So, here we have it, folks. The last episode ever of Spartacus.

My tears have yet to be dried upon my cheeks as I’m writing this recap. The episode was a great way to end a beautiful journey and a great show. For those who know the history of Spartacus will know how this episode will end. Yes, the Third Servile War was real and so was Spartacus.

If you have not watched the episode, please do not read any further than this line because of major spoilers.

The episode began with screams, blood and sword-fighting in Rome and the gladiators all saying: “I am Spartacus!”, namely Gannicus, Lugo, Nasir, some dude I don’t know and Spartacus himself. It’s a strategy that stunned Crassus and Caesar as the Rebel Army won every land they went into. It certainly confused the Roman Army. But Crassus is determined to defeat Spartacus.

Back in the Rebel Army camp, they were getting ready for the final battle. Agron spoke of his decision to help Spartacus. Spartacus handed him a sword to grip but it fell. Damn you, Caesar! Damn you! Spartacus then gave Agron orders to lead the other slaves to the mountains. It’s like life was sucked out him as Agron walked away. Gannicus said to Spartacus: “The man is more dead than living.”

Gannicus went on to say how Agron would risk his life for Spartacus’ cause. Spartacus questioned Gannicus why it’s not his cause as well. Gannicus replied how it mattered more to him that others more deserving shall live as he looked to Sibyl. Spartacus then let him leave to embrace and spend time with Sibyl before they left for the final battle with Rome. Naevia looked on and Spartacus promised to return favour to Rome.

In the Nagron tent, Nasir showed Agron the daggershield he made for Agron. Awww… The red snake on the shield is very meaningful later on the episode I swear. Agron told Nasir he couldn’t flee to the mountains with the others. His place was on the battlefield. And Nasir replied that his place was forever to be by Agron’s side. They embraced and cried thinking it might be their last few days on earth and I cried because it was beautiful. It was sweet how Agron kissed into Nasir’s hair.

We move on to the only sex scene in the episode. The last time Gannicus and Sibyl will ever be together. Sibyl wanted Gannicus to leave with her but Gannicus had to stay so she could be free. I am surprised to say this but that was sweet.

In the Roman Army camp, Crassus was having a sword fight with two of his soldiers to prepare himself when he faced Spartacus. Crassus, two of your soldiers does not equal one Spartacus. He is the bringer of rain. Kore was sent to Crassus’ camp  and saw the marble of Tiberius’ face. Creepy! Crassus asked Kore whether she saw the man who killed Tiberius. She replied the same line that Caesar told Crassus. As Crassus left for battle, Kore asked for his forgiveness but he walked away. I wonder what will happen to her if the truth was revealed and since this is the final episode ever, it would probably be revealed.

Back in the Rebel camp, Spartacus was helping Laeta to prepare as they parted ways – Spartacus to lead his army to distract Pompey from the other slaves’ freedom. Before Spartacus began his speech before the camp separated, Agron and Nasir broke away from the crowd. Agron told Spartacus he will not leave for the mountains and instead will fight alongside Spartacus. Spartacus thought he couldn’t fight but Nasir replied that he “yet found his way, forged by loving hands”. Cue Siti crying some more. Spartacus told Agron that he had witnessed so many of his brothers fall but Agron was the one who still stood by his side and he’s honored that Agron will be by his side for the final battle. BROMANCE LIVES ON!

Naevia then announced that they are ready for journey. So Spartacus began his speech with the admission that many of them will fall but that will help the rest of them live as a free man and woman. The woman who just gave birth moved forward and thanked Spartacus, which led to an onslaught of gratitudes and blessings from the rest of the slaves. It was one of the most moving gestures in this episode. And it is also symbolic of the rest of us who have been in this journey with Spartacus – our gratitude. Castus came in with news of Crassus’ army. Laeta prayed for Spartacus’ life and they shared their last kiss.

And the final battle begins…

A Roman soldier came forward with news from Crassus who seek a meeting with Spartacus. Spartacus came with his generals – Naevia, Gannicus, Nasir, Agron and Castus. Crassus and Spartacus gave away their swords and told their generals to leave. We then found out the reason for Crassus’ meeting – to find out who killed his son. Spartacus revealed that it was a woman who was hurt by her master  They came to a mutual agreement that there is no justice in this world and shook hands.

Back in the Roman camp, Crassus seek the truth from Caesar but Caesar still covered Kore up but Crassus had figured out that it would be Kore. Kore then confessed to Crassus that it was her. Crassus asked for her reason but Caesar helped her out and told Crassus that Tiberius raped her. Crassus asked why she didn’t come to him. She told him that she tried but figured he wouldn’t listen to her. Crassus then smashed the marble face of his son in anger. Crassus then asked for her forgiveness. I guess he really did love her.

In the rebel camp, Spartacus was sitting at his desk strategizing. Spartacus told Gannicus about his wife who told him that he would not love any other woman but her. He told him how he sees Sura in all the people that was leaving for the mountain. He then revealed to Gannicus what he wanted him to do – the impossible.

The next day, as they were lining up, Spartacus saw Agron’s daggershield and was reminded of Sura’s prophecy – he would die in front of a red snake. Or something like that. Told you, that red snake on Agron’s daggershield means something.

Spartacus began his speech to motivate his army. As the Roman army released their fiery catapults, Spartacus took that as a cue and led his army to attack. They ran forward and stopped somewhere as the Roman army too went forward. This is when Spartacus proved to be one hell of a genius. As the Roman army ran towards them to attack, they fell into a pit of death. Spartacus then commanded the archers and one by one, the Roman soldiers fell. Roman army then went into defensive maneuver but Spartacus went and surprised them with a freaking bridge appearing out of nowhere like some kind of wizardry. Then it truly began as the Rebel army went forward and kill them all – or as much as they could. Crassus then commanded his army to rain fiery catapults and daggers and kill his own soldiers. The first of our fave characters to die is Lugo. His last line before he dies was probably epic: “Fuck your mothers”. RiP Lugo.

The Roman army was again stunned by Spartacus’ tactic when Gannicus appeared from behind the Roman army with Saxa and the rest. Saxa then went and used the Roman’s daggers against Roman themselves.

Back to the frontline, Castus was the next to fall. As much as I don’t like the guy for his creepiness and refusal to leave Nasir alone, his death is sad. He died in Nasir’s arms and said something I couldn’t understand as Agron looked on. Nasir was pretty damn furious and Agron too and went to kill more Romans. They were both then instructed by Spartacus to not let the Romans close on them while Naevia assisted Gannicus, separating the frontliners. Crassus approached Spartacus on horseback but was easily brought down by the former gladiator. Crassus was then led away by his generals to safety. Agron and Nasir helped to distract the Roman army while Spartacus silently followed Crassus.

At the back line with Gannicus, he, Saxa and others basically burned the Roman line that was approaching them. Caesar then came upon Gannicus and went into one-on-one battle with him.

Crassus meanwhile wanted to go back to fight Spartacus but his general stopped him. Not even a minute passed when Spartacus did appear before them and killed one general after the other to get to Crassus but he was stabbed on the back by one leaving him weak by the time he went into combat with Crassus.

Meanwhile, the next fave character to leave us is Saxa. As she lay dying in Gannicus’ arms, she said: “I again find myself in your arms.” Awww… Saxa did truly love Gannicus. And after Saxa, it was Naevia who was brought down by Caesar himself.  RIP warrioresses. Gannicus who saw the fall of Naevia and Saxa was extremely angry by this time and went on to kill more Romans as many as he could until they closed in on him and Caesar punched him out. I was expecting Crixus to appear as a hallucination when Naevia fell but that didn’t happen.

Back to the combat between Spartacus and Crassus, Spartacus looked like he was about to win the one-on-one battle as memories of Sura, Mira and Varro appear in his mind. Spartacus was about to kill Crassus when Crassus’ soldiers speared Spartacus from the back, three times might I add to bring down Spartacus. Crassus was about to kill Spartacus once and for all when Agron came by with his horse and pushed Crassus off. Nasir and two others were close behind and killed the three Roman soldiers and came to Spartacus’ aid. Agron and Nasir led him away from the battlefield as he looked back on the battle that was going on below.

Caesar came to Crassus’ aid and was furious that Spartacus was not to be found up on the hill. Crassus then commanded all slaves that turned against their masters to be crucified. We then see Gannicus being crucified, which is still a horrific thing to watch, to be honest, with the screams and all. And Gannicus was not the only one. Kore was up there too. What the hell, Crassus? I thought you love her! The soldiers then announced Pompey’s arrival who told him that he defeated Spartacus and his rebel army, which was not true. Oh wow, I don’t know who I hate more here, Pompey or Crassus.

Gannicus, meanwhile, hallucinated and saw Oenomaus and having his name chanted in the arena. RIP God of the Arena.

Agron and Nasir managed to bring Spartacus’ slowly weakening body back to the mountains where Laeta and other slaves were waiting for him as she promised him. Many lives were lost in the mountains when Pompey set upon them before Agron, Nasir and Spartacus arrived. Laeta suggested they leave before the Roman army came upon them again. As Nasir and Agron were about to carry Spartacus, he refused to follow as he knew he was about to die anyway. Laeta called out his name, Spartacus, but it was not his name and he would finally hear his real name from Sura once more in greeting. Agron was crying by his side when Spartacus said there was no need to cry as he died as a free man. By this time, I was just all out crying. Agron was struggling to hold back his tears. As Spartacus lay dying, the bringer of rain, well, brought rain and died as the rain fell. This is so poignant and beautiful. As Agron closed the eyes of his brother, he said: “One day, Rome shall fade and crumble, yet you shall always be remembered in the hearts of all who yearned for freedom.” and kissed his brother goodbye. Agron has now lost two brothers.

 

Agron, Nasir and the other slaves then moved on to their next journey to freedom after they laid Spartacus to rest, Agron leaving his daggershield behind.

And that’s the end of the whole series with a credit that reminds you of every character on the show that you love and hate. At the very end of the credits, you see Andy Whitfield saying the famed line: “I am Spartacus”. May you rest in peace, Andy Whitfield.

Some might ask why this episode was named Victory when many lives were lost. But you have to remember that it is a victory because many slaves were now living as free men and women. Some might also be angry that Agron and Nasir are the only couple on the show that were alive. But remember, historically, there were no Agron and Nasir in Spartacus’ army. Steven DeKnight created these characters for the purpose of this series. Yes, Saxa is possibly also fictional and Naevia as well. But he chose to give life still for Agron and Nasir and it is poignant that he does so because in America, there is still discussion on legalizing gay marriage and it is so in-your-face that the only couple and gay couple at that were still alive by the end of the series.

Enough of that, however. I would like to thank the creator, the cast and crew for giving us this wonderful journey. It was pretty awesome and will be one of my favourite shows of all time.

Gratitude.