With only nine days left before the highly anticipated premiere of Spartacus: Vengeance, we are happy to bring you another interview (click here to read our chat with creator Steven DeKnight) with members of the fantastic cast! This week I spoke to Liam McIntyre, Lucy Lawless, Viva Bianca, and Peter Mensah about the action-packed second season and all the drama that comes with it.
When we left Spartacus in season one, he finds a potential love interest in Mira (played by the beautiful Katrina Law). I asked Liam whether or not there was potentially a "love" growing between Spartacus and Mira this season, and whether or not that was even possible after all the pain he suffered after the loss of his wife.
"Who doesn't need love deep down? That is very true of everybody. That was a great thing to get to play with all year because in season 1 Sura said you will never love another person and thats kind of like a truism for Spartacus' existence. So he now has the problem, which is the real problem for everybody who falls under those horrible circumstances, can you ever love again?
I think Spartacus certainly wants to and he's going to try but I think it’s a very difficult thing for him to try.…not even move on but move into any relationship.
It's a constant struggle throughout the season."
I know a lot of people see this show and automatically think about the sex and violence that takes place, but what stands out to me the most is the relationships between the characters. One of my favorite pairings is that of Spartacus and Crixus (Manu Bennett).
At first they loathed each other but then they teamed up and used their mutual hatred for the House of Batiatus to bring about its demise! When season two premieres, they are each leaders of their own rebel groups who are fighting against the Romans. You learn quickly that, very much like brothers, Crixus and Spartacus of each others backs.
"It's one of the greatest parts of the season, Liam said. All the big dogs on campus, I guess all the alpha males of the ludus have a very difficult journey even just trying to get along because of the nature of who they are. So with Crixus and Spartacus there is a desire to work together but it dovetails and splits apart throughout the season and that’s true about other characters that appear in the rebel camp that are very powerful characters.
Part of the battle that Spartacus has is to A) want to lead them and B) find a way to do that and actually unify people. Until this day I still don't understand how one man managed to unify so many different cultures and creeds into one cause. I don't know if its ever been done before or since.”
Speaking of relationships, there is the also the odd combo of Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) and Ilithyia (Viva Bianca) who after all that has happened you would imagine have nothing left to say to each other. But due to circumstances far bigger than either of them, they must unite as one.
I asked Lucy whether or not her character finds out about Ilithyia's bad intentions?
"Or does she find out mine? I don’t want to give you too much, but needless to say Lucretia and Ilithyia continue to have a very forged relationship. Which is Lucretia has worked very hard to make Ilithyia care about her again or at least need her because Ilithyia just wants her dead."
Very early on in the season we learn that Ilithyia is with child and I wondered if this would make Lucretia even more crazy after the loss of her child.
"Lucretia's lost everything she's even lost her marbles so that is the least of her worries.”
Viva also gave me a bit of insight into the relationship between her character and Lucretia.
"With regards to Ilithyia and Lucretia, what's so interesting in season 2 is that because of the circumstances in which they've both landed they are forced into a situation of becoming a lot closer than they even were in season 1 which means the potential for drama and the unravelling of relationship revelation is so much more interesting.
So really there is a lot in store for this female relationship."
Don’t quote me you guys but I have a feeling that things might get a little romantic between these two girls! Lucy hinted that "love" might find her character again and with all the hints provided it seems that with Ilithyia in the situation she finds herself she might need some attention and affection since her husband isn’t really providing much.
But the big question of the season is (ok one of the big questions!) who is Ilithyia's baby daddy?!
"That is why you have to watch Spartacus: Vengeance! That is the big question on everyones lips, Viva said.
Lucy Lawless: Lucretia with a turkey baster!
(laughs)
Viva: "Thats the mystery, but all will be revealed eventually"
Finally, the fabulous Peter Mensah spoke a bit about the feelings that his character Oenemaus is going through at the start of Spartacus: Vengeance. We get to see some snippets of his early days in the House of Batiatus and how he came to be Doctore.
I felt like his character was feeling a bit conflicted or embarrassed that he had gone against the very people who gave him position but Peter explained what was really going on in his mind.
"I think actually it wasn't so much embarrassment at aiding the rebels as that he was caught between making the right decision at a set point in time which led him into a no win situation.
He knew what was going on in at the House of Batiatus ultimately was wrong so in the moment he assisted and did what he thought was the right thing and it kind of led him in to a no mans land.
Then the question becomes if you have nowhere to go what do you do with your life? And I think that is the biggest question he faces as the season starts. Not having an affiliation to anyone in particular..not necessarily believing in the cause, if there actually was one, he has to figure out what to do with his life.
So this season is a journey that he undergoes to understand and find a place in the world."
Next week I will be chatting with the beautiful Katrina Law, who plays Spartacus' love interest this season. She is getting some nice camera time with our boy Liam, so stay tuned for the juicy details.