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The premiere of the third and final season of Starz’s flagship series got off to a strong but not completely victorious start Friday. The season debut of Spartacus: War Of The Damned pulled a 5.5 rating, the second-highest ever for a Starz series. It was bested only by the prequel Spartacus: God Of The Arena’s premiere January 21, 2011, which garnered a 6.3 rating. Previous Spartacus debuts Blood And Sand and Vengeance drew a 3.7 and a 4.7, respectively, from the network’s subscribers. The Season 3 show debuted Friday at 9 PM with 930,000 viewers, the 10 PM airing drew 469,000 and the 11 PM pulled in 443,000.
A breakout hit for the network, Spartacus first premiered in January 2010 with Blood And Sand. The Roman Republic-era series survived the loss of its star, Andy Whitfield, who died of cancer in 2011. Its second season, Spartacus: Vengeance, featuring Liam McIntyre in the title role, averaged more than 6 million weekly viewers.
Deadline's Dominic Patten - tip him here.
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Not my cup of tea, but why are they cancelling this?
Yeah, I don’t get it, It’s by far their best rated show, it has critical aclaim, and it can’t be that expensive.
Um!Why would you not think it’s expensive?
Probably because it’s really not that expensive to shoot. It’s shot in New Zealand using mostly unknown foreign actors, shot completely on green screen with digital backgrounds, sets, and effects.
I love these shows. I believe this show was canceled due to the price tag.
It’s probably being cancelled because the story of Spartacus isn’t long enough to warrant another season. They can only keep Spartacus and his men on the run for so long.
That is why. I read that this is exactly the reason several months ago.
Paying attention, HBO? Those numbers are what a successful series pulls in, not those anemic .87 and .57 of “Girls.”
Agreed. It baffles me how we continue to support low rated shows like “Girls.” Someone has to be paying for these low results.
Has anyone tried to watch this? The violence is beyond pornographic, just nauseating. I have no problem with violent programming but this really has crossed a line.
Aside from the special effects blood deluges, it is no more violent than a lot of other series that have appeared on cable.
Examples? Walking Dead is violent, but this is something worse, they are getting off on each kill, it’s sick.
You say potato, I say get off your high horse and have some fun-o.
Without Lucy Lawless and John Hannah to elevate the intrigue, this is a sex-and-bloodfest of ever-dire proportions. How is it everyone isn’t watching?
Spartacus was not cancelled, it was decided to end this season because they had no place else to go due to the real life story of Spartacus. It is well documented that Stars was not happy to see Spartacus go as it is huge for them not only on netowrk but also on Home Video where is also sells very well. They are currently looking into a spin-off series.
Completely right, Starz were pushing the producers to commit for atleast one additional season but the producers insisted that they follow the story of Sparticus and not become a never ending soap opera like many shows on tv.
It isn’t a bad thing for a show to have a set finite run, it forces the writers to push the story towards a end rather than keep trying to leave cliffhangers and hoping to come back next season to tie up some but not all loose ends.
I’m 15 and I watched this and had No problem with it.
A really good series. Yes it is violent and borderline pornographic when it comes to sex, but it’s a true depiction of that era. The show will be missed. Here’s hoping we do get a spinoff. Starz would be stupid not to.
That aint right bring spacrutas back bull s#t
The guy that makes this has made other history shows for HBO and all his shows only last a few years.
Spartacus is for me the most amazingly well produced and exciting TV Series I have ever seen in my life. Being a Martial Artists instructor, TV producer, creator of interactive TV content and technology – I just love to Watch those battle scenes – the Intriges, dangerous moments and sex scenes that makes it all Work so well.
It’s of course re-written with fantastic characters, and enhanced from the real story – but it’s good – it’s really good – no it’s just fantastic.
Wish that Starz would continue the story with Crassus that finally gets his ass kicked from 10.000 men against his 40.000. Grassus lost 30.000 men including himself and his son, 10.000 fled to safety. Opponents were more clever and lost only a few hundred men – and created the most terrible defeat ever in Roman history. Read more on Wikipedia here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Carrhae
I so wished Spartacus would continue – but understand the team to finish following the real story and have each episode hectic and energetic as always. Congratulations to the production team, writers and actors who made this possible. GRATITUDE!
Worlds #1 Spartacus fan
Ivan Solvason
PS! Produced/worked/invented live interactive TV in 43 countries over a 14 year period, so I actually do know a bit about Television production and creation – in case you Wonder why I believe Spartacus to the Worlds #1 best produced TV series ever. My show had over the years – about 400 million viewers (80% kids) and 1,2 million fans on Facebook (mostly Spanish).
They need to continue this series with the adventures of the young Caesar character in the show.
Greatest show on tv every episode amazing starz should be proud of what the have achieved simply outstanding
I love spartacus and the characters so much. They can continue and have a lot to go with. Ganagus , didn’t die hopefully Spartacus & Ganagus got those ladies pregnant , and agron, nisir can others can teach them how to fight for a great cause, did you all noticed Ganigus , visioned omnamaus standing in front of him with those bandages on his wrist, he came off the cross, so will Ganigus, or the romans should walk pass where Spartacus , is buried and dig him up noticed he’s still living & capture him then he escape some way , all i’m trying to say is please don’t end it so soon, also nivia can still be alive and be pregnant by crixsus . forgive me for spelling their names wrong i’m just upset it ended the way it did.