Spartacus leads his band of rapidly depleting followers out of the mines and through the dense, dark forests that block their path to Mount Vesuvius and the rest of the rebels. As they hide from a Roman patrol the newly-freed Naevia decides that it would be a brilliant idea to scream and run away. Contrasted with Naevia's nervousness and exhaustion is Mira's ferociousness. she is quickly turning into a formidable adversary. Battle ensues and Spartacus loses a man, infuriating the remaining rebels who blame Naevia and insist that if she cannot keep pace with them, she must fall behind. Spartacus refuses to allow Crixus' sacrifice to have been in vain and they continue at Naevia's pace, leaving behind their fallen comrade.
When Ashur and Glaber's men come across the body, they string it up from a tree and Ashur warns Glaber's captain, Marcus (Luke Pegler), that Spartacus is not to be taken lightly, lest he see the ranks of the dead swell with more of his men. The rebels and the Romans meet in another skirmish, the rebels suffering more losses and when Nasir (Pana Hema Taylor) is injured, Spartacus refuses to leave him behind either. Besides Spartacus, Nasir and the two women, only two other rebels remain and they go their separate way, leaving Spartacus and Mira to struggle on with two dead weights. Spartacus cauterizes Nasir's wound and they continue, eventually joining up with one of the rebels who had sought a different path through the forest. When they stumble upon the strung-up body of the other rebel, they realise they have walked into a trap and battle is joined once more.
Marcus is wounded by Spartacus and Ashur kills the last rebel, dragging the captain to safety. He implores Marcus to retreat and advance only when reinforcements have arrived but the Roman refuses and Ashur deals with him in the only way he knows how to. Meanwhile, Spartacus, Mira and Naevia finally reach the edge of the forest, in sight of Mount Vesuvius, when they hear a massive force of Romans coming up behind them. Spartacus tells Mira to take Naevia and flee but she refuses and the two make a last stand against the onrushing hordes.
Back in Capua, Glaber is beset from all sides. His father-in-law, Albinius (Kevin J. Wilson), suggests that he do something to make up for ruining the games in Varinius' (Brett Tucker) honour. Ilithyia suggests a party (read: orgy) and preparations are put in place. Forced to pay lip service to both Albinius and Varinius, Glaber chastises Ilithyia for not supporting him as Lucretia does. Oh, if only he knew... When some of his men return with Crixus, Rhaskos (Ioane King) and another rebel, they are reunited with Oenomaus in the dungeons. Seppius' (Tom Hobbs) sister Seppia (Hanna Mangan-Lawrence) arrives early for the festivities and when she and Lucretia tell Ilithyia of her plan to catch Varinius' eye so that she might take his hand in marriage and climb up the greasy pole, Ilithyia is not best pleased, jealous of Varinius' more rapid ascent up said pole and of the "spoilt girl" Seppia who seeks to latch onto his back.
When the party begins, the machinations move up a gear. Glaber presents the four captured rebels as a sacrifice for the next games but Seppius insists they be killed at once to honour his cousin Sextus' memory. Varinius steps in and suggests a compromise: kill one now and save the rest for later. Glaber all but tells Varinius to fuck off, saying that Lucretia should choose who dies. Albinius agrees and she lingers over Crixus but says that the gods have chosen the anonymous rebel. What a shock! As the torture of the rebel begins Albinius muses to his daughter what a catch Varinius is, adding that he is moving up the greasy pole more quickly than her husband is. Poor old Glaber, all he wants to do is catch Spartacus and bugger off back to Rome with his wife and child and now even his own wife is beginning to entertain thoughts of what life would be like as Mrs Varinius.
When Seppia flirts with Varinius while she tries and fails to stab the rebel, Ilithyia takes the lead and finishes him off. That's how it's done, bitch, her eyes say as she hands the sword back to Seppia. Meanwhile, Lucretia and Albinius converse on the balcony and she offers to consult the gods over his "concerns" for Ilithyia. Back at the orgy, Varinius has ignored Seppia and leaves with two women even younger than her. Poor Seppia, she cries behind a curtain as her brother tells her she overreached and comforts her as Glaber casts his curious eye over them. Ilithyia detaches Varinius from his escorts and makes a proposal, one he seems keen to accept. For the moment, however, he settles for a near the knuckle response. When she seeks out her father, she finds him being gleefully ridden by Lucretia, boobs bouncing all over the place. What a lovely moment for their eyes to meet. When Ilithyia confronts her at the end of the night, Lucretia reveals that she remembers everything and Ilithyia slaps her to the floor and grabs her by the neck, threatening to do to her as she did to poor Licinia. Lucretia insists that she has the wrong end of the stick, revealing just why she fucked Albinius' brains out and telling Ilithyia she did it so that the two could mend their ways and become friends once more.
Empty Hands is the best episode of the series so far. Excellent and ferocious fight scenes juxtapose marvellously with the plotting and scheming in Capua. Spartacus shows his stubborn good guy side as he refuses to leave anyone behind and Mira continues to evolve into a tough customer. Ilithyia pouts and plots her way through another episode like a cross between Lady Macbeth and Richard III (but with better boobs, of course, which are shown briefly only once this episode). Like some great Skakespearean villainess I half expected her to turn to the camera and declare, "Plots have I laid, inductions dangerous, By drunken prophecies, libels and dreams, To set my husband Glaber and everyone else I've ever met In deadly hate the one against the other: And if Glaber be as true and just As I am subtle, false and treacherous..." Poor old Glaber. As if it wasn't obvious enough beforehand, the baby Ilithyia is carrying clearly isn't his. Does Lucretia's new-found concern for her BFF mean that she knows it's Spartacus'? How will her relationship with Albinius evolve and when will that little shit Seppius get what's coming to him? Hopefully Glaber finishes both them and Varinius off. The trailer for the next episode reveals that another character finally makes their return...
9 out of 10.
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