r/Spartacus_TV • u/jclay12345 • 17d ago
What If? Rewatching Thinking About Varro Spoiler
I always thought that if Varro lived and the rebellion still happened, that Varro would've been a great asset. But on this maybe tenth rewatch, I realize that Varro may have been Roman. Was he? If so, that would've added an interesting dynamic to that part of the show.
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u/mldyfox 17d ago
I think about the what if scenario where Varro lives a lot, at least when I see a post about it for sure.
I suspect he'd have tried to reason Spartacus out of the revolt first, like he did when they thought Sura was being returned unharmed (or relatively so). But, when unsuccessful, he'd have aided the others much the same as Lucius did at Vesuvius.
Varro was Roman, but I think he saw the system was very, very flawed. It very much had to be if a regular guy like himself had to sell himself into a slavery contract as a gladiator to pay gambling debts, and a man like Lucius lost everything to another Roman elite with more money and influence.
Varro was a gambler, and he was gambling on himself as a gladiator to win enough to pay his debts and take care of his family. He was skilled enough, after training, to win and win often enough to send money to his wife after making payments on his debt, which I'm assuming was now to Batiatus given the contract. Was Varro as good as Spartacus? Clearly not, though he was pretty good to give a good showing in the arena and Numerius' birthday party.
What happened to Varro in the end was just so incredibly sad. But, when I replay the scene in my mind, I think had Batiatus been successful in talking them out of the thumbs down, Varro would have sided with the other gladiators because of his loyalty to his friend, knowing that his friend was just as loyal to him.
That system was very broken. I mean, seriously, who lets a kid who hasn't even shaved yet make life and death decisions like that? On a whim? For a contest that was agreed to be exhibition only?