History YMMV / Spartan

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: Mark Isham's score does a lot to help establish the dark, suspenseful mood of the film.

* {{Woobie}}:

* DoomedByCanon: If you know Ancient History and Spartas' lifestyle, then you have figured out 80% of the story.

** Laghal is arguably the biggest. Poor kid, he was a SexSlave all his life, he has satisfied many men who choose him for his [[SoBeautifylItSACurse beauty]] (while his fellow co-workers managed to get away the majority of the time due to not being that handsome) and Pausanias, one of the few persons who treated him nicely, [[spoiler: ordered Kleidimos to kill him after they were done with the task]]. You can't help but feel sorry for him…

** Laghal is arguably the biggest. Poor kid, he was a SexSlave all his life, he has satisfied many men who choose him for his [[SoBeautifylItsACurse beauty]] (while his fellow co-workers managed to get away the majority of the time due to not being that handsome) and Pausanias, one of the few persons who treated him nicely, [[spoiler: ordered Kleidimos to kill him after they were done with the task]]. You can't help but feel sorry for him…

** While Brithos doesn't have that extreme reactions, he is still polarising. On the one side, you have those who like his for his CharacterDevelopment and his interactions with his younger brother, Talos (which many regard as the best aspect of the book). On the other side, you have those who were not eager to forgive him after all the awful things he did during [[EstablishingCharacterMoment his first appearances]] (said things include AttemptedRape, BullyingTheDisabled and being, overall a complete {{Jerkass}} with few redeeming qualities).

* {{Narm}}: Some found the [[spoiler: ending]] to be melodramatic. See BrokenBase above.

** Laghal is arguably the biggest. Poor kid, he was a SexSlave all his life, he has satisfied many men who choose him for his [[BeautyIsACurse beauty]] (while his fellow co-workers managed to get away the majority of the time due to not being that handsome) and Pausanias, one of the few persons who treated him nicely, [[spoiler: ordered Kleidimos to kill him after they were done with the task]]. You can't help but feel sorry for him…

** Aristarkhos and Ismene from the Kleomenides family. Firstly, they have to abandon their second son because he was born cripple. Secondly, they find out that he survived, but their first son has a huge dislike on him and wants to kill him. Thirdly, [[spoiler: the Ephors plan to kill them and they send both the father and the son on a mission where no one is spared]]. Brithos counts too (see JerkassWoobie above).

* BaseBreakingCharacter:
** Talos. Is he an interesting and well-written protgonist? Or someone who took [[SpotlightStealingSquad way too much focus]] and as a result, he made the rest of the cast feel flat?
** Brithos. On the one side, you have those who like his for his CharacterDevelopment and the friendship he formed with Talos. On the othe side, you have those who were not eager to forgive him after all the awful things he did at [[EstablishingCharacterMoment his first appearances]].

* HarsherInHindsight:
** Laghal and Pausanias' relationship was already disgusting. It's even worse when you know that [[LoverAndBeloved it was very common]] back then.
**

* AnticlimaxBoss: Pausanias. All it took to be done this guy [[spoiler: was locking him to a temple and let him starve to death]].

* BrokenBase: The ending was highly divisive among readers who thought it was too depressive [[spoiler: seeing Talos mysteriously disappearing right when his people are free and he can reunite with Antinea and their son]]. On the other side some found it was fitting for an epic novel [[spoiler: with TheHero disappearing after fulfilling his destiny like most of the ShroudedInMyth heroes]].

* DoomedByCanon: If you know Ancient History and Spartas' way of life, then you have figured 80% of the story.
* FandomRivalry: With Literature/GatesOfFire. Both depict realistically the Spartan life, both have a protagonist who is slave and has a problem with his feet and both take part at the exact same period. Then again, the few ones who have read both of this books and like them, say that Literature/GatesOfFire is better.

* HarsherInHindsight: Laghal and Pausanias' relationship was already disgusting. It's even worse when you know that [[LoverAndBeloved it was very common]] back then.

** Antinea and Pelias. They are poor and they haveto work long hours to live. Antinea is even in a worse position, since she is sexually harassed by the Spartan boys. It's really sad, and what makes it worse, is that Pelias knows exactly what's going on, but he cannot do anything, fearing the range of his masters.
** Aristarkhos and Ismene from the Kleomenides family. Firstly, they have to abandon their second son because he was born cripple. Secondly, they find out that he survived, but their first son has a huge dislike on him and wants to kill him. Thirdly, [[spoiler: the Ephors plan to kill them and they send both the father and the son on a mission where they will be no survivors]]. Brithos counts too (see JerkassWoobie above).

** [[spoiler: The SlaveResolt at the last chapters!!]]

* [[JustForFun/SurprisinglySimilarStories Counterpart Comparison]]: There are some who have noticed that Talos' story is similar to Moses, but in reverse. Where Moses was abandoned by a SlaveRace family, Talos was abandoned by a MasterRace family and he was MadeASlave. Both were unaware of their true identities, because their adoptive families never told them the truth for various reasons. When they find out, there's much dilemma on which path to follow, but in the end, [[spoiler: they choose to free the SlaveRace]].

* FandomRivalry /FriendlyFandoms: With Literature/GatesOfFire. Both depict realistically the Spartan life, both have a protagonist who is slave and has a problem with his feet and both take part at the exact same period. Then again, the few ones who have read both of this books and like them, say that Literature/GatesOfFire is better.

* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: ** Talos' training with his grandpa paid off! He managed to stand up and beat several Spartan boys in order to protect Antinea! Keep in mind that they do nothing but being all day in the gym. So, don't let his disability fool you! He is as skilled as a warrior!

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: ** Kleidimos and his mother's relationship would be interesting to see. Unfortunately, [[spoiler: [[DiedInYourArmsTonight she dies at his hands]]]].

* SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome: Talos' training with his grandpa paid off! He managed to stand up and beat several Spartan boys in order to protect Antinea! Keep in mind that they do nothing but being all day in the gym. So, don't let his disability fool you! He is as skilled as a warrior!

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter: Laghal. He seemed to have plenty of potential and he would work as a {{Foil}} to Kleidimos. But after he [[spoiler: betrays Pausanias]], he disappears and we never find out what happened to him.

* TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodPlot: Kleidimos and his mother's relationship would be interesting to see. Unfortunately, [[spoiler: [[DiedInYourArmsTonight she dies at his hands]]]].

* MemeticBadass: Brithos, Talos /[[spoiler: Kleidimos]], Kritolaos, Karas, Leonidas, Aristarkhos etc. Almost every male character falls into this trope.