Starz is starting a new series called Spartacus.
It starts tonight, and I have seen one preview from it.
If I was to guess, it will follow along the same basic format the Rome series followed:
There will be some very intelligent scheming women that will be the majority of the brains behind everything.
There will be men that not only are muscled, but driven (and controlled) by their violent and sexual drives that will be pawns to the women in one way of another.
There will be men that are weaker in some way, and although smarter than the men above, they will be weaselly and more frail and will ultimately lose out in the end.
There will be lots of both sex and violence.
This show will appeal to women far more than men.
When I was a boy I was told that James bond, with his “sex for dinner, murder for breakfast” stories was a “male fantasy.” Yet some of the most ardent fans of the movies that I ever knew were feminists. It was strange to realize that this was an inversion of what I had been taught. That James Bond was as much, if not more, a female fantasy than a male one.
This is not to say that men don’t like violent movies or movies with sex in them (although in this day of rampant porn, what does the titillation worth?), but there is a definite difference in the themes and direction the stories take within the violence.
The original Spartacus dealt with slaves revolting against a corrupt and unjust system, the brotherhood of the men that fought Rome. They fought to have a future for their wives and children.
The new Spartacus will focus on intrigue, betrayal and revenge with the women pulling the strings.
