Those About to Die
An ambitious “Gladiator” knock-off that quickly fizzles out
6.0
TV Show
United States of America
English, Italian
Drama
2024
Alicia Ann Edogamhe, Angeliqa Devi, Anthony Hopkins
6.0
The Staff
TLDR
Yeah, no, I'm just waiting for "The Gladiator" sequel.
What it's about
Set in Ancient Rome, the series follows power-hungry officials and corrupt gamemakers as they try to satiate the masses through bloody gladiatorial competitions.
The take
Despite reportedly having a hundred-million budget, Those About to Die looks laughably cheap. From the CGI backdrops that take us to 10 different locations in the first 20 minutes to the inconsistent costumes, poor lighting, and cheesy narration, almost everything about the show is off-putting. Even the brief presence of Sir Anthony Hopkins can’t save it. But perhaps the worst crime the show commits is that it fails to deliver the blood, sweat, and tears the teasers and trailers promised. Is the Ancient Rome of brutal violence and hedonism? Why does it feel so staged and sanitized? If you can sit through the first episode, the action sequences do eventually get better, but for the most part, the show buckles under the weight of the many things it tries (but fails) to be.
What stands out
I know streaming shows have a penchant for being underlit, but this one takes it to a different and darker level.
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