With the tragic, untimely death of star Andy Whitfield at the hands of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma, many thought that this would mean an end for the fledgling Spartacus franchise.

But, being the Starz channel’s first breakout hit (and the first of their original dramas to ever receive a second season), they decided to persevere with the show and recast Whitfield.

The change-over was treated with the greatest of respect by all involved, and the production team even produced a stop-gap mini-series while they took their time to find the right replacement. Eventually they settled on Australian actor Liam McIntyre, who gets his first run-out as everyone’s favourite rebellious slave here in the first episode of Vengeance, the next chapter proper of the Spartacus story.

McIntyre is a good fit for the role physically, cutting a suitably imposing figure, and he has a good way with the intense stare that stoic Spartacus often employs.

Based on this first episode, his Spartacus seems to be a little more serious, lacking the easy charm that Whitfield brought to the role, although this could simply be because when we open things here Spartacus is bearing a heavy weight upon his shoulders.

Having led a successful mutiny at the House of Batiatus, killing his masters and freeing all of the slaves within, Spartacus has led himself, Crixus and the rest of the gladiators to an underground dwelling near the city of Capua, where they continue to raid Roman parties and generally make nuisances of themselves. Also with them is Mira, the slave that Spartacus is almost reluctantly involved with, and Aurelia, wife of Spartacus’ fallen friend Varro.

Also returning to the cast is Spartacus’ nemesis Gaius Claudius Glaber, the Roman “legatus” responsible for Spartacus slavery and taking his wife from him, along with his preening other half Ilithia, the Paris Hilton of ancient Rome. More problematic is the return of Xena’s Lucy Lawless as Lucretia, former Domina of House Batiatus.

Lucretia was dead at the end of the first season. Lawless herself has confirmed this, but the writers didn’t want to lose her presence on the show, so they contrived to bring her character back and slightly ret-con that ending.

Having Lawless back isn’t a problem, as she was great on the show and clearly has a blast in the role, but the ending of that first season, with Lucretia and husband Batiatus lying in a pool of their own blood, reaching for each other with their last breaths was a perfect culmination for their arcs. Bringing her back now somehow cheapens that ending, and removes the power from it. A shame, as it was a fantastic way to wrap up their characters.

Aside from that, it’s great to have the show back. There seems to be a bigger budget at work, and the green-screen has definitely improved – which is just as well, given that the action now takes place in and around the city of Capua, rather than almost entirely in the enclosed location of the ludus. The fights are of a larger scale, but just as fantastically choreographed as ever and there’s no let-up on the levels of blood, gore, sex and swearing either. It wouldn’t be Spartacus without it.

This first episode is very much a reintroduction to proceedings, setting the scene for the rest of the season. There are a few new characters, like suspiciously flirty brother-sister combo Seppius and Seppia, but we don’t really get to know them yet. This is about introducing McIntyre to the role and the show flexing its muscles to see how it will cope outside the comfort zone of the ludus.

Based on this first episode, the show’s confidence in itself hasn’t been dented by the loss of Whitfield, and the story-telling remains impressively assured.

Given the increased scope of Vengeance, if it can hit the ground running, without the somewhat shaky first few episodes that Blood & Sand had, then watching Spartacus’ rebellion develop could make for one of the most entertaining series since… well, since the first season! We’re certainly off to a good start.

Aired at 10pm on Monday 30th January 2012 on Sky1.

> Buy the Spartacus: Blood and Sand DVD boxset on Amazon.

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