User reviews

Those About to Die started a little slow but got better with each episode. I just found out about this show just a few days ago. I can't believe Peacock didn't promote this more considering how much it cost to make. Peacock never promotes any of their original shows very well but if they were to ever do it this is the one. I need to start off by saying that I love this genre so I may be a little biased, shows like Spartacus, Rome, Game of Thrones, etc and movies like Gladiator, Troy, etc are among my favorite shows/movies of all-time. While this isn't close to as good as those shows I just mentioned it's still worth watching if you're a fan of this genre. It's not exactly historically accurate but who cares, just enjoy it for the entertaining show it is. When an episode ended I couldn't wait for the next one and that's exactly what you want from a show.

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.

The show's attention to detail in set design and costumes immerses viewers in the era, making the brutal and often heart-wrenching scenes even more impactful. Plunges viewers into the gritty and intense world of ancient Rome. The performances are top-notch, with the cast delivering powerful portrayals that bring the historical figures to life. The narrative is gripping, filled with twists and turns that keep you on the edge of your seat. Overall, "Those About To Die" is a show you should watch for fans of historical dramas and action-packed storytelling. It offers a raw and unflinching look at the lives of those who fought for survival and glory, leaving a lasting long impression on its viewers.

Those About to Die reminds me very much of a BBC historical drama wrapped up with a 2010s Prince of Persia style Hollywood movie.

Some of the acting and dialogue is a tad painful to watch and the CGI is very ropey. The scenery itself is quite stunning, but, as a soon and chariots start racing, the often used panning out shot has the riders looking like Duracell Bunnies with whips.

The giant white lion, although impressive in size, is again underwhelming in it's overall appearance.

I did enjoy parts of the story but in general was left frustrated and irritated by alot of the character interaction.

A series with a lower first season budget like Vikings did alot better of a job drawing the audience into a historical timeline. Whilst adding drama, humour and excitement.

Not bad but could have been alot better.

When I first saw the trailer for Those About to Die I knew this show was for me. I'm definitely the target audience when they approve shows like this and I have to say even though it probably could've been a little better, I still really liked it. While I don't think it will win any awards but I promise you that at the very least you'll have a good time watching this. If you have a problem with violence or nudity then you should pass because this show has a plenty of both. The show takes place during the height of the Roman Empire as it explores the dark side of the city while also providing plenty of political drama too. I binged through this series as fast as I could (there's not a bad episode) and I pray they renew this for at least another season because there were still a lot of stories unresolved.

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.

A wonderful tale of ambition, betrayal, immodesty and corruption set in the last gasps of Vespasian's reign. There are those who will undoubtedly question the historical accuracy (at least the great Anthony Hopkins was spared the ignominy of pebble-dashing the tiles), but Rome truly was this awful. Like Victorian England, power, pleasure, and avarice are rarely conducted in polite settings. Wonderfully scripted, beautifully choreographed, and faultlessly executed. Can you last remember when children were cast in an adult drama and delivered so believably? On the strength of season one, this must be a shoo-in for a raft of nominations for next year. Can't wait for Season Two. Are we not entertained?

Alright; many of the reviews are correct. The CGI was ordinary, just let it go. The acting is pretty good, the perspective highly entertaining. The plot quite original and engrossing. Do not quite understand the hate on this one. Gladiator; it ain't. Actually liked the plot more than Spartacus.

Oddly enough, Hopkins is somewhat out of place, probably got paid a packet by being there, pretty flat showing by him in all honesty. Not familiar with the rest of the cast, the characterisation of Vespasian's two sons was great, they pulled it off beautifully. Iwan Rheon was cast well, as Tenax I was unsure whether to love him or hate him. Give it a go folks. It's far from the worst thing you'll ever invest your time in.

Frequently shoddy editing coupled with some truly atrocious script writing but the show is held together by some strong performances. It's an epic show and a fantastic, flamboyant insight into the workings of ancient Rome.

However, it's easy to look by the abrupt cuts and grade school story telling and enjoy it for what does deliver - abundant CGI and a curious plot.

Sure, it has Sir Anthony Hopkins but this is a phoned in performance only secured by, I suspect, a large cheque. The real character highlights are delivered elsewhere, from General Titus played by Tom Hughes, the cunning and ambitious Tanax played by Iwan Rheon, and the plebs and slaves found scurrying underneath the great city of Rome.

There's a lot of hard work gone into this show at every level & it's rather surprising that some other reviewers don't really appreciate what it takes to bring something like this to the screen.

It really can't be that easy to recreate Rome like this & they've done a pretty good job of it in my view. British actors doing a fine job (as they did with the Rome TV series) and making this a great watch.

Things have moved on tremendously since they struggled with CHI in Gladiator. This TV show looks most excellent in HD.

Ignore the so so reviews & dive into street life in Ancient Rome. Great stuff - I'm loving this show!

The script was written for people who are not just watching but looking at their phones or doing something else at the same time. The story is flowing in a tunnel where the tunnel is getting narrower with every event and action where nothing can be missed or misunderstood. A few marvelous performances makes it watchable but the simplicity of the storyline and dullness of the story makes it hard to watch it without concentrating on something else. It is like Rome is not a city but a 3 floored mansion where everyone in it can be at the right place at the right time constantly even without knowing it. Sad day for storytelling.

It is far from being a masterpiece . But it is definitely entertaining and some episodes even show glimpses of something that could be great but it does need some work . (Vespasian) played by Anthony Hopkins was a good idea, but i feel like they did not really use his him in the right way needed a lot more screen-time . Jo Jo Mocari did a great job with portraying (Domitian) he in my opinion delivered the best performance on the show, his acting was super he really tried to bring his character to live.

Iwan Rheon (Tenax) also did a great job, his character being the criminal who had a bad child-hood. He played his role perfect at times i felt sorry for him and he seemed like a good guy who needs to do bad things . But then he does things that makes you question him . Exactly what his character is supposed to do .

Sarah martin (Cala) she is a good actress and she also did here best with the character she played but at times it is confusing because here French accent kind of takes away from who she is playing . Nevertheless still a good effort by here it is mainly here accent that takes away from here performance .

Moe Hashin (kwame) was great to watch his bond with the Gladiator from the north was great, both really fulfilled their part on the show.

If there is going to be a season 2 they should spend more time building the characters and diving into the backgrounds and storylines . Because the storylines were all over the place, a lot of unnecessary love story's that are not finished or come out of the blue and then seem rushed .so overall the show lacked episodes storylines seem not finishend and rushed to fit into 10 episodes and not explored enough.

"Those About to Die," Roland Emmerich's latest venture into the realm of historical epics, is a series that, despite its potential, falls short of capturing the gritty realism and emotional depth that viewers have come to expect from stories set in ancient Rome. As someone who has given the show multiple chances, hoping to find a spark that ignites genuine interest, I find myself increasingly disheartened by its execution.

In my eyes, the best thing about the entire series is the incredible acting performance by Jojo Macari and Iwan Rheon. Now the rest:

One of the most glaring issues with the series is its visual presentation. Unlike the raw, visceral authenticity found in films like "Gladiator," Emmerich's Rome feels strangely sanitized. The costumes, which should evoke the grime and wear of a city teeming with life and death, appear too polished, too clean. This lack of texture extends to the computer-generated imagery, which often feels lifeless and disconnected from the world it's supposed to bring to life. In historical dramas, the weight of realism often lies in the tangible, the dirt under the nails, the blood that splatters with brutal honesty. Here, the overreliance on CGI creates a barrier between the viewer and the setting, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the story.

Furthermore, the series struggles to find its footing as a compelling narrative. While it's clear that "Those About to Die" isn't meant to be a history lesson or a study in Latin, it fails to deliver even as pure entertainment. The lack of a coherent storyline or engaging plotlines leaves the audience adrift, with no clear direction or purpose. The absence of a strong, central narrative thread makes it difficult to invest emotionally in the characters, who themselves seem more like archetypes than fully realized individuals.

This is particularly disappointing given the presence of Anthony Hopkins, an actor of immense talent who should serve as the series' anchor. However, even his gravitas is not enough to elevate the material. Hopkins' character, while intriguing on the surface, lacks the depth and development needed to make him a truly compelling figure. Instead of being the driving force of the series, he becomes just another element lost in the noise of an unfocused production.

In conclusion, "Those About to Die" is a series that wants to evoke the grandeur and brutality of ancient Rome but falls short in almost every aspect. Despite the initial promise and the hope that each new episode might turn things around, the show remains a disappointment. It's a reminder that while historical epics require grand visuals and intricate costumes, they also demand a beating heart-a quality this series sadly lacks.

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.

In this series almost everything is excellent, with the exception of some moments that can spoil the impression, but may not do so. The main advantage of the project in the tension, which is constantly increasing and does not give to take your eyes off the screen. Competently written conflicts between characters, what they want and what they get at the end, together with interesting and colorful characters, create an unforgettable atmosphere and strongly immerse in what is happening on the screen. All this is accompanied by very high quality scenery, without which the immersion would be worse.

I will note a couple more details that give charm to the series. The first is the main character. He is the engine of the plot, he himself sets the vector of its development. All the ups and downs of the protagonist is a matter of his own hands and whatever consequences did not occur, he will always find a way to turn the result in his favor.

Hence the problem of the series, namely the resolution of these conflicts. The scriptwriters did not always reach and some of the solutions to the conflicts look very strained and implausible (within the series) from which the tension suffers.

The second is how some decisions and actions affect others, and this influence can be after a few episodes, and maybe more. The result of actions taken by the protagonist is not always obvious and not always immediately reflected in the future. This shows the competent use of Chekhov's guns.

Already the trailer gave some weird vibes but still decided to give it a chance. Two episodes in and the level of fakeness is just through the roof. It's like they kept the first take on every scene. Overacting and unconvincing characters all over the place. Even the extras seem fake. There are some unintentionally funny scenes where extras are pretending to do everyday stuff in the background.

The indoor scenes seem overly produced. Trying to get a dramatic look they overlit everything so it looks completely unnatural. The CGI is pretty embarassing for 2024 and it doesn't look like they lacked the budget.

This makes Spartacus Blood and Sand look like Shakespearean theater. I felt second hand embarassment for Anthony Hopkins. He just doesn't belong here.

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.

At the beginning the series starts with a very interesting plot and a lot of different characters. Getting closer to the middle of the series, almost all of the story is already told and easy to foresee. Not much different will happen and there is no real cliff hanger at the end of the season 1. Some of the protargonists become less likeable over time - even those that are the heroes at the end of the season. Which seems a bit odd because I am not so sure if most viewers are interested to see those characters to evolve even further.

I am curious if there will be another season... Roland Emmerich already talked about the possibilities of another season.

I watched all of it in hope it would somehow get better.

But nope.

Filled with dreadful characters - not one of them is endearing or sympathetic. There is no charisma or anything remotely relatable.

On a big TV the FX like the races is not very good. You see the cgi stuff mixed with an actor standing on a platform, jiggling reins and yelling "Hah!" Or some such thing. It gets silly.

I'm a huge history buff and especially like ancient and medieval history so this should have been my cup of tea. I really tried to like it. Like I said I watched all ten episodes.

I am trying hard to find something positive. I can't. I did like the main male lead. But in the end he is just awful like all the rest of the characters. I simply find myself wondering what Roland Emmerich was thinking. He's made some great movies and TV. He failed miserably here.

I suppose some of the sets were okay. The problem is that this is so abysmal that it overwhelms anything visually interesting.

There's a lot of disturbing and bloody violence. I don't think of it as gratuitous but some of it is pretty over the top.

Such brilliant premises and ruined by the overall overacting. Especially Titus´brother, Domitian. Its barely watchable. Although, if acting was jutting out your chin and staring menacingl, he would score top points, because thats basically all he´s acting consists of. Quite annoying.

Such a shame, because some characters are brilliant. Like Cala. But overall its very "stiff" and awkward in the acting- departement.

Plot is ok, and its otherwise well made, which makes it very sad that its so bad, because this could have been a great success if the characters where more heartfelt by the actors. I wonder what went wrong, since several actors have shown greater work in other films and/or series. I also miss the brilliance of the carachter Tenox from the actors previous work in game of thrones. He can be better than this!

Overall its pretty ok but nothing to write home about.

On the surface, this show is something I should have loved from the start. I did after a fashion, but the poor editing and choreography started to grate on me towards the end. Slaps, punches, kicks etc. Which don't connect, coupled with poor camera angle that show just by how far those strikes miss. It was like watching a knock off WWE at times.

All that said, the show scratched an itch I'd been experiencing for a while. The story was compelling enough for me to watch it in four sittings, and the action was great during the arena fights. It's almost as though all the editing budget was spent on making the real action look fantastic, leading to the choppiness elsewhere.

I hope its modest success means we'll get more graphic sword-and-sandal productions in the near future.

Kudos to Iwan Rheon, Jojo Macari, Sara Martins and Dimitri Leonidas for saving this CGI mess and making it watchable. Their performances shine and are entertaining enough to actually make me look forward to Season 2, should there be one. Here's hoping the production staff learn from this first season run and improve on the storyline, script and supporting character roles. Give all ten episodes a watch, it's gets better as it progresses and Iwan Rheon saves the series. Anthony Hopkins initially drew me into watching this series after I'd seen a trailer for it, however, his role is limited and not particularly memorable.

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.