Why Spartacus Series on STARZ Was Successful

Rating: ★★★★
Family Appropriate? Absolutely NOT. 18+
Extra Comments: Lots of blood. Tons of blood. Did I mention that there’s lots of blood?

When I binge-watched Spartacus on Netflix produced by the STARZ network, I was addicted from episode one. Why was it so successful?  Let us consider the following points.

Heads fly off bodies; limbs get cut off; faces get smashed like hammers hitting pumpkins.

Point 1: “Blood and Glory”

After telling a friend that I was addicted to the show, he reacted plainly. “Yeah, hahaha, all that blood and glory.” Let’s be honest, a lot of people like to see realistic fight scenes with blood and gore. Those viewers cannot be disappointed with this series. Tons of blood abound.

You’ll see sex scenes not even I’ve fantasized about – and I’m the creative type

Point 2: Special Effects – and Blood

There are times when blood literally fills the television screen. Literally. In some scenes, various shades of red splash in all directions. Heads fly off bodies; limbs get cut off; faces get smashed like hammers hitting pumpkins; guts and bones go airborne. By the 2^nd episode I was shocked to oblivion, wondering how the producers would top the last fight scene. And yet, episode after episode I continued to be shocked at how the fight that took place before my eyes was actually more grisly than the previous.

If you want to see blood, this is definitely the series to watch.

Point 3: Too Much Sex

The old Hollywood formula of making movies with lots of sex, drugs and violence is no exception for this series, except that the drug of choice is alcohol. In my opinion, there’s simply too much sex. Short of seeing an erect penis and said organ actually entering the vagina or anus, and semen, what amounts is what I’d call soft porn, or “medium” porn. You’ll see plenty of breasts, vaginas, even penises, including threesomes, all-out orgies, and sex scenes not even I’ve fantasized about – and I’m the creative type.

It became so bogged down with sex that I started keeping track of how many episodes had an illicit sex scene. EVERY ONE OF THEM HAD AT LEAST ONE.

If you want to see blood, this is definitely the series to watch.

Point 4: From Crass Language to Eloquent

Another element that made the series successful was the mix of poetic prose with die-hard, in-your-face-vulgarity. It would be difficult, for instance, to accurately count how many times the words, “fuck” (and its many forms), “cock,” “ass,” and the unacceptable-to-women “cunt,” are used. One example is when Quintus Batiatus returns Spartacus’ dead wife to him, Quintus explains: “At last, the gods remove cock from fucking ass!”

The higher social classes often used a more poetic language to purposely separate themselves from their slaves. But they too use vulgar language.

These are the types of characteristics that I think made Spartacus successful. My only harsh criticism is that there was too much in-your-face sex. Producers could have cut many of these scenes and simply implied that sex took place. Sometimes that’s more effective. Due to this criticism, I rate this series 4 stars instead of 5.