Spartacus: War of the Damned, Season 3 (2013)

 

The man known as Spartacus has led his army of freed slaves to several victories over the Roman forces sent to destroy them, but success brings its own risks. The Roman Republic (there's no emperor, yet) is a stubborn and implacable foe with vast resources, and with the colder months drawing in, Spartacus's growing force cannot continue to live off the land.

The former gladiator thus turns his attention to seizing a city: somewhere with the resources to sustain his people over the winter, and the stout walls to protect them from Roman armies.  Perhaps a port city, so they can buy resources from overseas ... or even escape Italy entirely.

Of course, there are plenty of challenges to his plans.  Not all of Spartacus's allies agree with his plans and methods, and disunity in the face of the Republic may well get them all killed.  And the Romans, of course, are not going to sit idle.  In the form of Marcus Crassus, they have finally appointed a capable general to the task of destroying the slave rebellion.  And Crassus, in turn, as secured the aid of ambitious young officer named Julius Caesar ...

War of the Damned is a fine ending to the blood-and-nudity-fest that has been this version of the Spartacus story.  The violence and sex remain very much a major component of the show, mind you: I feel like we have seen half of New Zealand naked by this point.  But if you can cope with that, and with all the swearing, there's a solid story being told under all the sleazy excess.  Hissable villains, flawed 'heroes', triumph and tragedy: they're all here.