‘Spartacus: Vengeance’: DVD review

Picking up shortly after the massacre that ends Spartacus: Blood and Sand, the second season of this swords-and-sandals epic maintains the gripping atmosphere and momentum while propelling its characters into new dangerous situations outside of the ludus.

Due to the tragic death of its star, Andy Whitfield, this season of Spartacus sees Liam McIntyre ably take over the demanding title role. He is joined by a strong supporting cast that includes Lucy Lawless, Craig Parker, Dustin Clare, Manu Bennet, Katrina Law, and Peter Mensah.

The dynamic of Spartacus: Vengeance is very different from what it was in the first season (and in the Gods of the Arena prequel season) as it now sees Spartacus and the rebels facing life outside the ludus and the regimented gladiatorial existence. So much of this season is about adapting to freedom and determining whether it is worth fighting for. For a large extent of the ten episodes, Spartacus himself focuses solely on getting revenge on Glaber (Parker) for his involvement in Spartacus’s capture and the subsequent murder of his wife. It takes some time for him to move past his quest for revenge and grow into his role as a leader.

Liam McIntyre gives a commanding and powerful performance as Spartacus, embodying a character who gradually comes to terms with what he’s truly fighting to achieve and moving beyond his personal vendetta. His realisation that freedom is the real goal of his rebellion is the fuel that drives the second half of the season, giving the central characters a common goal to unite behind.

Vengeance provides some really thoughtful exploration on what slavery really means for these people, and why freedom holds such importance for them when (arguably) their lives stand to get considerably worse when freed.

As ever, the storytelling is incredibly well-paced. The show provides payoff on long-running storylines and gives all of its characters sufficient attention. Glaber becomes a worthy villain, proving himself to be intelligent enough to face Spartacus many times. The performance of Parker improves with the greater amount of screentime that he’s given, and his dynamic with Illythia (Viva Bianca) develops to be exceptionally fascinating.

If you thought Game of Thrones was the only series to deliver spectacle on a cinematic scale in 2012, you’d be very mistaken. At multiple points, Spartacus: Vengeance displays a flair for visually breathtaking images that just seem too big for television. There’s a particular scene in the fifth episode, ‘Libertus’, that really proves the immense skill of the show’s visual effects team. The close-quarters combat choreography remains amazing too, with the actors performing stunts that almost look impossible and the show’s fighting adopting a style of frenetic intensity that is very different to the showboating seen in the gladiatorial arena.

Steven S. DeKnight and his writing staff provide compelling stories and unpredictable developments constantly, and have shown that Spartacus is far more than the guilty pleasure that it was originally assumed to be. With its unique sense of style and atmosphere, Spartacus: Vengeance is a terrific continuation of an already captivating story.

Extras: Featuring cast and crew commentary on a number of episodes, Spartacus: Vengeance provides a decent range of bonus features in the boxset. Additionally, there are many interesting interviews within Behind The Camera: Directing The Rebellion and On Set With Liam McIntyre especially. It’s great to see that everyone involved has a real passion for the show, and that the hard work that goes into producing it brings about such a great result.

Burning Down The House: The VFX Of Episode 205 is the highlight here, giving viewers a really detailed look at the visual effects work that went into the spectacular arena scenes in the season’s fifth episode. Also, The Legend Of Spartacus provides a great look at the history that inspires the show’s story, and it’s intriguing to get some idea of how accurately this narrative lines up with what is said to have actually happened.