Spartacus discovers the grave responsibilities and costs involved in his new role as a leader of freed slaves. Claudius Glaber's arrival in Capua forces Spartacus to keep his rebellious band intact.

Spartacus and his men liberate a Roman villa, but its slaves are wary. Oenomaus throws himself into the brutal Pits, and Glaber supports Lucretia's prophecies, despite Ilithyia's protests.

After learning of Naevia's fate, Spartacus must deal with a rift among the gladiators; Lucretia divulges a long-kept secret in order to strengthen her position; and the rebels find themselves at risk after an attack.

Spartacus leads survivors through the woods, but Crixus gets separated and returns to a place of past suffering. Lucretia pries into Ilithyia's affairs, seeking influence with a powerful Roman.

In an ironic twist of fate, a gladiator from the house of Batiatus will stand in the way of Spartacus trying to free Crixus from Roman captivity.Ilithyia's scheming puts her marriage to Glaber at risk.

Spartacus and his rebels train hard to keep their new sanctuary safe while Glaber's forces are made stronger with the enlistment of some new deadly recruits. Lucretia and Ilithyia become close again.

Spartacus and his group of rebels attempt to free those who became slaves by falling in foreign wars while Lucretia manages to recruit one of her husband's former gladiators.

While Spartacus finds an opportunity to get revenge, Glaber is surrounded by intrigue.

Spartacus has to once again use his leadership skills to convince his band rebels to unite against the Roman assault. Lucretia struggles to get rid of those men standing in the way of her fate.

When a shortage in supplies has the rebellion about to fail, Spartacus tries his best to give his men hope.