Spartacus - every year this panel gets better and better

Every year the Spartacus panel manages to be more fun, and more entertaining than the year before. They pull of this marvelous feat while not only tempting you with what lays ahead on their show, but also taking moments to pay tribute to Andy Whitfield who played Spartacus in their first season before dying of cancer. Through their support of their friends memory, and in the case of Liam McIntyre the memory of the man whose role he came to fill, they show a gladiators strength and committment, and keep the panel rolling forward, letting those be moments of courage and might, not something that bogs them down but rather encourages and inspires.

 

 The panel is far from all serious, whether it is Manu persuading Liam to confess that they came virtually straight from the set to the airport, and as a result he had not managed to get all of his blood and guts make-up washed off before boarding their aircraft, so when moist towels were handed out for cleaning their hands and Liam used it to dab at his face -- his came away pink, and a very embarrased had to return what looked like a bloody rag to the stewardess, or Liam urging Manu to demonstrate for the audience the Mauri dance he does as a farewell for cast members when they leave the show, this panel is full of high spirits and moments that keep the audience both engrossed and on the edge of their seats, unsure what is coming next.


With Starz having announced this will be the final season of Spartacus they brought out Lucy Lawless to join the guys on stage. It was clearly a new phase of the panel, but there was still one more phase to come. To thank the fans who had made it to the panel for all their loyal viewership, they flew in from New Zealand ll of the Spartacus actors, including some 'dead characters' for last one time on stage.

Full cast appearances are, in general, one of the highlights of Comic-Con, and one of those rare experiences fans both look forward to and appreciate. For a show to do it when they know this will be their final season, and to bring actors who have no more filming ahead of them was a true nod to those who have been watching, a sign of appreciation that those around me could not stop marveling at.