There are some spoilers in this article about this episode so if you're squeamish about those, turn away now.
For those who have seen the episode, what a ride huh? So much happened in the last 10 minutes! So let's get down to business.
We finally get to see Caesar reveal himself and literally stab Sparty in the back (who else shouted, 'et tu Brutus?' at that moment?). Crixus got overheated yet again by being the odd girl out of the sorority that makes up Sparty's inner circle. The past seemed to have been dug up in the episode with all the talk of being at the ludus again and that flashback Spartacus had while on the ship, not to mention Crixus' poke to Agron about Duro. And those are just the tip of the iceberg! The end is nearing friends and this episode set that up. Spartacus and Crixus will split ways, that is inevitable. But to our surprise, Crixus doesn't want to go his own way just yet.
But let's talk about what happened with Tiberius. We find he is living in squalor for the first time in his life and you know what? He likes it. The audience grows some sympathy for the boy as he punishes himself for killing Sabinus. But that is squashed when Kore, Crassus' lover and a slave, tries to comfort Tiberius. It is then that the boy realizes just what the woman means to his father. In a disgusting act of revenge, he decides to take what his father loves away just as his father did to him. But he wouldn't stoop to murder. Oh no, he's a raping kind of guy. He lets her know that despite his father's affections toward her, Kora is only a slave. Crassus is unaware of what is happening as he is dealing with the senate's fury about the failed attack on Spartacus and the lack of progress. But Crassus shows that he has no intention of underestimating Spartacus as others have done. In a strange way, he admires the rebel. The senate is disgusted at this but Crassus simply doesn't care. He will strike when the time is right.
'Blood Brothers' showed the cabin fever that the rebels have been going through the past few episodes. It's infected everyone, especially Crixus who is anxious to be in a battle. But instead of making amends, Spartacus takes to the water with Gannicus, Saxa and a few chosen others without telling anyone other than Agron, who is to keep the Romans safe. This incenses Crixus and he confronts Agron to demand why Spartacus left. Agron keeps his mouth shut and evades the anger boiling up despite being provoked when Crixus brings up his dead brother. But Crixus isn't his only problem; Nasir also demands a word as to why his lover is acting like a drama queen. Agron is scolded by Nasir when the former says he demanded Nasir to stay away from one of the pirates. Nasir lets it be known that his slave days are over and even though he loves Agron, he won't bow to anyone anymore.
But there are bigger problems in the camp besides lovers' quarrels: Caesar is stirring the boiling water, eager to bring the rebels to their end. He shows himself to Nemetes and we get to see just how pathetic the rebel man really was before he died. No loss there.
Spartacus has a plan to starve the Romans but first he has to fix the gap in his army that grows bigger by the second thanks to Crixus and Naevia. Luckily for him, he returns in time to hear Crixus trying to take over the army. As usual, Spartacus puts the brute in his place in the most embarrassing fashion. Naevia, for all her talk, is rendered speechless, hiding behind Crixus.
The Romans are released much to the dismay of the army and Crixus demands to know why. Spartacus finally fills him in on the plan and in a matter of five minutes, Crixus is humbled yet again when it is shown that no one but Agron knew about the plan and that was only to make sure the Romans weren't killed. Crixus=shame. Not even Gannicus knew until they were out on the water. Secrecy is vital to Spartacus' plan at this stage of the war and Crixus is nothing more than a base animal at the moment. Finally, Crixus understands what's happening and actually reacts pretty good after he learns that he was just a pawn in this episode. Spartacus didn't tell Crixus because he knew how the man would react, thus ensuring the released Romans would tell Crassus that the army is split. And the problem there is that is exactly what's happened so Spartacus desperately tries to get Crixus back on the same page as him.
Spartacus orders his camp to be moved out and in doing so, the writers give a wonderfully hilarious yet awkward moment between Gannicus and Sybil. Random, yes but a much needed laugh in an otherwise dark episode. While helping load everything, he also gets an apology from Naevia for Attius' death but not for bashing his head with a rock. She asks him if he would do the same if it were someone he loved and he laughs. Gannicus, with the best line of the season so far, tells her that she is truly a warrior now so the next time she lays a hand on him, he will treat her as one.
When Spartacus, Gannicus, and another rebel confront the pirates about a deal they had, something doesn't seem right. Their Sparty senses tingle and it is shown that the pirate crew has been replaced with Roman soldiers. The random rebel guy gets cut down pretty quick (honestly, they might as well be wearing red shirts), leaving the two men to fight for their lives. Viewers finally get to see the two former gladiators get back their badass skills by taking on a dozen men by themselves. Thinking an easy victory, Caesar attacks. Clearly, the man had never heard of the time when Spartacus beat the crap out six Roman soldiers at the same time in the ludus, or surviving his own execution, or Gannicus defeating a guy while blindfolded. And that brings us to when Caesar stabs Spartacus. But the Roman greatly underestimates the loyalty of the bond between gladiators and Gannicus gets his rematch. Caesar runs to open the gate with some men but Spartacus - not being a total idiot - had kept three of his best fighters behind to make sure nothing went wrong. Meanwhile, Crixus and his troops surprisingly comes to the rescue of his brothers and they all slaughter the soldiers. Remember folks, it's not quantity of time. It's quality. Caesar encounters Saxa, Agron, and a guy whose been in the show for like two seasons yet his name is rarely said. But he carries an axe and he is really good with it. Caesar's men are cut down like a pieces of butter - strong butter but butter nonetheless. That leaves Caesar and Agron to fight it out and either Caesar isn't as great of a fighter as we were led to believe or Agron has gotten really, really good. Viewers held their breath as the fight got intense between the two and then Axe man joined in. Caesar takes them on and almost dies. But alas, 'twas a monologue and a stayed hand that saved the villain. Agron's brief restraint is enough to let the Roman army beat down the wooden door. With a wicked smile, Caesar tells them to run.
With 'Blood Brothers', Spartacus' end comes faster and the fans are bracing themselves. Five down, five to go.
Comments