Despite a rather rocky start through its first few episodes, Spartacus: Blood and Sand concludes as one of the most tightly written shows of the 2010s. The character arcs, payoffs, and intricate weaving of cause and effect put most big-budget modern shows to shame. Released in 2010, it was followed by a prequel of necessity.
Spartacus: Gods of the Arena came about due to the ill health of Spartacus’ actor Andy Whitfield, who would sadly succumb to his illness. The prequel was their way of giving Whitfield time to recover, and yet, showrunner Steven S. DeKnight still managed to create a poignant, coherent, and thrilling six-episode historical drama.
Two more seasons wrapped up the original run of Spartacus on Starz in 2013, but now, 12 years later, DeKnight returns with a story from an alternate universe within the show’s setting. It’s an odd way to bring back a show, but if the writing holds up as well as it once did, we could be in for another very special look at Ancient Rome.
What We Know About Spartacus: House of Ashur
For anyone who hasn’t watched Spartacus, you should probably leave this page, watch the show, and then come back, as this alternate-universe story naturally gives spoilers by its very existence. For those who’ve watched the show, you know that the devious and conniving Ashur met his end during the show’s original run.
In Spartacus: House of Ashur, Nick E. Tarabay will return to live out his fantasy of earning favour and taking charge of the ludus. It sees the Romans reward his treacherous acts, giving him what was the House of Batiatus in Capua. However, in getting this vaunted position, he realises the true challenges of having ambition in this world.
In the new trailer put out for the forthcoming historical drama, we see Ashur running the gladiator school, spending time with his would-be champions of the arena, and his foray into the even more cutthroat world of Roman politics. Here, betrayal is a currency, and Ashur might not be the most skilled in this art in his new arena.
Appeasing a Fascination with Spartacus
The writers absolutely fiddled with the true history of Spartacus and its many supporting characters. It certainly doesn’t take away from the quality of the show, but does somewhat sneakily draw from such a well-known historical event in ways that other Spartacus productions don’t.
Spartacus’ true tale saw a Thracian gladiator lead a slave uprising against the Roman Republic, with his rebellion beginning in Capua. It’s an epic story that remains among the most iconic tales of the age. So, where Spartacus goes, modern-day entertainment seekers will follow.
It’s because of this that three films based on Spartacus were made from 1953 to 1964, and the collection of popular online bingo slots features five games based around Spartacus. Spartacus – Gladiator of Rome, Spartacus Megaways, Spartacus Lightning Blitz, Eye of Spartacus, and Spartacus Super Colossal Reels all transport players back to the days of gladiatorial combat, leaning into the legacy of the titular character.
Elsewhere, we’ve also seen a whole host of novelizations published to great acclaim. Age of Empires: The Rise of Rome adds a Spartacus expansion, and even several Eastern European soccer teams sport the name “Spartak” in honour of the gladiator. Spartacus is very well-known, and yet, people are happy to see different takes on the tale.
Spartacus: House of Ashur will be devoid of the titular star, and yet, fans will be itching for a return to Starz’s depiction of Ancient Rome. If DeKnight’s writing continues to be top-tier, we can expect a deserving entry to the series.
Leave a Comment