En esta "precuela" veremos como la Casa de Batiatus y su esposa Lucrecia, ambicionan llevar a su Ludus (escuela de gladiadores) a la fama y la riqueza, gracias a su Campeón en la Arena Gannicus. En esta entrega nos adentramos en lo que acontece antes de la llegada de Espartaco a Capua, la ambición desmedida de los dueños del Ludus, y su falta de ética y escrupulos para conseguir sus fines, les hara llevar una existencia llena de excentricidades y traiciones, que hara peligrar tanto su posición social como sus vidas en esta época donde la vida de los gladiadores y de los esclavos estaba en manos de seres sin el menor atisbo de compasión y escrupulos. La magnifica interpretación de los actores que encarnan a los personajes de esta serie, da un nuevo enfoque a la vida real, tal y como debería haber sido en aquella época. EPISODE GUIDE DISC 1: S1, Ep1 21 Jan. 2011 Past Transgressions A pre-Spartacus prequel about life in the House of Batiatus. In the opener, a younger Batiatus is placed in command of his father's gladiator-training school, which leads him to use one of the most accomplished fighters to curry favor with a nobleman. Missio S1, Ep2 28 Jan. 2011 Missio A week has passed since he received his severe beating at the hands of Tullius' men and Batiatus has now recovered sufficiently to leave his bed. Tullius sends him a message to the effect that he acted hastily and offers a compromise. Batiatus is in no mood to compromise however and plans his own revenge. Quintillius Varis comes to Capua to select gladiators for his games and Gaia, who knows him, plots to have him come to Batiatus' house. Batiatus will seemingly go to any length to impress Varis but his blind enthusiasm does not sit well with the men. Doctore and ... DISC 2: Paterfamilias S1, Ep3 4 Feb. 2011 Paterfamilias Batiatus is pleased with himself having arranged for Gannicus to appear in the primus of Quintillius Varis' games. He is not however prepared for the return of his father Titus who arrives home to find his son cavorting with Gaia and Lecretia. He treats his son with disdain and has heard of the mess he's made of things with Tullius. He laughs when he hears that Gannicus will represent the house in the games and sets out to undo everything they young Batiatus has managed to arrange. Titus arranges a peace of sorts with Tullius and for several of their gladiators to ... Beneath the Mask S1, Ep4 11 Feb. 2011 Beneath the Mask The younger Batiatus is having more than just a bit of difficulty accepting his father's ongoing - and seemingly permanent - presence at home. The patriarch refuses to take on the powerful Tullius and continually tells his son to learn his place. When Gaia sees someone she had once met in Rome, she introduces him to Lucretia and he immediately comments on what he has heard about the pleasures available at her home. Gaia again sees an opportunity to make gains for the House of Batiatus but the elder Batiatus would never allow such revelry in their so they convince him ... DISC 3: Reckoning S1, Ep5 18 Feb. 2011 Reckoning Gaia's death strengthens Quintus Batiatus' resolve to get revenge against Tullius. The elder Batiatus invites Tullius to his home and is offered prime places in the forthcoming games, in return for Gannicus. In the arena, the elder Batiatus has decided to assess the skills of his gladiators, most of whom he is unfamiliar with, by having them fight one another. As for his father's ultimatum that he choose between his home and his wife, the younger Batiatus' attempts to gain time is not appreciated by Lucretia who believes she would have him leave. He convinces her ... The Bitter End S1, Ep6 25 Feb. 2011 The Bitter End Batiatus mourns the death of his father and blames Tullius for all that has befallen them. Gannicus pushes Batiatus to complete his sale to Tullius so that he may seek revenge for the House of Batiatus but Solonius counsels caution and a more sensible, if final, solution. Solonius protects his own position as well, however. Naevia replaces Melitta and Lucretia promises that no man will ever touch her as happened to Diona,who makes an unexpected return. The new arena is complete and the games begin. The gladiators of the House of Batiatus emerge triumphant with Crixus ...