The much anticipated premiere of Starz Network's Spartacus: Vengeance has finally aired, and in fact, it has been followed by a second serving last week. Now the audience reacts to the most nagging question before the new season ran: Will Spartacus ever be the same without Andy Whitfield?

Below are tweets posted by some Spartacus viewers, and Liam McIntyre's thoughts on the late Spartacus actor.

Whitfield, the original actor playing for the lead, succumbed to non-Hodgkin lymphoma in September last year. While he was able to communicate via e-mail to his successor in the epic series, there was no way he could teach him to be just like himself so the viewer's won't see any difference.

Liam McIntyre, the actor who was plucked from a series of auditions, has been quoted as saying that he is grateful to Whitfield for his support when the recasting was completed. He said he will not try to act like the late actor, but he will keep some of his choices, such as the way his character spoke.

Two episodes into the new season, and the viewers had mixed reviews of McIntyre. There are some who understandably missed the original actor, while there are others who are positively hopeful that the new actor will be convincing in his portrayal of the profound and poetic character of Spartacus.

"Being a fan of the show, I loved Andy's Spartacus so much," McIntyre told the Associated Press in an interview.

Liam seems grounded, and genuinely impressed of Whitfield's Spartacus portrayal. He knew he had to show some authentic acting chops if he would like to be as convincing as the 'original Spartacus.'

"He wasn't just an action hero. In my auditions I tried to capture the heart that I felt in Spartacus due to Andy's great performance."

Whitfield was willing to meet McIntyre before filming began for the second season, but his condition had turned for worse.

"We exchanged emails," says McIntyre, "and I feel very blessed to have those."

While fans are generally not yet thrilled with McIntyre in the first two installments of Spartacus: Vengeance, the series was off to a good start. Images of the first season finale's bloodbath rushed back as if the audience didn't have to wait almost two years to find out whether Lucretia survived the massacre or not. And now that the violence-and-sex driven graphics are back for a regular run, the only way for the new Spartacus to pay tribute to the man whose last job he is now enjoying (and to prove his doubters wrong) is to continue to step up and be the best Spartacus he could ever be, one scene at a time.