Yeah, the flow/rhythm of the episode was a little off, especially compared to some of the less-busy episodes, but it's EASILY overlooked by me.  So much crazy shit happened, and MORE THAN HALF of the starring cast died.

It was a tweet by Patton, soon after Libertus aired.  I, too, like hearing from other voices about this show, because it's REALLY overlooked by a lot of people. 

NOOOOOOOOOPE!

That was the moment where I was sure he was going to die.  Little Ashur was sliced, Big Ashur could only go out the same way.

EDIT: wrote this while McGee was replying. Ignore.

HOLY FUCKING SHIT.  LUCRETIA TAKING A FUCKING "DEAR ZACHARY" DIVE OFF THE CLIFF.

I called it a spoof tube.  Either way, that shit worked pretty well.  Cram Bounce dryer sheets into a paper-towel roll, kiddies.

I wondered that too, a while back.  I'm trying to do what I can, but it's only a pale imitation.

HOLY FUUUUUCK THIS SHOW IS FUCKING BANANAS.

Also, I'm bad with the shows' names sometimes, so when the review mentioned Cossutius dying, I googled him to see which person McGee was talking about.  The Spartacus Wiki had a picture and the best description of him:

HOLY FUCKING SHIT THAT GODDAMN EPISODE WAS FUCKING EPIC.

I'll be honest, I cracked up.  It's like we were watching the triumphant ending to a movie we didn't know we were watching.  I really hope we never see or hear from Charlie again.

I found the recasting of Naevia jarring, for sure, especially when this show has already recast the lead.  In fact, I almost wish they'd have let her die offscreen, but I hope there's a good reason to keep the character around, other than to have Crixus pine over her.

I pretty much agree with you.  I remember bitching to a friend of mine about there not being another season of Deadwood, and he said "what, you wanted see more episodes about a fruity theatre troupe?"   He has a point, but I know everyone wanted some closure with Deadwood.

Go for it, Toasterlad.  But make no mistake, there are parts where you will be annoyed and/or bored.  However, Rabin really hit the nail on the head when he said that this show has a real soul in it. 

http://www.youtube.com/watc…  - Act now, Cissy.  Baptize that fucking pistol!

"Mother of God, Cass-Kai."

Taco's "in the cloud" antics had me dying laughing.  It was enough for me to overlook the couple of small problems elsewhere.  And this had some damn clever dialogue.  If I was a gay porn actor, I would choose Anal Rickman as my name.

Sybil's death
Her death was actually awesome. The combination of "I thought she would come for me" and the archangel Merlin proclaiming from the hillside "There is no God…" was goddamn perfect.

Yeahhh, I felt this way too. It even detracted from the awesomeness of the rest of Ted and the Captain's scenes.