Get ready to hear "I am Spartacus!" one last time.
It has only been three years since Spartacus splashed its bloody way across Starz, and Friday's epic series finale (9/8c) will conclude the legendary rebel leader's quest to free the slaves of Ancient Rome. And although history spoils the ultimate outcome, it is how each character has lived — and in some cases, died — that is the key to the show's appeal.
Spartacus' Manu Bennett on Crixus' downfall
Death is a complex thing on the series. Although there's no denying that it can be gloriously gory and over-the-top, at the same time, it is closely tied to the underlying theme of freedom. Slavery or death? That's the choice that masters force upon their slaves sent into the gladiators' arena and on the flip side, the choice fugitives make when they escape to join Spartacus.
Who will live? Who will die? Who will send men to their deaths? Check out this preview of the final Spartacus: War of the Damned and then continue reading for the cast's thoughts on killing or being killed on the series:
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With Spartacus' latest episode comes a sense of dread because that means there's only one episode left before the end.
[Warning: The following contains spoilers from the penultimate episode of Spartacus: War of the Damned. You've been warned!]
Spartacus' Manu Bennett on Crixus' downfall
On Friday's Spartacus, the rebels celebrated quite a few triumphs, which was swell for them since, of course, history dictates a huge defeat on the horizon. Enjoy it while you can!
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Who needs leaders anyway?
On Friday's Spartacus: War of the Damned, both Spartacus (Liam McIntyre) and Marcus Crassus (Simon Merrells) may as well have been missing for all the heed their underlings paid them. Although that may seem like an oversimplification of the situation, wartime is when obedience to the leadership hierarchy is crucial, lest chaos rule.
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He's finally got cred. In Season 1 of the Starz hit Spartacus, the titular hero rallied his fellow slaves and led a gut-splattering revolt against his oppressive master. By Season 2, this band of rebels had grown so strong that they brought down an entire coliseum full of Romans, leaving mass casualties and a mountain of rubble. Still, Spartacus was nothing more than a local problem, a mere blip on the government's radar. That changes wildly when the swords-and-skin series returns for its final season, Spartacus: War of the Damned.
"We jump ahead several months, to a point in the story where Spartacus is not just winning against the Roman Republic — he's winning big," says Liam McIntyre, who inherited the lead role originated by the late Andy Whitfield. "Spartacus now has an army of thousands — there are historical accounts that claim it was upward of 120,000 — and they have some of Rome's biggest military leaders on the run. There's no choice but to take him seriously now. It's time to call in the top guns."
That would be Marcus Crassus ...
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Spartacus: War of the Damned may be the series' swan song, but first the characters will have a chance to sing a different tune — literally.
At the red carpet premiere for Spartacus, which kicks off Friday at 9/8c on Starz, executive producer Steven S. DeKnight promised that "My C--- Rages On," the fictional bawdy song popularized on the series, will be heard again. "We could not have a season without 'My C--- Rages On,'" he told TVGuide.com. "So listen for it. It'll pop up somewhere."
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