Spartacus: Gods of the Arena began last Friday, and this show is the prequel to Spartacus: Blood and Sand.  We are introduced to Gannicus, a Celtic warrior is currently the lead dog in the ludus. Gannicus has bad habits — mostly wine and women — the night before the scheduled fight for Batiatus. He is not the model gladiator besides the fighting.

The slave turned gladiator Crixus and slave turned traitor Ashur are both introduced in this episode.  Crixus and Ashur are currently freshmen in the gladiator training and are treated as such by the likes of Gannicus and Barca.  Barca has demonstrated his homosexuality in this episode by kissing a fellow warrior of the ring. Unfortunately, Oenomaus, played by Peter Mensah, has already fought Theocles and has suffered his injuries already.  That would’ve been a great fight scene with him and his fellow gladiators battling Theocles. Perhaps a flashback episode maybe…

Aside from Gannicus, Batiatus has an ally currently in Solonius against the house of Vettius.  Both are attempting to bid for their first showing in the new arena that is being built in Capua.  Unfortunately, Batiatus does not want to sell Gannicus to Tullius, the minister of Capua essentially, after Batiatus bought Crixus from Vettius and himself.  It did not end well for Batiatus as a result. Now Batiatus is stuck between a rock and a boulder between choosing to sell Gannicus or not.  Unfortunately, the shadow of his father looms in Gannicus…

The counterpart to Lucretia is introduced as well.  Her name is Gaia, a stunning redhead played by Jaime Murray.  The lesbian scene performed by both was amazing, after they both took opium.

This episode has demonstrated all that is good regarding this series so far — blood and sex, which wasn’t in short supply in this particular episode.  The downside so far is that most of the fighting has been in claustrophic “arenas” much like the Pit in Spartacus: Blood and Sand. Perhaps once the arena is built the fighting will get more intense.   Overall, a great start for the prequel…