Spartacus: Blood and Sand - Mark of the Brotherhood, S01E08

Although Spartacus has been charged with being exaggerated to the point of ridiculousness in its violence, a point well demonstrated by the opening of Mark of the Brotherhood, every episode does an exceptional job of conveying a theme.

This episode was founded in motivation: what motivates these characters, why does it do so, and what is the result?

Crixus (Manu Bennett) is recovering slowly from his injuries. Though not yet ready for battle, he feels he must prove his worth to his dominus, Batiatus (John Hannah), causing his to take on Spartacus and be embarrassingly defeated because he took on the challenge before he was ready for it. His desire to prove himself capable had the opposite effect, and had it not been for a different motivation more important to Crixus than his own sense - that of protecting a gladiatorial brother from death at the hands of a slave - he would have been sold - the exact opposite of his desire.

Naevia (Lesley-Ann Brandt) also acts against her desires to see greater desires answered. She convinces Crixus to show their domina, Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), his sexual prowess so that she will convince her husband not to see him. Though she would rather her mistress lose interest in their shared lover, she would rather he share both beds than neither.

Segovax (Mike Edward) suffers the worst for giving into a motivation he held higher than others. Although he arrived at the ludus fully prepared to give himself over the gladiatorial training, far more dedicated to learning the ways than Spartacus (Andy Whitfield) was when he arrived, his desire for freedom was no less strong. When promised it by Ilithyia (Viva Bianca), he attacked Spartacus whom he had up till then held in great regard. What a waste of talent and potential, but what could he do. Regardless of the promise of freedom, his domina asked something of him.

I do not, however, understand his motivation for keeping silent despite torture as to what prompted him to attack the champion. It is a strange kind of honour that has a slave protect the master that got him in the scrape in the first place.

Even Varro (Jai Courtney) explored his motivations, as Spartacus finally learnt why his friend had returned to gambling and whores. Pained by his wife's betrayal, although it was brought on by his own, he turned from her and himself, and lost himself in his former vices. Good thing he has a friend like Spartacus, who knows the pain of having lost a wife, to keep him on course.

Only Spartacus has unclear motivations. As Crixus put it, he is playing the part of champion, and doing a good job of it too, but he does not understand or believe in what he is doing. When Crixus saved him from Segovax, he could not understand why his enemy would help him. To Crixus, it is quite simply, a brother should not let a brother be killed by a slave, even if that brother is hated when he is named. Spartacus clearly still has much to learn, but perhaps that is alright, as I'm not sure that we want him to conform.

And so, Spartacus: Blood and Sand continues to deliver more than what first appeared to be the whole of the show. Do you watch it for this depth, or is the sex and violence what brings you back again and again?