Summary
Peacock’s sword-and-sandal epic seriesThose About to Diefeatures a talented cast led by Academy Award Winner Sir Anthony Hopkins, and admittedly, I fell for the trick they pulled with the legendary actor. The historical drama combines the action ofAncient Roman chariot racesand gladiator death matches with the crime and subterfuge that drove both the gambling underworld and the halls of power in the Eternal City circa 79 AD. While many of the main characters, includingHopkins' Emperor Vespasian, are based on real historical figures, the drama that unfolds is somewhat exaggerated.
While there are several major characters whose stories connect inThose About to Die, Hopkins was featured heavily in the show’s trailers and marketing materials and is one of the most significant players in the first episode of the show.Those About to Die’s cast of charactersincludes a number of talented actors who give great performances, but Hopkins has far and away the most star power of the ensemble. While the creators of the show used his regal dramatic gravitas to great effect, I still wound up disappointed at the end of the first season.
Anthony Hopkins' Those About To Die Role Is Smaller Than I Hoped
Hopkins' Emperor Vespasian dies after just a few episodes
Anyone familiar with thereal history of Rome’s Flavian dynastyknows that around the time the show is set, Emperor Vespasian’s rule is coming to an end. The real emperor Vespasian reigned for ten years before passing the throne to his son, Titus, upon his death at the age of 69. While the wheels were in motion for the end of his reign from the beginning of the show,Hopkins' Vespasian dies at the end of the third episode.
Vespasian was revered for bringing peace to Rome after winning a civil war during the Year of the Four Emperors, when Roman leaders fought for supremacy following the suicide of Emperor Nero.
It was extremely disappointing to me to think that I was going to get a great season of television starring one of the most revered actors of the last 50 years (in the hands of Roland Emmerich, nonetheless) only to have the rug pulled out from under me.Hopkins' presence was predictably important in my enjoymentof the early episodes. While part of it could be the demands of shooting a full season’s worth of TV not jiving with the 86-year-old actor, it felt like a bait-and-switch given how centrally he was placed in the show’s promotion.
Those About To Die Follows An Unfortunate TV Trend
The bait-and-switch of a huge name having a small role
To be fair, I understand the logic of the creators ofThose About to Die: feature Hopkins to draw people into a show composed mostly of lesser-known actors. With a massive budget attached to the show along with Emmerich, it stands to reason that Peacock wanted to give the show the best chance possible to succeed. It certainly worked on me;despite Hopkins' early exit, the show earned my attention and appreciation, as did the cast.
Hopkins' early exit from Those About to Die left a bad taste in my mouth.
Unfortunately,the Hopkins bait-and-switch is part of an ongoing trendwith TV shows. While there are many major stars committing to full multi-season TV shows, like Jeremy Renner inMayor of Kingstownor Sylvester Stallone inTulsa King, there are plenty of examples of major stars being featured in a show’s promotion only to have a small role.
Apple TV+ recently pulledthe same stunt with Austin Butler and Barry Keoghan inMasters of the Air, with Butler’s character disappearing for a chunk of time and Keoghan’s character dying just a couple of episodes in.Yellowstonespinoff1923from Paramount+ also put Harrison Ford on the shelf for multiple episodes in its first season. While it’s certainly effective to use major A-listers to draw people into TV shows, Hopkins' early exit fromThose About to Dieleft a bad taste in my mouth.
Those About To Die
Cast
Set in the year 79 AD in Rome, “Those About to Die” dives into the brutal and complex world of gladiatorial combat. The series explores the dark underbelly of Roman entertainment, where the promise of free food and blood-soaked spectacles keep the restless population in check. The narrative focuses on various characters from all corners of the Roman Empire, whose lives intersect in the grand arena.
