This is a strange series even by the standards of modern TV.
The actions, the dress code, the values, all speak of a different age. As well they should, given that the intent is to recapture the age of Rome, an age which, it has been argued, has recently re-emerged in American culture.
And of course the series becomes that much more pointed by the tragedy which overcame its star shortly after filming stopped.
But even against this backdrop of astonishing things, I have been fascinated by the performance of John Hannah.
He usually plays weak and insignificant men. Look at the Mummy series, among other roles.
When he first appears in this series, we expect more of the same. But Hannah fools us. He shows us that weak bodies do not necessarily go hand in hand with weak men.
His scenes with Andy Whitfield have always been strong but here they reach a new level. I actually hit the rewind button more than once to note the ferocity on his face as he drops all pretence of equality, and man to man stuff, and finally tells Whitfield what he thinks of him.
Think about it -- this is an amazing character (he just killed Whitfield's wife in such a way that it would seem an accident, as well as butchered an entire Roman family, as well dispatched a gladiator whom the others think was released.) Yet with all that blood on his hands, he still manages an air of righteous indignation when Spartacus or anyone else dares get between him and his next profitable enterprise.
Amazing.
The actions, the dress code, the values, all speak of a different age. As well they should, given that the intent is to recapture the age of Rome, an age which, it has been argued, has recently re-emerged in American culture.
And of course the series becomes that much more pointed by the tragedy which overcame its star shortly after filming stopped.
But even against this backdrop of astonishing things, I have been fascinated by the performance of John Hannah.
He usually plays weak and insignificant men. Look at the Mummy series, among other roles.
When he first appears in this series, we expect more of the same. But Hannah fools us. He shows us that weak bodies do not necessarily go hand in hand with weak men.
His scenes with Andy Whitfield have always been strong but here they reach a new level. I actually hit the rewind button more than once to note the ferocity on his face as he drops all pretence of equality, and man to man stuff, and finally tells Whitfield what he thinks of him.
Think about it -- this is an amazing character (he just killed Whitfield's wife in such a way that it would seem an accident, as well as butchered an entire Roman family, as well dispatched a gladiator whom the others think was released.) Yet with all that blood on his hands, he still manages an air of righteous indignation when Spartacus or anyone else dares get between him and his next profitable enterprise.
Amazing.