It’s only becoming clearer why War of the Damned had to be the final season of Spartacus. There would be no way for a series that is this unpredictable and fast-paced to spin out its story longer than its creator felt compelled to.

Steven S. DeKnight continually shows himself to be someone with a flair for excellently designed long-form narrative structure that doesn’t feel designed at all. Providing payoff, surprises and action, ‘Blood Brothers’ is another incredible instalment in the season.

To create a situation in which opposing forces appear equally matched in numerous ways is no easy feat; appropriately, this episode commits much of its length to detailing how both Crassus and Spartacus are meticulously manoeuvring and scheming around one another.

In a rather marvellous way, Spartacus’s plan manages to account for Crixus’s unpredictability and it would ensure that the Roman army would be weakened and divided. However, Caesar’s role comes into focus as Crassus unleashes his own devastating attack from within. The episode ends with Spartacus’s city surrounded on two fronts and no way to guess what will happen next.

Before we arrive at that moment, there is still much of worth to be discussed in this episode. The increasing importance of Gannicus is fascinating, and he’s certainly beginning to realise that even if he does not see himself fit for it, a leadership role is being thrust upon him.

The story of Caesar within the rebel camp is also compelling, as he remains hard to read until the final third of the episode. The death of Nemetes doesn’t come as a huge surprise after his involvement in that terrifying rape situation last week but there’s simplicity to the set-up of his demise, right down to him providing Caesar with the sword that slashes his throat.

As expected, Tiberius does not quickly forget the lesson that his father taught him with the decimation. His morose manner leads to a scenario where Crassus’s lover/slave Kore (Jenna Lind) feels the need to mend the relationship between father and son. The ensuing encounter has a terrible outcome, however, when Tiberius sees a way that he can exert some power over Crassus. Layered with thematic importance, these events will remind the Roman leader just how weak the position his favoured slave is in.

It is the plans of the warring commanders that make for the most interesting moments in ‘Blood Brothers’, though, as it becomes increasingly difficult for them to outsmart each other or predict what is being planned. Neither of Spartacus or Crassus knows the full extent of the other’s tactics, but Crassus is able to factor in more potential possibilities and understands when it is the right time to attack the city.

In ‘Men of Honor’, Spartacus’s inability to trust was almost his undoing. It’s fitting here, then, to realise that he would have been correct in his initial cautious instincts about the pirates. This episode brings consequences and bloody battle to the gates of the city in a heart-pounding final sequence.

The only thing for certain now is just how uncertain what will happen in next week’s episode remains.

Aired at 10pm on Monday 11 March on Sky1.

> Buy Spartacus: Vengeance on DVD on Amazon.

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