With some colder weather dominating the weekends and having a little more time to curl up and binge the odd series on streaming, I was reminded of this one and gave it another watch. If you are interested in things about the period of the Roman empire before and during the slave rebellion, the age of gladiatorial combat, and a liberal mix of R rated debauchery, this series is really good. Seasons are available on Apple iTunes store and through Starz.

Season 1 - Spartacus: Blood and Sand

An introduction about how Spartacus came to be a slave and how he came to be one of the champions on the House of Batiatus in Capua.

Prequel Season - Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (Actually shot as a prequel season, since the leading actor in season 1, Andy Whitfield, passed away after season 1 shooting due to an aggressive cancer. A real tragedy and a real loss to the acting community).

Season 2 - Spartacus: Vengeance

A dramatization of events leading up to the slave rebellion.

Season 3 - Spartacus: War of the Damned

The progress of the slave rebellion, led by Spartacus and Crixus, as they are relentlessly pursued by the Empire.

If you can look beyond (or if it's appealing, directly at) the gratuitous nudity, sexuality and violence in the series and chalk it up to a portrayal of a time of general moral decay in Roman history, it is a great series.

The acting is on-point, the script and the language beautiful, the actors and actresses are stunning, and the twists and turns of the plot as Romans and slaves alike make plans for revenge, political power and wealth against their adversaries, are heart stopping. Full of triumphs and tragedies, and a lot of action.