Mahdi Ahmed

Scripting waves of imagination from the sunny side of the Maldives.

Posts by mahdiahmed

PILLOW TALK

Last night my wife and I had the strangest of pillow talks. I discussed with her on my next writing gig. Now, does that kind of talk ever qualify as pillow talk? I guess a talk will always be a talk and when you are lying on a pillow talking, what else can it be called other than a pillow talk?

My next project actually is rewriting a draft screenplay written by Zareer, my writing partner and myself several years ago for a once very active studio, now a very dead volcano. For reasons I’m unaware of, they somehow failed to settle our payment. So this draft has been lying on the shelf collecting dust and spreading with cobwebs.

Then earlier this month Coco Hassan, a good friend of mine who’s a renowned cinematographer in the local film industry called me. He said a newbie producer was interested in producing a film and wanted to meet me on writing a screenplay. The very next day we met.

I mentioned to them about this draft which was loosely based on a real incident that my original client witnessed firsthand. Then they asked me if my original client would agree on the deal since it was loosely based on their story. To answer this issue, I return to my pillow talk once again.

A similar incident which was more related to the screen story of my draft actually happened to a cousin of my wife. And it happened quite recently and some part of it I have witnessed with my very own eyes. That’s why I asked my wife to relate everything she could recall of the incident including the background of everyone involved.

As I lay next to her holding her hand, when she began, all I had to do was close my eyes. The way my wife narrated the whole story was like watching a movie. When she was done, we both then discussed on molding the events in the draft to the events she had narrated. It was the most beautiful screenplay outlining I have ever done so far.

However, I knew something was not right when my wife was agreeing to whatever I was suggesting. She’s always on her critique mode whenever she deals with my screenplays. She’d cut it, dice it, mince it, grill it and burn it. But this time it wasn’t happening until the very climax. That’s when she pulled out her knife set at me. She disagreed to the ending. Then I asked her how she would want it. The ending she suggested was simply terrific. Then we both tweaked the ending here and there. After the whole session was over, she asked me the usual question, ‘buney?’ meaning ‘say it.’ And as usual I gave a kiss on her cheeks, a big squeeze and said, ‘Thanks honey!’

Cheers!

PLAY SCHOOL, A PREVIEW AND THIS IS A PROMISE

Yesterday I completed the final episode of the last five episodes I was commissioned to write of VAUDHEKEY MIEE (THIS IS A PROMISE), the thirteen episodes television series that’s being directed by Abdul Fatthaah which was started airing on TVM few weeks back.

I’m collaborating with Fatthaah at writing a serial or anything for that matter after almost five long years since the popular series HINITHUNVELAASHEY KALAA (SMILE, YOU). And it feels good to be writing couple of episodes for him once again. And I’m still aware of his style and craft. The current serial is very much his cup of tea and I have given him enough scenes he can direct even with his eyes closed.

In the last five episodes, I tried as much as I can to tie up the loose ends of the first eight episodes he had written. He wanted the final episode to be a real tearjerker and I have created so many situations where the actors can cry themselves so much that if need be, they can dry up their tear glands by the time the serial ends and long after the end credits roll.

Fatthaah has already read the four episodes and confirmed them good. As long as he’s happy, I’m happy.

Last Friday night, the producers of INGILI, they are in no particular order, Ravee, Munavvaru and myself held a preview of the film for selected guests. After the show was over, we all had a good chat and listened to their feedback. Ravee was busy taking notes. Most of the feedback was positive and they all enjoyed the film which was restricted to a small hut with just two actors for the entire duration of the movie. Everyone praised the lively conversation of the two actors.

The very next day director Ravee made corrections to the final edit based on the very constructive comments given by the selected guests.

The three producers met yesterday to discuss on the final preparation of the movie. The main agenda was negotiating with a high profile studio for theatrical and DVD distribution of the film. The owner of this studio was eager to make a deal and will give us an answer inside this week.

We are hoping to release INGILI on February.

I have left the best for the last. As parents, the most exciting thing that happened to my wife and I were taking our son to school for the first time. The academic year started on January 14th and as the day drew closer, we were dreading the thought of taking him to school. It was an unexplainable fear that was creeping inside both of us ever since we enrolled him. But my son was feeling quite the opposite. He was very eager to start his very first play school.

He was in top form when he got ready. He was dancing and smiling and teasing with his cousin who was a year older and was starting junior nursery at the same school. The story was completely different once he entered his class. He started weeping. Infact all the kids were crying. The play school was more appropriate to be called the crying school. The whole of last week he went to school, well, he cried in the class. But with each day, he’s adjusting himself to his class, his teachers and his classmates. And he cries a lot less now.

So before I start to weep a tear or two, I say Cheers!

THIS IS A PROMISE, I WRITE

After carefully going through the already written eight episodes of VAUDHEKEY MIEE (THIS IS A PROMISE) which was written and being directed by Abdul Fatthaah, I have started writing the remaining five episodes. A little while ago, I just finished episode nine.

But I must confess that outlining the last five was not an easy task than I first thought it would be. Mostly when I outlined, I was forced to tie up several loose ends. And even in the last five episodes I had to redefine some of the key characters. Since the first four episodes were already shot, I didn’t have much choice to tweak the other written four episodes which goes behind the camera on 10th of this month. I wanted to do few adjustments here and there but realized that doing so would require rewriting all of them, meaning I won’t be able to complete them when the production resumes.

So I decided to leave them as it is and continue outlining the last five. I had to do a lot of research which again was done very little in the already written eight episodes. I hope to complete at least episode ten and eleven before Fatthaah leaves with his cast and crew to Eydhafushi of Baa Atoll. To do that I have only two days. And I have roughly a week to complete all five.

So without spending too much time, I cut short this post for now and turn my focus to write episode ten.

Cheers!

DAY ONE OF 2013

It’s only the first day of 2013 and I’m already finding myself occupied with work. Here are the updates.

I’m commissioned to complete the remaining five episodes of a thirteen episodes television serial called VAUDHEKEY MIEE (This is a Promise) which was started writing by director Abdul Fatthah for TVM. He is also directing it. He has already completed shooting the first four episodes and will sail out to the islands to shoot the other four. So before he completes the production, I need to write the rest which is also based on the same island.

Fatthah and I go long way back with television serials. The most serials I have written are for him especially HINITHUNVELAASHEY KALAA (Smile, You) of fifty two episodes which had a nationwide following and most of its episodes had an island setting.

He has given me a short deadline for the current task and I have the most difficult of hurdles to cross, reading the eight episodes he has written. Did I ever mention in any of my previous posts that I hate reading? Yes, I do, big time.

Then there’s a new producer whom I met last night through a good friend of mine. He asked me to write a full feature which is set to begin production around March. Fortunately, I  have a draft screenplay which I co-wrote with my writing partner, Ahmed Zareer for a production company who’s yet to pay us for our work. It’s been two years since then. However, this screenplay never saw the light of pre-production and was eventually shelved. Somewhere last year, I remember asking for their approval that I pitch it for a different producer. They did give me green light, verbally though. Anyway, I have mailed this draft to this new producer. I’m expected to have a feedback in a week’s time.

Then there’s another screenplay under a similar spell which has been shelved for three long years. But for this one, I have got the approval in writing, via the SMS I have exchanged with its producer. This screenplay is on standby to a high profile actor/ director/ producer who wants a screenplay real soon in case he doesn’t get the screenplay he asked from my writing partner Ahmed Zareer delivered before the short deadline.

Well, that’s all for now.

Cheers!

HELLO 2013

Adios 2012. And hello 2013. I wish all my fellow bloggers a fabulous year ahead. Let there be peace, love and understanding in this world not just this year but until the end of time. But most importantly, keep blogging!

Cheers!

A DIVINE INTERVENTION

This post is long and is based on an account written by my wife on the same event.

December 16th of this year marked our eighth wedding anniversary. Unlike previous years where we celebrated just by ourselves, this time around, our son joined us. Since he’s only twenty-one months, we had an early dinner. Having him by our side, we felt a simple mutual realisation. He completes us.

Sitting here, while typing this post, when I look back at our beautiful marriage, to be honest, it seems to me that if not for our perseverance at trying to save each other some eleven days after we tied our knot, we wouldn’t have made this far, let alone blessed with an adorable son. While trying, not only did we save each other, but we also saved our marriage, with immeasurable help from an unlikeliest of sources.

Five days after we got married, we went to Patong, Phuket for our honeymoon. We stayed at Patong Resort. During our four nights’ stay there, we toured the city, visited important places and ate all we could from the famous restaurants. While Savoey was a standout seafood place, Simon Cabaret we thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find any Bonds on James Bond Island.

Our departure from Phuket to Bangkok was on Boxing day at noon. Since it was our last day in Phuket, my wife insisted on going for one final walk along the Beach Road. I wanted to stay at the hotel lobby surfing the internet, but somehow I changed my mind. Unlike previous days, my wife carried our tickets, passports and all the cash in her handbag. Before that, we kept them in the safe of our room.

At around eight, we were walking down the Beach Road. It was a bit windy. The beach was almost empty. Though it was intended as a walk, my wife checked into some of the few shops that were opened. When we had walked quite a distance away from our hotel, my wife stopped by a bikini shop.

As my wife was paying for her stuff to the vendor who was a middle-aged woman, suddenly a girl dashed into the shop. She started talking to the woman frantically. Though we didn’t understand a word they were saying, we noticed the girl was in a panic and the woman reacting to her in fear.

We immediately knew something was amiss. We first thought a terrible accident had happened. Then the girl and the woman dashed out of the shop. They hurried towards the beach. By then, we started to hear people shouting in fear and the sound was beginning to intensify by the minute. We too ran out of the shop. We wanted to see what was happening. People were looking at the beach, while those who were at the beach were running inland. From the point we were standing, we didn’t notice anything strange. Then suddenly, through the line of trees, we saw a yellow speed boat sweeping towards the shore followed by another big boat.

Stupidly enough, I wanted to check it out, courtesy of a common trait we fellow Maldivians have. We always run towards the danger, not away from it. But my wife, who was working in UNDP, had done some security training, grabbed my hand and ran into the closest road. Seeing the boats coming ashore, she thought it was a terrorist attack. All this happened in a flash.

By then tourists and locals were coming out of their hotels and shops and running away from the beach. We also kept running through a lane, not knowing what disaster was behind us. We never looked back and were expecting the sound of gunfire or a bomb blast any second.

Then my wife had the idea of taking cover. She hurried to enter a nearby hotel. But a security guard there was already chasing everyone out. He kept screaming, “Waves!” That’s when we both realised what was happening. That scared us even more. We knew the only way to be safe from a wave was to reach higher ground. We could see hills ahead of us. But to reach there, we needed more running, a lot more running and we had to run faster.

There was complete panic on the road. People were shouting. Children were crying. The sound of car horns and tires screeching was deafening. We knew whatever happened, and we could not separate. So we held on to each other’s hands firmly.

A pickup truck racing by us stopped. The driver shouted at us to hop on to the back. Some locals were already in it. The truck carried fish. It raced towards the hills. After driving through some roads and lanes, it stopped at the bottom of a steep road leading to the hills. Everyone in it jumped out and started to run to the top. We reached up to the settlements on the hill very quickly. We felt that that wasn’t enough. A wave could rise even higher. So we climbed further up. As we gazed towards the horizon, the buildings blocked any clear view of the Beach Road.

Throughout the trip, we had had a mobile phone. I always charged it every night. My wife first called her office instead of informing our parents. We didn’t want to panic them. Unfortunately, she couldn’t get a connection. The network was busy. Then my wife called her officemate on her mobile. She couldn’t reach her, either. Then she sent her an SMS, which she was able to send.

A few minutes later, my wife’s officemate replied with the horrifying news that panicked us even more. The Maldives was experiencing similar waves. We completely froze. We never had a clue how Maldivians could escape such a wave as the Maldives were just a few meters above sea level.

We had to be cautious with the phone’s battery power since we never knew how long we were going to be marooned on this hill. We left the phone charger at the hotel. So we made most of our communications through SMS.

At one point we even thought of going to the airport since we had the tickets, passports and all our money. But we dropped that idea when we learnt that the airport was shut down.

After staying on the hill for quite some time, we then approached a window of a local house where everyone was gathering. They were watching CNN. Reports were coming in that many countries in the Indian Ocean were severely hit, including the Maldives.

Later we stayed on the balcony of a small eat-out place. There were injured tourists. Some were crying over their loved ones who had gone missing. Their faces were as lifeless, scared and confused as ours were.

We could hear sirens wailing in the distance and helicopters were hovering over the beach area. The tourists around us kept calling their embassies and news came that their embassies were going to extract them from wherever they were. We started to panic. There was neither a Maldivian embassy nor anyone else coming to help us. We were on our own. We tried our best not to worry since we were thankful that we were still alive.

When it was around six in the evening, we could see from our vantage that a big grid of the beach area was completely blacked out. Some of the tourists decided to go back to their hotels. However, along with an Australian couple and two English girls we befriended, we decided to stay put since it would be too dangerous to go back when there was no electricity, and there were warnings now and then of another wave hit.

When night fell, we tried to get a room from nearby inns and hotels. Unfortunately, there weren’t any available. We had no place to sleep. But a local couple from one of the houses invited us to relax on their veranda along with ten or more stranded tourists. We were provided with blankets and sheets.

We could barely sleep. No one did. It felt like the longest night of our lives. I held my wife tightly as I could. Now and then we burst into tears, we cried, and we prayed.

Next day, at five in the morning, our four friends and we decided to head back to our respective hotels. We all got into a tuk-tuk that approached right at us. It first stopped at the hotel of our four friends. They stayed at Boomerang Inn. For some reason, we felt unfortunate to wave them goodbye. And I think they felt the same as they kept looking at us, looking worried. The driver then headed towards our hotel. But he dropped us at the junction of the main street. He was scared to go any further.

As we strolled towards our hotel, we saw everything around us destroyed. Jet skis and speed boats had crashed into buildings. Trucks and cars had turned over. There were fallen trees and buildings were heavily damaged. The road felt all sticky and muddy.

At our hotel’s lobby, worried guests were already checking out. Everyone was in a hurry. We followed a bellboy to our room to get our luggage. As we passed the poolside, the whole place was like a disposal site, including the pool which was filled with mud.

We took our luggage which had survived the waves and checked out of the hotel immediately. We waited at the lobby for a taxi. When we realised we wouldn’t get any, we decided to walk to the main street and get one.

We planned to go to the airport and stay there no matter what happened. We imagined the airport would be crowded. But amazingly when we reached there, the place was calm. More surprisingly, we even managed to get seats on the first flight to Bangkok.

We arrived in Bangkok, safe and sound. At the arrival gates, there were embassy representatives from almost all the countries except ours. From the airport we went straight to the hotel we had booked. While at the lobby, we went through the newspapers and only then did we understand the destruction of the tsunami and mostly how lucky we were to have survived.

We checked into our room, called our home and informed them we were safe. That’s when our mobile went dead.

We only realised the magnitude of the devastation and lives lost when we switched on the TV. The death toll kept rising. Phuket airport was now crowded with terrified tourists wanting to leave. And seeing footage of the devastation, we burst into tears. We were scared, disoriented and traumatised.

As today marks eight years since the devastating Asian tsunami, I am forever thankful for my wife. If not for her quick thinking, unbeknownst of what it was first, to drag me away from the beach, we would have certainly perished. She will always be my hero: sorry Marvel, sorry DC.

We believe that God saved us. Others might say what happened to us was nothing but a coincidence. But we consider our escape a miracle, a divine intervention.

Cheers!

SEASON FINALE AND A TEST SCREENING

The finale of season two of television series SPARTACUS ends with a rip-roaring conclusion with promise of more blood and carnage in season three. I mean, would the senate of Rome keep quiet after what Spartacus and his warriors did to Glaber and his legion? Spartacus even killed Varinius, another decorated praetor? Spartacus’ final words of the last episode were, ‘Let Rome sends their legions. We will face them. And see all follow Glaber in death.’

Liam McIntyre shines as Spartacus, the strategic leader who leads his ill-fated warriors to victory when all hope is lost as they find themselves trapped on top of the Vesuvius volcano, to where they fled when they were outnumbered by Glaber and his legion. Spartacus’ final speech to his disheartened warriors was stirring. He delivered it with aplomb, just as a true leader would.

‘The Romans hold numbers far outweighing our own. Yet they have revealed time and again fatal flaw. That they believe the Roman way is the only one. Just as they believe that there is only one way to leave this mountain. We shall teach them that we forge our own paths. And nothing in this world is impossible, when heart and mind are put towards it. Brace rope, let us begin a lesson forever remembered. The sound will mask descent. The gods bless us with good fortune. Free men create their own. We are all gods this night. And the Romans shall feel our wrath.’

Andy Whitfield would be smiling as Liam bravely took over the reins of the series after his untimely death.

Though the season ended on a triumphant note, it was sad to see Mira die as she was one of the bravest female characters I have seen on both TV and screen. If Lieutenant Ellen L. Ripley was for Aliens or Sarah Connors was for Terminator, Mira was for Spartacus. Though not realized by Spartacus, Mira played a huge role in shaping his destiny. I still believe that Mira was the reason Spartacus became a true leader. In the final battle he probably found strength when Mira was killed. He sure is a man who fought for the women in his life.

Mira may have died, but to see Naevia fought so bravely against Ashur was an elation even though the final beheading was a little bit overly graphic. But I was rooting for her. Naevia was another strong female character who would not succumb to the evil that men have done to her or the tragic circumstances that occurred in her life. To see her stand up on her feet even that symbolically in a sword fight with the man who undid her is something to be treasured. With her powerful reply to Ashur when he degrades her infront of Crixus and her fellow warriors, I wanted to finish him off too. I may have liked his evilness but at that point I really cursed him.

‘My death will not heal the scars you bear. Nor erase of my **bleep** inside of her, or all those that followed,’ Ashur attacks Naevia with ill words.

‘No. It will not. But it is a **bleep** start,’ cries Naevia. Rest is Ashur’s history.

The series has left me like someone possessed. I’m a true fan now. The series has toppled FRIENDS from my favorite TV series list after staying on top since 1994. I can’t wait to see the third season of Spartacus which starts next month.

To fill the void left by Spartacus, my wife and I started watching GAME OF THRONES last night. Many of our kin and friends recommended it. My wife did watch the first two episodes of the first season. I don’t really know what happened after couple of minutes into the first episode.

Ravee and I met at L’Aquila this evening. Ravee will be getting the final audio files of INGILI (Finger) from Mohamed Ikram, composer and sound designer of the film tonight. We are planning to have a test screening next week with limited invitees. Ravee has already booked a place. I’m excited to hear the comments on our first experimental movie.

Cheers!

COME OF AGE

Finally, Liam McIntyre as Spartacus comes of age in episode seven of season two as he slices vertically the complete face of Sedullus, a powerful and a gigantic warrior from the Germanic clan who recently joined his ill-fated freedom fighters. The fight proved his riotous unsettled fighters mostly comprised of clans different and hostile of each other that Spartacus freed himself and the slaves from the house of Batiatus at the end of season one was for a greater good. And the short and strong monologue that followed recognized him as a true leader. It’s such a pivotal moment of the entire season.

‘Is this what you are? Animals, demanding slaughter? We give you freedom. And you repay it with blood and dishonor. If you cannot stand among us as trusted brother, if you cannot follow my orders, take leave now. Or join Sedullus in death.’

Well done Liam. Andy will be so proud.

Once Sedullus’ face is vertically sliced, the interior of his head get exposed and to see his brain slowly sliding out and falling is a moment of extreme gross. Who said having six packs means a stronger abdomen? I have done with one whole pack. Thank you, tummy! You shine brightly even though you have wrapped yourself around a thick layer of flabs.

Last night we, meaning my wife and I finished watching the eighth episode. We are left with only two episodes to conclude season two. Anyway, that episode also has another momentous scene for Spartacus when he goes to kill Ilithya which takes an unexpected turn. For reasons not to spoil the narrative, I have deliberately removed myself from revealing the twist. So I’m not going to linger too much on that scene. But it did reveal besides Liam’s well-toned muscles, some of his acting muscles too. Well done again, Liam. I fear that you’re beginning to make Andy jealous.

It seems that I can’t leave the subject of Spartacus without a notable mention of, yes, Lucretia. I must confess that she really elevates my viewing pleasure to, lets say, considerable heights. But she hasn’t a clue that she’s a far worse serpent than she really thinks she is. The way she manipulates everyone around is delightful. It’s so very obvious that she has an ulterior motive and moreover it’s also obvious that her motive is going to be shocking even though I’m well prepared for the shock. She’s good. She’s real good. And my prayers are with her even her actions are painted in evil. I love you, evil.

Cheers!

SADNESS

My wife and I are already sad that the second season of television series, Spartacus titled Spartacus Vengeance is drawing to what looks to be an epic conclusion. We’re left with only four more episodes to watch. But we seek consolation from knowing that the third season is just around the corner that kick starts next year around late January, that’s next month. And also next month starts my favourite reality show, American Idol season 12. Amongst the judging panel for the new season has Mariah Carey. I don’t think I can ever stop my eyes from getting glued… on the screen, I mean.

Just as I expected, with each episode of the second season of SPARTACUS, Liam McIntyre who now plays the title character is beginning to sink his teeth into his character as he slices, dices and cuts Romans into bits and pieces as he fights for the freedom of slaves and his vendetta to kill Glaber. And Liam also gets to make out with Mira, every time in slo-mo with warm lighting. In my opinion it’s Mira who is transforming Liam into a man to fill the shoes left by Andy Whitfield as Spartacus.

The fifth episode is an edge-of-your-seat thriller as Spartacus, and his fighters ravage the coliseum to free Crixus, Oenomaus and Rhaskos from execution. We were literally on the edge of our seat. At one point, I had to stop my wife from jumping into the screen to aide Spartacus.

Also, one thing I noticed from season two is that in almost every episode I have seen so far, Spartacus gives a repetitious speech to inspire his few in numbers ill-fated freedom fighters. If only there’s a little build-up to these speeches. But his speeches on slavery and freedom would give The Great Emancipator a smile.

The episodes I have watched so far continues to explore more on other characters and their plight that are becoming more interesting and important. Crixus’ character at times seems to take over the role of the protagonist as his cause to find Naevia moves the narrative forward in every direction and even after reuniting with her confronts unexpected hurdles as he keeps fighting them. Doesn’t that sound more like a protagonist?

And then there’s my Lucretia whose evil planning made the Romans and people of Capua believe that she is divine. Jupiter will be laughing. But to see her and Ashur part ways have made me worrisome. They were such a great evil pairing. But I have a feeling Lucretia will have more surprises for Ashur under her sleeve. Look what she did to Quintus’ father, Titus in the six-part prequel.

Leaving blood and gore aside, the producers of INGILI (Finger) which includes Ravee, Munavvaru and I have set our focus on releasing the film as soon as possible. The completion of colour grading has been fast-tracked. We have even thought of releasing the film in the island of K. Gulhi first. The film was shot entirely in that island. We have also thought of either donating the ticket sales of the shows in K. Gulhi to its people or give them shows for free of charge. But we’re just brooding over these options presently.

I leave for now. I got to support Arsenal as they play this very moment against West Brom. Luckily Arsenal is leading by a goal scored by Arteta from the spot.

Cheers!

OF LILY AND VENGEANCE

Since first of this month, I have been out of town and on vacation with my family, thus my short absence from posting anything at all. It was a well spent three nights at Lily Beach Resort and Spa, thanks to my sister for taking us with her. Her job at the mentioned resort’s main office comes with such rewarding benefits. A career change did cross my mind fleetingly. But I’m sure I’d be fired the very next day for spending too much time away from my job, most probably typing out my next screenplay under the shades of the coconut palms at the fringe of the long stretch of white sandy pristine beach that gets caressed slowly by the soothing waves generated from the crystal clear blue sea, with the help of the wind that is. And then there’s my pina colada by my side, which of course is non-alcoholic. Brownie points I do seek.

During the entire trip when my son was walking on anything but the sand which was like the whole resort had a full infrastructure of sandy roads and beach all around except for the wooden deck of the open air restaurants and the room we stayed in, I was busy shooting with my Nokia N8. And at times I shot while carrying my son who I knew wanted to give me some tips on handling the camera but then decided it was best to do it when he grows up and when I’m too old and unable to refute him. He had that look, you know? Anyway, I will be compiling a music video of this trip just like the one I did when my family including my sister’s took a trip to Island Hideaway in August this year. All in all I always do a music video of all my family trips.

Soon after we returned home on Tuesday, I met with Ravee at L’Aquila that evening. But before we sat down for a coffee, we met actor and editor, Abdulla Muaz and reconfirmed his commitment to do the color grading of INGILI (Finger). He asked us to drop the film’s project at his studio at our earliest.

Mohamed Ikram, music composer and sound designer of INGILI joined us while Ravee and I were having coffee. Ikram didn’t order a coffee though. He went for some kind of newly promoted fruit juice in a can.

Last night, my wife and I started watching the second season of SPARTACUS titled SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE. We didn’t mind filling our eyes with blood, gore and sex straightaway. Without those elements, there’s no SPARTACUS. Speaking of whom, we felt that Liam McIntyre as the replacement of Andy Whitfield looked too young like in the very first episode Mira tries to put some sense into his thick skull by telling him that they needed a leader not some angry boy who can barely piss without splashing everyone. That sums up our new Spartacus. But I have faith in Liam and I’m sure he’d make Andy proud as he will set his feet firmly on the character as the season progresses.

I guess for the very reason, the first two episodes of the second season which I have seen so far were crafted wisely, as the narrative of both episodes delves deeply into other characters especially Glaber and Oenomaus respectively.

And then there’s Lucretia. I almost sprung out of my seat to see her returned and give enough reasons for my wife to frown. Her appearance really was a joyous surprise. She’s like a phoenix to be reborn from the ashes. And to see Ashur reappear as well at the end of the second episode felt that the much needed evil is once again restored. And to realize that he and Lucretia are scheming together mean that everyone around them are in for a real treat. Can’t wait to find out what they are up to.

Cheers!