5 Reasons Why Spartacus Is One Of The Most Awesome Shows On Television

Enthusiastic gushing over a personal favourite TV show, breaking down its appeal.

By Peter Shelton /

It€™s totally understandable that Spartacus: Blood and Sand isn't going to be to everybody€™s taste. The show has a certain reputation for lurid excess and deliberate provocation, a reputation that is, in fact, totally deserved. You don€™t have to a delicate flower to be turned off by the sensory assault of creative profanity, sensuous writhing and messy mutilation. But that doesn't mean that there€™s no reason to tune in apart from some lazy titillation and a cheap thrill. Spartacus is skilfully-executed, envelope-pushing television that plunders every Classics-themed pop cultural hit of the last decade (along with the mandatory nods to its celebrated cinematic predecessor) and re-forges their most potent plots, themes and visual gimmicks into a bronzed and bloodied whole. It€™s a rollicking blood-and-thunder saga that seizes your attention in a vice-like grip of awe, horror and exhilaration. Trying to unpack the show€™s awesomeness is a bit like trying to dissect a ravenous tiger while it€™s still alive, but it doesn't hurt to try€ Internet! Shall we begin?