Reviewish

THOSE ABOUT TO DIE

It took about 3 days but I finally got through all 10 episodes of “Those About To Die” (on Peacock) and all I know is I will be so overjoyed if there’s going to be a season 2.

Hopefully there are no spoilers because I am just rambling so here we go…

The story picks up for real mid episode 2, definitely in episode 3. The show starts with what feels like a million people you never heard of before. The ‘main character’ – Tenax, a man with his hand pulling a thousand strings – throws off any kind of settling in. Once Vespasian and his sons come on the scene, you can get your bearings on which part of the ancient Roman timeline the story takes place. And then it’s off to the races. (A little show based nod there.)

In the background, Vesuvius takes Pompeii and Herculaneum, Berenice the Judean Queen (Herod the Great’s granddaughter for my fellow Abrahamic religion followers) and much of her people are enslaved in Rome building the Flavian Amphitheater (aka the Colosseum), and of course, a time of gladiators.

Death, death, everywhere, in threat, in life, and well, in death. This show definitely sets itself up well to shift focus between its large cast of characters, but it does it by smacking you in the face with a fairly unlikeable and scheming character. Tenax, in my humble opinion, is a catalyst character, as those that cross him or his path often times have storylines or at least characterization that are as or at times more interesting than his own. At least at first.

One thing I will give this show is it leans on the storied Romans being ruthless and unfeeling, non-negotiable, and haughty rulers of everywhere, down to the soldier on foreign land, all the way up to the little brother forever singing some ancient version of “I cant wait to be king” with his every move.

Historical spoiler alert – the one you want to die, doesn’t.

I got to shout out the actor that plays Domitian, Jojo Macari, his eyes alone should get an Emmy. The way he holds his head should get another. I wasn’t always sure of the twitch but by episode 3, you learn to read his character really well. Other highlights for me include Tenax, Iwan Rheon, and the way even in his hardened demeanor you just know there’s something else there, Cala, Sara Martins, who is the mom I think anyone would want to have, and Kwame, Moe Hashim, who is the brother, I bet, Titus wish he had (again, historical spoiler lol).

But when I say it feels like there are a million people in this show, a quick trek to IMDB will show you there are 107 named characters. In a TV show – that’s a million. There is a LOT going on and it’s all worth watching. Even some of the most tertiary of characters make a point or at least keep things interesting. The stories weave together almost seamlessly, their wants, needs, reasons, motivations, all move together in a way that is truly impressive.

Betrayal, intrigue, the usual Roman messiness of death, the usual TV representation of Roman indulgence and sex, all abound. So if you like a good ancient past type show – this would be it. It won’t quiet fill the Spartacus (Starz) void since it leans a little more into modern language and dramatic but not always dynamic cinematography, but it comes pretty close. Heads up – hour long episodes and they use every minute of it. Not a lot of comic relief (shout out to Scorpus, Dimitri Leonidas) but it’s a fun show to follow the tangled threads to their unknotted but still season 2 possible end.

D. Ondria

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