While the lead rebel himself stands as one of the more memorable characters on Starz' Spartacus, his former lanista and antagonist Quintus Batiatus is another fan favorite. With his lofty ambitions, wisecracking quips, and amusing outbursts, this Roman entrepreneur brings ample entertainment to the series.
But, despite his depth and intriguing qualities, this driven villain does have his share of odd traits and questionable moments as he attempts to climb the ladder of power and influence amongst Capua's elite.
10 Recruiting Spartacus Despite His Distaste Of Thracians
Midway through Spartacus' prequel season, Quintus and Titus rekindle their relationship by picking out new gladiator recruits together. In a clear moment of foreshadowing; a Thracian slave is presented to the men. Batiatus scoffs at the idea, stating that they're "too hard to control" and have a knack for irritating the Gauls.
One can't help but wonder then, why he'd be so eager to secure the Thracian Spartacus, particularly when his current champion at the time, the Gaul Crixus, happens to be of an apparent rival and would risk clashing with him. Despite being a move to gain political standing and wealth, this would seem a risky investment, especially for a man who seems to have such a strong stance against recruiting a Thracian gladiator.
9 Trusting Ashur Over Barca, Leading To His Wrongful Execution
The prominent gladiator Barca meets his sudden end in the season one episode, "Delicate Things." Even without the context, it's tragic to see this once great fighter abruptly fall at the hands of his own Dominus. But, the way he gets here makes his departure all the more brutal, being quite literally stabbed in the back.
Ashur finds himself in trouble after losing a major bet put towards Crixus and Spartacus' defeat at the hands of the beast Theokoles. He then makes a typically underhanded move to deceive and maneuver his way into having this threat killed, rather than cough up the cash. Given Barca's unwavering loyalty and the clear conniving ways of Ashur, it's tough to believe that Batiatus would so readily slay Barca—one of his best gladiators—after naught but some hearsay from Ashur.
8 The Love-Hate Relationship With His Father
Despite missing the rebel hero himself, fans regard the prequel mini-season, Gods of the Arena, for being an interesting look into Quintus' rise, as well as serving as the introduction of his more humble father. Regardless, the prequel presents a rather odd dynamic between these two men, which seems to oscillate back and forth.
One moment they are palling around, while the next they seem to despise one another. Quintus seems to be hellbent on getting him to leave their estate and return to Sicily, while, at the same time, he yearns for his support and approval. It's an odd love-hate relationship that never quite stops wavering, even after his untimely death at the hands of Quintus' scorned wife.
7 His Insane Temper
Quintus is renowned for his hilarious outbursts of rage, which usually yields plenty of foul language and brutal insults. John Hannah's powerful, convincing delivery really brings the character to life and simply radiates raw fury during these moments. Early on, in Quintus' more humble beginnings, his mounting frustrations and anger seem to make sense contextually.
But, these outbursts tend to get a bit over-the-top and nonsensical as time goes on. After all, midway through season one, Quintus is essentially on cloud nine with his massive influx of wealth and possessing two of Capua's greatest gladiators. Things continue to go his way, but he still seems just as susceptible to his maniacal tantrums.
6 Why He's Dead Set On Earning The Favor Of Claudius Glaber
The relationship between Quintus and the Legatus Glaber is a complex and peculiar one. Both men are similarly prominent, arrogant, and ambitious, yet they clash with each other more often than not. These tensions are heightened further thanks to Spartacus' contentious history with his former commander-turned-antagonist.
With all this bad blood, it's hard to imagine why Batiatus would long for the financial support or "patronage" of this man, even to the point of blackmailing him by threatening to reveal a dark secret about his wife. Surely there must have been another option of equal-or-greater standing for Quintus to latch onto; one who didn't have the personal baggage and grudges that come with Glaber.
5 His Lofty Political Ambitions
Both Titus and Quintus make it clear that their family has a proud heritage of lanistas that extend at least a few generations. During much of the first season, Quintus raises the influence and wealth of his business to towering heights.
He's riding high with the new champion of Capua, Spartacus, and Crixus, who - despite sustaining a serious injury to Theokoles, is still of high standing. But, he makes an abrupt left turn late in the series, where he suddenly gets bored of managing gladiators. Given this prominent, comfortable position as a lanista and clear passion for the trade, it's odd that Quintus suddenly seeks to leave it all behind to be a politician.
4 Why He's So Eager To Be Rid Of Crixus
Given the circumstances surrounding Crixus—his injury and his sexual escapades with Lucretia—it's perhaps not a stretch that Quintus would want to be rid of him. Still, Batiatus is a practical and prideful lanista, and his bid to sell Crixus near the end of season one would seem to conflict with these traits. Why try to move the man who has only recently been crowned "Champion of Capua" and only really lost standing because of his wounds in the area? Wouldn't Quintus want to keep his ludus well-stocked with more great talent?
Quintus does eventually back down on this bid to sell him, only to foolishly pit his two best gladiators against each other in an exhibition just to gain political favor.
3 Reckless Lawlessness And Killing So Many Rivals
On the one hand, Batiatus can be a sly entrepreneur whose crafty maneuverings and wise investments bring wealth and high standing in Capua. On the other, he's an overly-ambitious outlaw and hothead who's not above beating his rivals to a pulp.
Given how much he clearly desires power and wealth, it's hard to fathom how Quintus can be so reckless in his crimes and strong-arming. He refuses to pay his debts, has major figures blackmailed and assassinated, and engages in brawls in public streets. Glaber even seems to be onto the rogue lanista when he returns to Capua.
2 Falling So Easily To Spartacus
Considering Batiatus' whole life seems to revolve around managing fighters, it's a bit bizarre to see the man fall so easily and swiftly to his own gladiator in the season one finale "Kill Them All."
Quintus manages naught but a few sword clashes before Spartacus' blade finds its mark. One would expect such a major lanista to be at least a bit more practiced with the sword. While he's clearly doomed by this point, it's odd to see him barely put up a fight.
1 Being Naive About His Wife's Plot To Kill His Father
During Gods of the Arena, Lucretia and Quintus hash out a plot to defy Titus after his unwelcomed return and coax him back to Sicily. This gives way to an apparent planned assassination by Quintus in the old arena, but he backs out at the last second.
Shortly thereafter, Lucretia decides to poison him, framing Quintus' rival Tullius, who had brought them the wine she poisoned. It seems like a smart diversion except for the fact that Quintus is clearly aware of his wife's desire to kill his father. With this in mind, it's hard to fathom how he could fall for Lucretia's deception here, as he swears vengeance against Tullius.
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January 23, 2021 at 04:30AM
