Spartacus is an American historical drama television series created by Steven S. DeKnight that premiered on Starz on January 22, 2010, and concluded its extended run on February 6, 2026. The series was inspired by a historical Thracian gladiator who from 73 to 71 BC led a major slave uprising against the Roman Republic departing from Capua and came to be known as Spartacus. Executive producers DeKnight and Robert Tapert focused on structuring the events of Spartacus’ obscure early life leading up to the beginning of historical records.
The series has a somewhat complicated viewing order due to the inclusion of motion comics, novels, a prequel and spin-off seasons, which I’ll cover as we go. Each season of the series came to have its own title: “Blood and Sand”, “Gods of the Arena”, “Vengeance”, “War of the Damned” and “House of Ashur”. But initially, the series was just known as “Spartacus: Blood and Sand”.
Every episode of every season features LGBTQ+ characters (even if not apparent at first) and the series was known for its graphic violence and nudity, often feature male frontal nudity, and yet, charmingly, the series had a devoted fan base of seemingly hetersexual men, which I found refreshing.
Spartacus: Blood and Sand (Jan 22 – April 23, 2010)
01 S01E01 The Red Serpent
02 Motion Comic S01E01 Upon the Sands of Vengeance
The web comics are narrated by Arkadios (also known amongst fans as the Red Serpent Gladiator), whom Spartacus killed in S01E01 “The Red Serpent”. The first installment gives the character a backstory while also animating his death from “The Red Serpent”, placing “Upon the Sands of Vengeance” between Blood and Sand S01E01 “The Red Serpent” and S01E02 “Sacramentum Gladiatorum”.
03 S01E02 Sacramentum Gladiatorum
04 Motion Comic S01E02 Shadows of the Jackal
Set during the events of S01E02 “Sacramentum Gladiatorum”. The now deceased Arkadios continues to narrate the story, believing that when Spartacus faces Crixus that Spartacus will be defeated and that Arkadios will be freed from the Earth with his death. We see how Crixus became the Champion of Capua. Barca is mentioned by name and it is said that Oenomaus once faced the shadow of death (meaning Theokoles) and lived to speak about it.
05 Motion Comic S01E03 The Beast of Carthage
Arkadios continues to narrate the series. This installment gives us the backstory of Barca, including the fact that as a child he had a friend and they played with birds, which mirrors Barca caring for a bird with Pietros in the upcoming S01E03 “Legends”.
06 S01E03 Legends
07 Motion Comic S01E04 The Shadow of Death
The final motion comic depicts scenes from S01E03 “Legends”, giving the backstory for Oenomaus and Theokoles. Arkadios believes that Spartacus will soon cross paths with Theokoles and that Arkadios will have his revenge when Spartacus is killed.
08 S01E04 The Thing in the Pit
09 S01E05 Shadow Games
10 Novel #01 Swords and Ashes by J.M. Clements
This story can only take place between S01E05 “Shadow Games” & S01E06 “Delicate Things”.
11 S01E06 Delicate Things
12 S01E07 Great and Unfortunate Things
13 S01E08 Mark of the Brotherhood
14 Novel #02 Morituri by Mark Morris
The story in this final novel can only take place between S01E08 “Mark of the Brotherhood” & S01E09 “Whore”.
15 S01E09 Whore
16 S01E10 Party Favors
17 S01E11 Old Wounds
18 S01E12 Revelations
19 S01E13 Kill Them All
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena (Jan 21 – Feb 25, 2011)
This season, often listed as Season 0, or something wholly separate, is mainly a prequel to “Blood and Sand”, but it begins with the ending of that season, so it should be watched after Season 1, or it will spoil the first season finale. Additionally, this season sets up previously unknown characters who return in Season 3.
20 S02E01 Past Transgressions
21 S02E02 Missio
22 S02E03 Paterfamilias
23 S02E04 Beneath the Mask
24 S02E05 Reckoning
25 S02E06 The Bitter End
Spartacus: Vengeance (Jan 27 – March 30, 2012)
26 S03E01 Fugitivus
27 S03E02 A Place in This World
28 S03E03 The Greater Good
29 S03E04 Empty Hands
30 S03E05 Libertus
31 S03E06 Chosen Path
32 S03E07 Sacramentum
33 S03E08 Balance
34 S03E09 Monsters
35 S03E10 Wrath of the Gods
Spartacus: War of the Damned (Jan 25 – April 12, 2013)
36 S04E01 Enemies of Rome
37 S04E02 Wolves at the Gate
38 S04E03 Men of Honor
39 S04E04 Decimation
40 S04E05 Blood Brothers
41 S04E06 Spoils of War
42 S04E07 Mors Indecepta
43 S04E08 Separate Paths
44 S04E09 The Dead and the Dying
45 S04E10 Victory (original series finale)
Spartacus: House of Ashure (Dec 5, 2025 – Feb 6, 2026)
This series reboot was intended to launch a multi-season arc but was cancelled after a single season. I’ve yet to see the ending, so I’m not sure how it stands up, but it’s on the list of things I hope to finish someday.
46 S05E01 Dominus
47 S05E02 Forsaken
48 S05E03 Unworthy
49 S05E04 Blood and Bone
50 S05E05 Goddess of Death
51 S05E06 Empty Things
52 S05E07 Deepest Wound
53 S05E08 Horizons
54 S05E09 Those Who Remain
55 S05E10 Hail Caesar (series finale)