Episode: A Place in This World
Airdate: Feb. 3, 2012
Recap: Spartacus (Liam McIntyre) and Crixus (Manu Bennett) lead their men south in an effort to find Crixus’ true love Naevia. They attack the villa of a dominus who knows of her whereabouts and in the process, they free its slaves. Some show gratitude, but others feel as if they’ve been thrown into a life of uncertainty, which isn’t exactly far from the truth. Spartacus is attempting to do this rebellion thing the right way. There is no hierarchy in his version of liberty. We’ll see if his other sons of liberty via anarchy agree.
All of that proved interesting, but what was far more intriguing was getting into Oenomaus’ backstory. The former head of the Batiatus ludus is listless and seeking but one goal in life. Now battling all comers in a scummy battle pit (think cockfighting for humans), he’s inviting death in his life. To see how he gained his purpose in life, yet watch as he begins to lose it adds depth to the character and to Peter Mensah’s portrayal of him.
Where would the week be without our visit with Lucretia (Lucy Lawless)? Her motives and methods become clearer this week as Ashur, the back-stabbing weasel played with evil glee by Nick Tarabay returns.
New faces: It’s not a new one, but returning one as Ashur’s self-motivated malevolence is on full display this week. How he plans to enact whatever piece of mayhem he has in mind in proving to be intriguing.
What do we learn: Lucretia? Crazy? Yup, like a fox and she’s already in the henhouse. The lady is in full bitch mode as it appears that she’s going to get her revenge on Spartacus and Illithya (Viva Bianca) and her peckerwood hubby Glaber (Craig Porter). What else do we learn about that that blonde-haired minx? She may as well be singing The Divinyls ditty I Touch Myself because every time she flashes back to that little dalliance that Lucretia arranged in the first season, either her hand or a servant’s goes south of the border for a little self-love. Well, if the servant does it I guess it technically isn’t self-love, but you get the point.
WTF???:
Well those thoughts of the man-hunk that is Spartacus begs the question: are the writers engaging in a bit of foreshadowing? After all, Illithya is walking around with a baby bump the size of Texas and we didn’t exactly get to see her and Glaber bumping uglies much last season. In fact, she spent more time ogling and groping the men of Lucretia’s Ludus (sounds like a place of ill-repute, doesn’t it?) for much of season one.
The next question: Mira (Katrina Law) is looking for commitment. How the hell you get that in the middle of a rebellion I do not know. But a chat with a fellow freed slave girl begins to get her mind racing: does Spartacus love me? Really? Seriously? With all of the prime-time ladies marching about and casting a gaze his way, yet he remains monogamous, you’d think that would be a definite giveaway.
Blood and violence quotient: Gee, you have to wonder? It’s particularly gruesome this week – especially when we’re given Oenomaus’ history. The opening fight scene featuring him as a younger man is more brutal than anything seen before on the show. Of course you can’t take your eyes off it.
Nudity and sex quotient: Forgive me for being naïve, but I thought the amount of sex would lessen as the series developed. Ummm…nope. You gotta keep those adolescent boys happy as there’s plenty of copulation going on, most of it comes with a morality tale as the producers continue to show just how little regard men held for women in the time of ancient Rome. And the line of the week explains the reality that the women succumbed.
Line of the week: Freedom is not without cost. I pay with the only coin I have – as do you. – a freed slave girl to Mira as they discuss their respective sexual entanglements.
Rating: A-
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