Those About to Die

Well, I don't know what to tell you, maybe it was just the fact they Iwan Rheon played (one of) the protagonist(s) but this all reminded me a lot of Game of Thrones -- and frankly, I enjoyed it a lot. Apart from some unnecessary deaths and romance plots that had me surprised, devastated, and confused, Those About To Die is a really good watch. I love love love the subtle narration at the beginning and the end and I would have loved some more throughout the episodes but I'll take what I can get here honestly. I really appreciated how the last two, and especially the finale, pulled together so many strings and left a clear cut plan as a set up for the next season. I really hope we'll get one and I'm very much looking forward to it.

A very aggressive advertisement campaign were held in my city for this show, the ads, the posters were everywhere, and since I love the genre, I was pretty hyped.

The show did not particularly disappoint. I was suprised and a bit disheartened to see the negative reviews it had before starting to watch it.

I think it starts off very promising, but as the show develops, it fails to escape mediocrity. Surely, you can't expect the quality and the depth that comes with shows like game of thrones. There is a lot missing. Some questionable chocies were made, and some low effort events exist in the plot. But I'm a huge fan of Roman Empire content, I still loved it very much, despite I don't usually enjoy low quality TV. And that's probably among the best things that this show does, they were able to capture the essence of the era pretty well. They risked ruining this with horrible CGI in a few scenes though, it had to be better.

Started off slow, some of the scenes seemed unnecessary and somewhat poorly written, although as it progressed I became more and more embroiled in the characters and drama. I'm most definitely the target audience, as I love shows based on Ancient Rome and violence. I'd suggest giving the series a chance to at least over half way to fully appreciate the character development. I can't wait for season two now, I really hope they actually continue it. Some of the reviews claim it's tacky/cringe/a-historical, which at some points it can be, but if you're interested in Ancient Rome I'd definitely suggest watching! A strong 7-8/10 for me.

This recreation of Ancient Rome shows that although the Romans could hold a horserace on steroids, and put on a show that makes "WrestleMania" look like kids playing in a pre-school sand pit, a decent lighting grid was beyond them. This thing is so dark; half of it seems in silhouette. There were a couple of episodes where I wasn't sure who was doing what to whom.

Accurate I suppose, but other shows about the ancients have got around it without us wondering how they received a visit from Thomas Edison. My favourite sword and sandals series HBO's "Rome" didn't seem that dark. Admittedly it makes the brightness of the chariot racing and arena scenes stand out.

Director Roland Emmerich said he was inspired to make the series after reading Daniel P. Mannix's history of the games. I read that book years ago; it was a pretty sensational read detailing the happenings in the arena and the Circus Maximus over many centuries. The filmmakers couldn't follow that format or it would have ended up a docu-drama like The History Channel's tedious "Colosseum". Instead they borrowed the format of HBO's "Rome" where we dive into a specific time. "Those About To Die" takes place around 80 AD and features the reign of Emperor Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian. The series depicts the lives of the elites contrasted against Ancient Rome's great unwashed.

Anthony Hopkins as Vespasian joins those esteemed British actors deep into their careers that have donned the imperial purple to play Rome's greatest emperors on the cusp of divinity; he gives the series a lift.

Despite the mood lighting, the series has strong stories and a literate script. Although eight episodes would have tightened it, and we get far too much of Scorpus the charioteer, the series becomes compelling, gripping even, as we head towards the end.

We cut between the intrigues of the royal court in the marble-floored palaces and the story of Numidian Cala (Sara Martens) down in the mean alleyways of Rome attempting to rescue her daughters from slavery and her son from the arena. Through her changing relationship with Tenax (Iwon Rheon), an ancient version of crime boss and big-time bookie, we are taken behind the scenes of the chariot racing, and later the sick fun of the Roman Games.

I think the CGI is used well. The recreation of the Circus Max and the Colosseum are impressive, and don't worry too much about the sex scenes, most of them are so gloomy they seem like they were shot in a disused train tunnel.

Roland Emmerich and the filmmakers did what author Daniel P. Mannix did in the book; where the ancient texts didn't deliver enough gasps, they took a somewhat sadistic guess.

Like HBO's "Rome" this series gives an idea of the life of the ancient Romans, living in an empire that through movies and television seems more like an alternate universe than ancient history.

Is the show perfect? No. Is it entertaining? Heck yes!

I've seen complaints that 'it's not as good as hbo's Rome'. My brothers and sisters, nothing will ever be as good as Rome, simply because it was an era of terrific shows, masterpieces of golden age, with a gigantic budget that ultimately led to cancellation.

I've also seen complaints about the CGI. Yes, I agree, in a couple of scenes it was super clunky. But all the rest? Come on!!! Chariot races looked spectacular, the city looked spectacular, wide shots were beautiful. Even animals looked ok - the last rampage of a lion was terrifying, I don't care what you say, it looked and sounded real.

Interior design was masterful - those marbles! Colors! Burning lamps and flames! Emperor palace rooms! Gods, it looked amazing and DEFINITELY not cheap.

Some claim that 'it was all CGI'. Nah. There were beautiful sets built, houses, streets of Rome, and underbelly of Circus Maximus. From wide shots to little details, it was - dare I say - almost as immersive as 'Rome'.

Iwan Rheon is terrific as always. What a fascinating character Tenax is! Love love love. Sara Martin is excellent. Domician is a delightfully creepy guy, Scorpius is hilarious (up to a point), spanish horse carers are adorable.

Yes, the script is clunky here and there. Especially in the first episode. So please give 'Those about to die' a chance and stay for the second episode - and further. It gets better and better with each episode, with an excellent, excellent last one.

Maybe it's not for the highest of taste, but hey - it's a great, meta, plebeian entertainment for those who want to be entertained.