Spartacus War of the Damned – “Blood Brothers” Review
Spartacus War of the Damned – “Blood Brothers” Review
The latest episode of Spartacus: War of the Damned, “Blood Brothers,” is one marked with tension and uncertainty, for both sides of the battle. In Spartacus’ camp, the aftermath of the butchering of the Roman prisoners is still fresh in the minds of those involved. A clear divide between Spartacus and his General Crixus is growing wider, to the point that a break seems bound to happen soon. The matter is made worse when Crixus learns that Spartacus has left the city for some unknown purpose, leaving Agron in charge to watch over Laeta and the few remaining Roman prisoners.
The situation in Marcus Crassus’ camp has also grown anxious, with news of his sons defeat and the cruel punishment of Decimation reaching the Senate. The brief exchange between Crassus and a high-ranking military official is interesting and noteworthy. He reminds everyone that all of the soldiers under his command have been purchased with his own coin, perhaps foreshadowing what is said to have happened to him later in life, the costs of aspirations and war leaving him a poor man. The military official also mentions Pompeii, the 3rd member of the eventual triumvirate of himself, Crassus, and Caesar. I wonder if they’ll have another show that focuses on that time period of Roman history?
Nemetes and his new friend Caesar are busy trying to figure out what Spartacus is doing away from the city. They’re able to get some information out of the Silesian pirates. Caesear again shows how he’s able to manipulate others, and by doing so gathers valuable intelligence regarding Spartacus army. It turns out, Spartacus and a small group of his soldiers have raided one of Crassus’ supply runs, and siezed some valuable goods. While he’s gone, a number of Roman soldiers have shown up just outside the city. Crixus attempts to rally the rebels to go outside the city and attack the threat, but Spartacus makes it back just in time to quell such thoughts. Spartacus has different intentions entirely – to release Laeta and the remaining Roman prisoners, an action that further infuriates Crixus.
There might be some method to Spartacus’ apparent madness. He is figuring that Laeta will tell Crassus of Spartacus plans, and hopes to use that to his advantage. The plan is to attack a divided Crassus army and deliver a crushing blow to Rome. Crassus is a very wise man, however, and isn’t fooled into an ill-advised action. Unbeknownst to Crassus, however, he has other things to worry about. An angry Tiberius has decided to exact his own form of revenge against the Imperiator and his command of Decimation. He rapes Crassus’ slave lover, Kore. Any chance of father and son moving past the Decimation incident is officially gone.
Meanwhile, in Spartacus camp, Caesar is making way to presumably either leave the city or as he says attempt to join up with Spartacus as he sets sail for Sicilia. He stumbles across Nemetes and a couple rebels, who say that he’s going the wrong way and that instead they must go with Crixus. Out of nowhere, Caesar kills the two men who are with Nemetes, and reveals himself as Julius Caesar! Nemetes attempts to bargain with him, but to no avail. Caesar cuts him down where he stands, saying he has other plans.
We soon find out those other plans involve the Silesian priates, who have turned on Spartacus. When Spartacus arrives to his ship, he is greeted by a cargo of Roman soldiers. Spartacus has been sold out. Leaping out of the shadows, Caesar sneak attacks Spartacus and is able to wound him, but doesn’t kill him. He then commands a group of the Roman soldiers to rush into the city and take it over with him, leaving Spartacus and Gannicus to fight for their lives. Just when it seems that the two are going to fall in battle, Crixus comes out of nowhere and helps turn the tide. With his help, the rebels are able to defeat the immediate threat, but not for long it would seem. Caesar has managed to set fire to the city gate, but afterwards is about to be killed by Agron. Before Agron can deliver the final blow, however, a battering ram starts to hammer down the weakened gate. As the episode draws to its conclusion, the battering ram smashes through the gate. At the same time, Spartacus and his men look out to sea to see a fleet of Roman ships.
It doesn’t look good for the rebellion.
Review – 8.5 / 10 – Great
Robert Birmingham is Editor-in-chief at flydrs.com.
