [[spoiler: is freed in the final episode, he tells Crixus and Oenomaus to come find him when they earn their own freedom. Given that the historical Gannicus was one of the four main generals in the Third Servile War, chances are we will see him again.]]
* StartOfDarkness: While not exactly moral, fives years prior Lucretia seemed to care for her slaves. Ashur was more compassionate even [[spoiler: 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.
* TactfulTranslation: Ashur plays it straight, but never with good intentions.
* TeamMom: Melitta to the other slave girls, especially Naevia and Diona.
* TemptingFate:
** Solonius gloats to Vettius in episode 6 "We were not found knife in hand, kneeling beside body!" This almost perfectly describes [[spoiler: the FrameUp 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!"
* ThreeWaySex: It doesn't take long for Gaia find her way to Lucretia and Batiatus' bed.
* TitleDrop: In every episode except number 4. Batiatus also refers to Gannicus as a "god of the arena" in the finale.
* TookALevelInBadass: Crixus, after a RousingSpeech from Batiatus and his arena battle with Auctus.
* TwoGuysAndAGirl: Gannicus, Oenomaus and Melitta who are true friends (the latter two are married), [[spoiler: but then Gannicus and Melitta are forced to have sex an event that shakes everything up.]]
* VillainProtagonist: Batiatus, the BigBad of ''Blood and Sand'' [[spoiler: 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.
* WeUsedToBeFriends:
** This series reveals that Batiatus and 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.
* WhamEpisode: Episode 4.
* WithFriendsLikeThese: 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.
* WomenAreWiser: 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.
* YaoiGuys: Barca and Auctus.
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