Parents' Guide to

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena

By Matt Springer, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 18+

Period drama is definition of gratuitous sex and violence.

TV Starz Drama 2011
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

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

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age 17+

Based on 3 parent reviews

ThePorgsHaveCome
ThePorgsHaveCome Adult
May 23, 2018
age 18+

Heavy themes for sure.

The amount of violence (and a little dramatised in ways) and the amount of sexual content (including nudity) seems to me like a dramatisation of things that went on back then. But not an over dramatisation. I’ve read of and heard of what went on in those times in the civilisations, and it would blow my mind to think of how films would be if they showed those days to their full extent. This makes the Gladiator film with Russel Crow much more tasteful compared to this. Lots of cutting each other up. (Shown) Lots of getting it on with women. (Shown) Lots of boobs in the open. Lots of cussing. (But that really fades in comparison to the rest) It’s too much for me, but I give it three stars because they aren’t doing a bad job at it, it’s just not for me. I cannot stomach this level of content, and I grow tired of skipping.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Yomay G.
Yomay G. Adult
January 10, 2017
age 18+

Soo good !!

The more I watch the more I got into the show.. I couldn't stop watching.. I absolutely loved it .. definitely recommend this to everyone..

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

A prequel to the series Spartacus: Blood and Sand, GODS OF THE ARENA focuses on Batiatus (John Hannah) and his previous champion of the arena, Gannicus (Dustin Clare). Batiatus is a hungry master of gladiators who is ready to overthrow his father and scheme his way into power and glory, with the help of wife Lucretia (Lucy Lawless).

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (6):

Spartacus: Gods of the Arena is a show truly more focused on depicting sex and violence than on telling anything close to a coherent story. It's impossible to get past it. Scenes packed with dialogue written in a faux-ancient speech pattern are sped through while the camera lingers longingly on blood spurting from eye sockets, blood gushing out of the stump of a recently-decapitated body, or blood pouring from a slit throat. Some company in Hollywood is making a mint selling these people fake blood.

You can sense the precedents for this kind of storytelling -- it's basically sort of 300: The Series, also building off the success of HBO's Rome and putting its own amped-up, brutal spin on the era. When the actors have a moment to speak and let the lines breathe, there's some gifted talent in the cast. But you walk away from Spartacus: Gods of the Arena thinking not of the plot or the characters, but of buckets and buckets of blood.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the impact of gratuitous violence on television. Does the violence in the show seem motivated by the story and characters? Why or why not? What would be lost if the violence was toned down?

  • Do you think the series offers an accurate depiction of its particular era of history? How would you find out?

TV Details

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