I can see the porn point, though to me the difference is it doesn't glorify rape. Any Roman/slave girl combination is filmed in a way that leaves no doubt the girls are forced to do this and don't enjoy it, and as for the major Roman woman/gladiator combination, Lucretia and Crixus, here, too, the point is made that Crixus does it because she has the power to order him to, and while Lucretia is kidding herself about the amount of emotion involved on his part, the end of the season leaves no doubt he saw it simply as part of being a slave.

This being said: it's pulp. And open about using both violence and sex to attract viewers. Definitely preferable to arguments with 70s wealthy Republicans, but not a must to watch in other conditions. :)