Parents' Guide to

Spartacus: Blood and Sand

By Will Wade, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Gladiator drama is heavy on combat, graphic violence, sex.

TV Starz Drama 2010
Spartacus: Blood and Sand Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all
age 17+

Based on 17 parent reviews

Criticb
Criticb Adult
February 15, 2021
age 18+

great

for adults only

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Hawkmoon
Hawkmoon Adult
September 27, 2020
age 17+

Engaging plot and characters but a lot of sex

The first episode or two of Spartacus is not great, but it quickly develops into a great plot with characters that you get emotionally invested in. However, this show is definitely for mature teenagers and adults due to extreme violence and sex. The violence and sex are comparable to Game of Thrones. I believe it is a little excessive, but if you can get past that, this show is a lot of fun to watch.

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 17 parent reviews

What's the Story?

After deserting from the Roman army in a fruitless effort to defend his village, a warrior is sold into slavery and quickly becomes a gladiator champion. Renamed Spartacus (Andy Whitfield), he gains fame for his prowess with a sword while learning to navigate the treacherous waters of Roman society, where sex and wine flow freely, but deception and politics are always just beneath the surface. His manipulative new owner, Batiatus (John Hannah), and the master's even more conniving wife, Lucretia (Lucy Lawless), see Spartacus as a ticket to riches and status, while the gladiator has only one goal: to stay alive long enough to be reunited with his beloved wife, Sura (Erin Cummings).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (17):
Kids say (15):

SPARTACUS: BLOOD AND SAND is a 21st-century take on the classic gladiator tale, and the show's graphic sex and even more graphic combat scenes are probably closer to reality than the relatively tame films that popularized the genre decades ago. But historical accuracy isn't the goal -- this series is all soap opera with togas and swords. While Spartacus and his comrades battle for survival and glory, the Roman nobles fight just as viciously for the same prize, using words and deceit as their weapons.

The series owes a huge debt to 300, the hyper-violent retelling of the ancient battle of Thermopylae. That film set a new standard for its stylized battle sequences and slow-motion close-ups of swords meeting flesh and spurting blood; the frequent combat sequences here follow the same pattern. And then there's the sex -- lots of sex, as explicit as anything on premium cable stations' late-night schedules. This series definitely isn't for the young or the squeamish. But that doesn't mean older viewers might not find the over-the-top drama and abundant skin a guilty pleasure.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about fight scenes. How does this compare to the gladiator classics from decades past, and the more recent depictions of the period? Do you think the graphic violence goes too far?

  • Do you think movie and TV violence has ramped up recently? If so, why? And what does this say about the shifting standards of taste in this culture?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended tv lists

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate