Summary
Those About To Dieis inspired by the 1958 non-fiction novel by Daniel P. Manni, which focuses on Ancient Rome and the era of gladiators and chariot racing. Roland Emmerich’s latest project delves into the corrupt politics of these dangerous games and the cast of nefarious characters who stand to gain or lose a lot as the citizens of Rome struggle with poverty.Those About To Dieis a grand spectacle bathed in blood, sweat and derivative writing. Anthony Hopkins certainly drew me in, and even if the show was extremely messy and couldn’t keep my full attention, I still had fun watching.
Those About To Die Has Too Many Characters
One of the show’s biggest problems is too many characters. We are introduced to the main players — Emperor Vespasian (Anthony Hopkins) and his two sons, Titus (Tom Hughes) and Domitian (Jojo Macari). Tenax (Iwan Rheon) is a games master, essentially an emperor of Rome’s grimy underbelly. Cala (Sara Martins) is a Numidian mother who ventures to Rome after her daughters Aura and Jula (Kyshan Wilson and Alicia Edogamhe) are enslaved and her son Kwame (Moe Hashim) is sold to the world of gladiators. Scorpus (Dimitri Leonidas) is a charioteer with a massive ego and an equally sized drinking habit.
We are then introduced to four factions that benefit from the games, but we get to know the blue faction most through Antonia (Gabriella Pession) and Marsus (Rupert Penry-Jones). Despite all the aforementioned, we haven’t even scratched the surface of characters introduced in the first episode alone.Those About to Dietouches on a range of issues — from the political game of tug of war between Vespasian’s sons, which bleeds into the story about the nobility who want to squeeze every dollar out of the emperor, and the plot to have their choice of succession.
Tenax plays a dangerous game as someone climbing the ladder from the gutter. Cala and her family are essentially the audience surrogates, as they are victims of a complicated and corrupt system. The layers continue to be stacked as imperialism, poverty, and racial politics are added to the narrative. Most characters not only bring their storyline to the table, but also social issues relevant to this part ofAncient Roman history.
Those About To Die Has Too Much Going On With Little Focus
There is really no reason for season 1 to introduce all these characters and their respective stories — many of them are fictional. Creator Robert Rodat seems hellbent on including as many issues and facets of Ancient Rome that he forgets he is telling a fictional narrative, not developing a docuseries.
Having multiple characters and various plot threads is never a real issue in television shows. But from the get-go,Those About To Diefails because the story leads with exposition over characters and then brushes over character-defining moments to place them in their respective spots on the chess board. It’s a lotlikeGame of Thronesin that everyone plays some part in who will inevitably succeed, but I could sense a lack of patience and focus inThose About to Die’swriting.
Even though history is in play, there’s some enjoyment from the who will prevail plot. However, where the show struggles with most is crafting nuanced, complex characters whose motives and actions are interesting. Whether they be a scummy noble or an innocent slave, the writing has to create a sense of purpose for them because there is no guarantee they last the whole season.
Ultimately, the writing doesn’t intertwine the two-tiered story about the rich and poor in a way that doesn’t make half the ensemble feel inconsequential or disposable. Even those with a fixed place in the long-term narrative are underdeveloped, with only tropes and thinly disguised inner motives sustaining them.
Those About To Die Is Entertaining (Despite Messy Writing)
Visually, the show can be just as messy, but there are some saving graces. While the CGI is laughably bad at times, the costumes and set designs mask the inadequacies. While the show is leagues ahead of other similarly themed series,Those About to Diehas many cheap and awkward moments. The violence is a draw, and the more up-close deaths are nothing to blink at, but the chariot races and extravagant gladiator battles offer some of the most laughable CGI, stripping the sense of seriousness from the show. There is little levity, but the visuals shouldn’t be a gag.
I hope this gets a second season because the issues the show has are manageable; these are things that can be improved.
The use of color is appreciated, though, especially when differentiating the four factions that rule Rome, the games, and even the lower-class individuals such as Tenax, who is usually draped in gray or brown (an obvious choice for the morally ambiguous character). The cinematography is inconsistent, but sharp contrasts and unnatural lighting make for a visually stimulating experience. The presentation of this story is undoubtedly a win for the show, even with its flaws.
Ambitious As It May Be, Those About To Die Falls Short
Those About to Die’s castis good, although the dialogue is shockingly insufficient. By episode three, you get used to the informal and inconsistent dialect, but the wobbly character development doesn’t help. There’s too much telling versus showing. Except for Domitian, Cala and Tenax, very little defines these characters beyond their status in life. We never get to know these characters fully, or see how they develop.
The lack of sophisticated writing fades into the background as the show never lets up on its sense of urgency. It’s not boring; it is constantly firing on all cylinders, though it rarely hits the mark while creating spectacle. Despite its shortcomings,Those About to Diehas its moments, and it can be entertaining. It is truly comical how seriously the show takes itself, which inflates the sense of fun it doesn’t really have.
The drama is always at 11, and the little bit of history tying the story together creates a structure. But with so much going on, it’s hard to say what it’s actually trying to get at. I enjoyed it for the most part even if I was infuriated 80% of the time, and I hope it gets a second season to iron out its issues and improve.
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.
