Had mixed feelings about the finale
thoughts on finale
Felt bit too... saccharine or heroic flag waving lines in the opening, trying too hard perhaps. Once the meeting between Crassus and Spartacus started, it began feeling more natural when characters talked, preparing for the coming end. That was a great meeting and the battle scenes were pretty good, I liked most of the deaths in the field. I loved the way they ended Gannicus and the heartbreak over Kore. The end of Spartacus himself? It was extremely well done, loved the reference to Spartacus not being his real name, but I would have preferred it not to have that "happy ending" where some survive and he gets to know it before dying, was hoping we would see the fleeing rebels all massacred (and see the deaths). Excellent credits
A good season overall. Started well, perhaps a bit of a wobble in the middle, but built momentum and had strong ending episodes. Probably the least entertaining, for good reason, set of Romans but unlike Vengeance, the tensions and the characters in team Spartacus clicked. Not the best in terms of female characters or romance though, battles were a bit and miss but when it mattered, they were a hit for me. For the first time, I actually liked Spartacus himself, don't know if I'm weird for that,
season overall
-Liam McIntyre perhaps came short in one or two "great leader moments" but I thought he did a good job this series, particularly in intimate conversations.
-Team Rome: Crassus was a wily intelligent villain with a strong romance but lacked flair as a character, he didn't quite entertain me in the way the previous villains did. Was initially highly sceptical at the use of Ceaser but they wove him in well, his intelligent but youth hot-head way and charisma, nicely balanced by the anger and general gitness of Tiberius. Didn't think the Ceaser vs Gannicus rivalry ever really got going. Their plotting was intresting to watch but still felt that, in comparison to the past, the Romans were more stable as a unit. Not a criticism, they needed to be united and powerful to match their foes, just a necessary sacrifice made them a little less entertaining then the previous seasons. Kore was a nice girl and I enjoyed the romance, the way it all soured and it led to quite a powerful ending.
-Team Spartacus was far better then in Vengeance. Last time the internal strife, anger and disagreements never really clicked, this time the tension was palpable. The psychotic Naevia (who I hated till after Crixus death this time) misleading the hot-headed Crixus, the frustration of the weary but charming Gannicus who could see the hypocrisy, the jealously of Agron. Their ill-treatment of the Romans, their worst sides coming out in the city then the desperation during the harder times, was intresting to watch. The pirates were fun while they lasted. I enjoyed the final stand of Crixus, how defeat was snatched from victory.
-Romances were, for once, not a strongpoint and the season lacked ladies that could dominate the screen or perhaps even just shone. Kore was very nice and her storyline well done but others? Naevia was pretty good but only near the end did her love for Crixus shine, the romance between Agron and Nasir lost a little something due to the jealousy though it had it's moments. LaetaxSparatcus was clearly going to happen but, despite being a fairly nice lady, it wasn't a particularly intresting romance. It was better when they opposed each other even though future romance was waving it's red flag. Sibyl seemed a nice girl but wasn't explored enough, I liked it when she was shy and puppy-dog towards Gannicus but it didn't really click when they got together. I have enjoyed Saxa in the two series, her devil-may-care attitude, willingness to have fun in life and her savagery in battle was a nice relief from the more serious stuff. A pity she was usually just there rather then properly developed. Her relationship with Gannicus reflected her attitude and was fun, again a nice contrast to the seriousness going on around them, until she gets dumped. It was a bit of a pity she then suddenly takes the relationship seriously but it makes for a great ending moment between the two.
The show overall? I probably won't remember it in five years but would watch a spin-off. Came a long long way from those awful first episodes and, perhaps nostalgia speaking, for me the best of it was in the erratic but spectacular first season. They got consistency in later seasons and they were still fun, I have enjoyed myself for the most part. Glad it was able to bow out the way it did.
