Spartacus

Spartacus is extremely graphic -- blood, and intercourse throughout the entire series. It is entertaining, but more so has a sense of underlying themes:

1. Men going to full lengths to protect their women (and seek vengeance for them).
2. Roman empire feasting on power, with every senator acting to further his own ambitions and not doing what is best for the republic
3. Spartacus's one notable comment, "every man, woman and a child has a right to freedom" -- a concept way beyond his time, yet that which makes his character not just a visceral vengeance-seeking gladiator, but a visionary for his time and people.

The characters in Spartacus are pretty flat, but there is plenty of political intrigue and war depicted to make up for that. The best part of the series is quite literally the cool references to roman culture and mythology. Also the code of ethics for battle, and maybe a glimpse into the sad but clamored lifestyle of a gladiator.

If you thoroughly enjoyed 300 and Troy, Spartacus might be worth a watch.

It could definitely be better television - with dynamic characters, and more emphasis on the plot than gore and violence, but it can definitely satisfy guilty pleasure needs.