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Season 1 – Those About to Die

Play trailer 1:31 Poster for Season 1 – Those About to Die 2024 Action Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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47% Tomatometer 47 Reviews 68% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
THOSE ABOUT TO DIE is an epic drama set in the corrupt world of the spectacle-driven gladiatorial competition, exploring a side of ancient Rome never before told — the dirty business of entertaining the masses, giving the mob what they want most…blood and sport.
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Those About to Die — Season 1

Those About to Die — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Those About to Die doles out enough bread and circuses to state viewers' bloodlust, but its lack of compelling characters and narrative cohesion doesn't quite earn a salute.

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Critics Reviews

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Judy Berman TIME Magazine There's a smart and timely historical drama to be made about Rome's long decline, even one that might unfold during this tumultuous period, a decade after the cataclysmic Year of the Four Emperors. But Those About to Die certainly isn't it. Jul 24, 2024 Full Review Brian Tallerico RogerEbert.com Lion fights, chariot races, and backroom politics – “Those About to Die” checks a lot of boxes, and does so with more artistic gravity than similarly shallow projects. Rated: 2.5/4 Jul 21, 2024 Full Review Robert Lloyd Los Angeles Times Those About to Die is melodrama pure and simple. Jul 20, 2024 Full Review Neely Swanson Beverly Hills Courier Yes, this is a really dreadful series but, and it’s a big but, it is one of those train wrecks that is so bad it’s funny. Jul 24, 2025 Full Review Mini Anthikad-Chhibber The Hindu Roland Emmerich has failed to turn this story of a fraternal power struggle, an ailing emperor, food riots, crooks and conmen, slaves and obsession, chariot races and wild animals into an engaging spectacle Oct 4, 2024 Full Review Susan Granger SSG Syndicate Derivative, disjointed & repetitive - this brutal, bloody sword-and-sandal epic is too ambitious for its own good. On the plus side, it's a virtual production (VP), utilizing relatively new technology that replicates the spectacular outdoor racing venue. Rated: 5/10 Sep 9, 2024 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Paul o I'd be shocked if this lemon get renewed for season 2. I tried to make it through ten episodes but I couldn't its soooo bad Outside Anthony Hopkins and the guy who plays Tanax the inn keeper terrible all around acting, terrible writing I cant tell which its so bad . And with no character on the screen for more than 1 minute at a time theres no background info on anyone or any attempt to build any sort of character development of any kind. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 09/12/25 Full Review Nika F Another review described Those About to Die as landing somewhere between HBO’s Rome and Spartacus. A fair assessment. Is it game-changing television? Far from it. But it offers an enjoyable romp into the underbelly of the Circus Maximus. Yes, the CGI animals miss the mark. But this criticism feels overstated compared to its actual impact. And yes, Roman aficionados will groan at the leather armor or the ahistorical emphasis on the plebeian–patrician divide. This is not a show for history purists. From a storytelling perspective, it also stumbles. Ten episodes are crammed with too many characters who rarely reach real depth. Time is wasted on plot threads with little payoff. Characters make choices that don’t feel earned. Moral ambiguity is only lightly explored for Tenax, leaving our antagonists to be painted mostly as “unlikeable baddies”—humanized only in fleeting moments, like when they cry as their partners are maimed in the amphitheater. The writers also have an annoying habit of coddling the audience by underlining implications or outright repeating thematic points, where a better show would trust us to connect the dots. Yet with all its flaws, the grit and grime of a chaotic Rome still break through. The world feels lived-in. Iwan Rheon proves himself a capable lead, and the chemistry between Tenax and Carla is palpable and well-paced—one of the show’s highlights. Seeing the Roman Games contextualized within broader Roman life is a remarkably fresh take, given the shadow of Gladiator I & II, which the show arguably outshines. Complaints about unlikable characters speak less to their nature than to the show’s stumble in articulating its ethos: climbing to survive in a dog-eat-dog world. Still, the foundation is there. If a second season were to thin the cast, deepen the remaining characters, tone down some of the cheesier moments, and trust the audience more, Those About to Die could yet find its stride. I am still hoping for a renewal. I would definitely keep watching. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/27/25 Full Review Lola P Must see! Wonderfull actors and good storyline. Roman setting Also well Done 💪🏼 Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/08/25 Full Review Don L Those about to Die is underrated and needs to be renewed for a second season Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/30/25 Full Review Audience Member From historical perspective the show is complete nonsense from episode 01, I feel sorry for Anthony. Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 05/09/25 Full Review izra c what i love about this show is they show how rome really was, not much action with a lot of bloody acting in the arebna only i would say all actors were cool and the directors did good job lets hope for better cgi in the future but i can say honestly it woth 8/10 or 8.5 for the new actor performances & hard work loved it and give it a chance! love ❤️ Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/14/25 Full Review Read all reviews
Those About to Die — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jul 18, 2024 Rise or Die Ancient Rome's elite plot against the rioting citizens; a cunning Plebeian schemes to change his fate; Spanish brothers arrive to sell horses for the Roman Games; three African siblings are forcibly taken to Rome, followed by their vengeful mother. Details Episode 2 Aired Jul 18, 2024 Trust None Tenax and Domitian form a racing faction and recruit Scorpus; Antonia and Marsus undermine their efforts while Cala offers to help Tenax to protect her daughters; Emperor Vespasian ponders on his successor. Details Episode 3 Aired Jul 18, 2024 Death's Door Kwame and Viggo bond over their ill-fated futures; the Gold Faction puts on a lavish display at the inaugural chariot races; Queen Berenice tries to convince Titus of his brother's treacherous plans to claim the throne; Vespasian chooses his heir. Details Episode 4 Aired Jul 18, 2024 Fool's Bet Titus shuts down the Gold Faction to appease the Patricians while Scorpus, suspicious of Tenax's plan, joins the White Faction; Domitian orchestrates a grisly spectacle to show his strength; Tenax meets Ursus, a dangerous man from his past. Details Episode 5 Aired Jul 18, 2024 Betrayal To save his image and cement his authority, Titus sends Berenice away and marries his cousin, a Roman; Tenax's dark past is finally revealed, and his chase for Ursus leaves someone dead; Kwame prepares for his fight with Flamma. Details Episode 6 Aired Jul 19, 2024 Blood Relation A dark day looms over Rome with the eruption of Mount Vesuvius; Titus punishes Marsus and the Patricians involved in a planned coup; Domitian convinces Titus to reinstate the Gold Faction; Tenax is dangerously wounded in battle. Details Episode 7 Aired Jul 18, 2024 Death's Bed Tenax reveals his past to Cala as she tends to his wounds; Scorpus grows increasingly jealous as the elder Corsi brothers, Andria and Fonsoa, win races for the Gold Faction; Kwame faces Flamma in a rematch; Tenax and Cala face off with Ursus. Details Episode 8 Aired Jul 18, 2024 All or Nothing Following a devastating racetrack accident, Elia Corsi accuses Scorpus of causing the tragedy; Antonia allows Elia to join the Blue Faction to seek revenge. Details Episode 9 Aired Jul 18, 2024 The Die Is Cast Elia faces Scorpus in a head-to-head race for revenge; Tenax puts on a public execution for the Patricians; Cala finds evidence of Domitian's treachery and betrays Tenax to save Jula; Berenice and Antonia race to get proof to Titus in time. Details Episode 10 Aired Jul 18, 2024 Let the Games Begin Pitted against one another, Kwame and Viggo fight to the death to save their families; Tenax decides to spare Cala in exchange for her help; Domitian stops Titus from finding out the truth before it's too late. Details
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Season Info

Director
Roland Emmerich, Marco Kreuzpaintner
Executive Producer
Jonas Bauer, Oliver Berben, Lourdes Diaz, Stuart Ford, Herbert G. Kloiber, Namit Malhotra, Martin Moszkowicz, Robert Rodat
Network
Peacock
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Action, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jul 18, 2024
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