2. Everything is Larger Than Life
In Blood and Sand, men are men, women are women, and Honour, Glory and Freedom are Very, Very Important to the characters. Its noisy and gaudy and it makes its spiritual forebear 300 look like a subtle character drama. People have big, dramatic, archetypal motivations, like Batiatus craving for power and respect, Crixus overwhelming desire to be a true champion, and Spartacus primal need to be reunited with his wife at all costs. Theres a real sense that an epic is unfolding, a story that echoes those of the lost ancient world it depicts, with mighty but fragile empires and more-than-human heroes doomed by fate to glorious, terrible ends. Lust and Love and Ambition are always Big Deals with high stakes attached, and even the simplest of decisions lead to amazing, frequently destructive consequences. Watching other shows immediately after a Spartacus binge feels weirdly underwhelming, as you find yourself wondering why the characters in even the tamest dramas dont settle their differences with a balletic slow-motion sword-fight to the death. Cool-down periods are needed after each episode, so you dont spend the weekend striding around roaring about being the Champion of Capua in real life. Put simply, you will never be bored watching this show. If you do find yourself bored, then youre probably jaded enough to make an ideal dinner guest at the House of Batiatus yourself.