Spartacus: The 5 Best And 5 Worst Villains

Starz’ Spartacus is a fantastic show, and this is due in part to some fantastic villains… but some didn’t help the show too much.

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Starz’ Spartacus is a thrilling and captivating watch for all sorts of reasons. This historical action-drama excels in its rich, often harsh portrayal of the life of a gladiator in ancient Rome. This sets the stage for a gripping tale of rebellion for Spartacus and his army.

One key element that truly brings this cinematic tale to life is its twisted, sinister villains. Amongst this aristocratic and brutal ancient society, there is certainly no shortage of them.

The show really succeeds in making us loathe and sometimes even fear these malicious or conniving foes, thanks to standout performances and memorable writing. Yet, there are some whose motives aren’t quite clear, or whose demeanor is so over-the-top that the believability falters.

With this list, we’ll tackle 5 examples of the greatest villains in the show, along with 5 of the worst.

10 Worst: Tiberius

The chaos surrounding our rebel hero reaches a fever pitch by the 3rd season, which naturally brings with it a host of new, even more sinister villains. Yet, the son of Marcus Crassus manages to be so spoiled and sociopathic that it’s tough to take him too seriously. Unlike many villains of the series, he seems to possess few, if any redeemable qualities which would add dimension to his character.

His insane outbursts and some particularly tough-to-watch scenes make Tiberius more aggravating and loathsome than intimidating.

9 Best: Cossutius

Though this Roman noble similarly lacks redeeming traits or any real depth, actor Jason Hood conveys such an authentic sleaziness with this character that you can’t help but appreciate how dynamically evil he is. Cossutius possesses a subtle, yet palpable persona of cringy smugness whenever this guy finds his way onto the screen.

His depraved sexual nature and sinister vibes genuinely make you feel unsettled every time he makes an appearance in Spartacus: Gods of the Arena, in particular.

8 Worst: Ashur

Don’t get us wrong – in some ways, Ashur makes for a particularly malicious and easy-to-hate villain, thanks to a great performance by Nick Tarabay. Yet, the showrunners apparently want to convey Ashur in such an underhanded, spineless manner that his motivations seem unclear and all over the place.

One moment he wishes to be an honorable gladiator, while the next he’s the right-hand mand of Batiatus, before eventually falling under Glaber’s rule. One moment he wishes to fit in with his fellow gladiators, and the next he conspires against some of them. He seems to want to be strong and influential as an individual, but constantly falls back to the servitude of other villains.

7 Best: Lucretia

The best villains are often those that we can hate from their malicious acts while also allowing us at least a shred of empathy. They can be sinister, but also hold some depth and come with motives that provide some added dimension. Batiatus’ deceptive, sly wife – played dynamically by Lucy Lawless – is a strong example of such a villain.

Lucretia conveys a warm side – as even has viewers feeling for her as Titus condemns her as being “lesser status” not worthy of his son. Yet, she’s also capable of cruel and despicable acts with her ability to manipulate and plot against those close to her. Her manipulation and luring of Crixus throughout season 1 serves as a prime example of this.

6 Worst: Legatus Glaber

In the early part of the series, this Roman commander definitely serves his function as the stern, ominous authority that Spartacus must oppose. Yet, he tends to be somewhat outdone in terms of his power and malicious ways in the form of Marcus Crassus.

Glaber’s series of questionable moves, manipulation by Ilithya, and apparent kryptonite in Spartacus makes it tough to take him too seriously – despite a great performance by Craig Parker. He comes off as a more typical Roman military officer, whose narrow focus and obsession with Spartacus leads to his downfall. These traits tend to make him more frustrating than intimidating as a villain.

5 Best: Ilithya

Like Lucretia, Ilithya thrives in weaving her web and achieving power from behind the scenes – being a woman in ancient Rome who’s unable to rule on the frontlines because of societal restrictions.

Her love for Glaber is only eclipsed by her ability to gain influence and wealth – a yearning so passionate that it comes back to bite the Legatus in multiple ways. She excels in her knack for putting on an authentically warm, likable demeanor while being capable of literally cutting throats with seemingly no remorse. She can also mentally torment with great efficiency. An example is her plot to have Spartacus’ best friend killed, and her damning Lucretia to the rebel attack and anguish to follow in season 1’s conclusion.

4 Worst: Vettius

One of the prequel season’s chief villains is Vettius, who, like Tiberius, gives a vibe of a smug and spoiled child more than an ominous bad guy. But while Tiberius at least had an aura of creepiness to him with his sociopathic ways, Vettius mostly falls flat. This is partly because of his more passive, nonchalant personality, along with his ineptitude compared to Solonius and Batiatus, who easily outwit him.

He tends to feel like a rushed fill-in rival to Batiatus before Solonius takes this mantle in the following season. He also spends much of the short season figuratively and literally under the shadow of the more prominent, and more depraved villain Tullius.

3 Best: Marcus Crassus

As we’ve somewhat touched on, this lead villain of Spartacus’ epic final season is akin to Glaber on steroids – and we’re not just talking physical build, but his cold, ominous demeanor and massive societal influence. Unlike Glaber, who seems to want to harm Spartacus even at his own expense, Crassus is a master plotter and loyal Roman leader who achieves his own ends while remaining a threat to our hero and his army.

This is the first real threat to the seemingly unstoppable rebel, being an astute military tactician who doesn’t underestimate Spartacus as many have. He’s really akin to a Roman mirror-image to Spartacus in a sense. These traits make him truly intimidating as a villain.

2 Worst: Solonius

It’s tough to really get a read on this major rival to Batiatus. In one breath, he seems to hold a tinge of morality and decency, while in the next, he’s trying to plot with Quintus or Ashur to gain prominence. He even tries to have Quintus killed, but after the plan is foiled, he mainly just sits on his thumbs while occasionally trying to lure his rival’s wife to his house.

Actor Gareth Williams certainly does a fine job conveying an arrogant, wealthy Roman elite that’s easy to dislike. Yet, he falls a bit flat as a character, thanks to questionable motives and a lack of foresight. For every smart move he makes, he seems to make two inept or passive ones.

1 Best: Quintus Batiatus

Though he doesn’t hold the power or wealth of Crassus, it’s tough to beat the memorable, intense performance by John Hannah, who makes this character come to life, even partially outshining Spartacus himself. He offers some of the most quote-worthy lines and enraged outbursts that are both unsettling and hilarious.

The character treads the line of likability and repulsiveness with his blend of empathetic circumstances and sinister ways. He’s truly a believable character with his clear motives and even somewhat humble ambitions of gaining glory for his family and his father’s Ludus. He even has a somewhat likable charm to him, while at the same time, being capable of unspeakable evils.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/spartacus-villains-best-worst/