YMMV / Spartacus Blood And Sand S 1 E 9 Whore

• Angst? What Angst?: Spartacus displays no angst at the fact that he's being whored out to a Roman noblewoman. He does first ask if this is part of a champion's duties, so it may be part of his overall determination to no longer fight against his fate.
• Best Known for the Fanservice: The steamy sex scene between Spartacus and Illithyia is one of the show's most memorable and iconic moments. This episode is known solely for it. Some even forget that a brutal murder happens after it.
• Catharsis Factor: Seeing Spartacus strangle Illithyia even for a moment is rather cathartic after the torture she's put him through.
• Fridge Brilliance:
  • The gold paint Spartacus gets covered in. Not just for decoration; but to hide his identity from Illithyia, who would probably notice that Crixus suddenly has lighter skin than usual.
  • Likewise Lucretia makes sure to get Naevia to fetch wine for the guest. She wants Illithyia drunk enough to not notice it's Spartacus.
  • And of course why Illithyia went so mad. She was partially drunk too.
• Harsher in Hindsight:
  • Naevia trying and failing to calm Lucretia during a violent tantrum becomes this when you know Naevia herself will be on the receiving end a few episodes later.
  • Spartacus's devotion and apologising to Batiatus is already this since it's known he had Sura killed. But once this fact is revealed to Spartacus, it's a reminder of how the man's faith in Batiatus will be completely shattered.
• Jerkass Woobie: It's hard not to feel sorry for Illithyia when she's tricked and humiliated - and this time she did nothing to deserve it. She ends up a murderess and thus subservient to Lucretia, in case the word gets out.
• Nausea Fuel: It's possible to see Licinia's eyeball popping out of its socket when Illithyia is bashing her head off the floor.
• One-Scene Wonder: Licinia only has three scenes and yet establishes herself as such a nasty piece of work that it actually feels rather satisfying when Illithyia attacks her.
• Rewatch Bonus:
  • Illithyia warns Lucretia at the games noblemen and women like to play on those below their station. Lucretia replies that she's well aware. Once you watch Gods of the Arena, you realise she's talking about the horrible things Tullius did to them.
  • Also the murder of Licinia and how easily they dispose of her body eerily parallel's Gaia's murder in Gods of the Arena.