There is a rising interest in films that portray life in Ancient Rome. There are several ideas that these shows normally focus on. Everyone’s favorite is the life of gladiators. Slaves whose fate was decided in the stadium doomed to engage in battles with beats and fellow brutes in order to earn their right to freedom. We have had some commentary from thinkers who have likened the obsession with entertainment and sports in the modern day to the lives of Romans who were often distracted from the challenges of everyday activities through sports. But apart from the layer that deals with life as a slave, there is another layer about the warrior class, and the ruling classes.
This is the story at the heart of Spartacus. My only criticism is the choice of colors that makes the certain parts of the series almost sleepy and unreal.
But the story telling is really good. The greater percentage of shows that have depicted Roman life do not shy away from steamy scenes of pleasure and Spartacus is no exception.
There are a few layers that are worth exploring though. The first is the strict nature of classes and lineage that dominated the time and that was responsible for everything that happened and how wealth and power were transferred.
One of the leading characters is a man (played by John Hannah) who has for generations been in charge of a group of gladiators (ludus). He has ambition though and so does his wife Lucretia (played by Lucy Lawless). They have a friend who is a general in the army called Glaber whose wife ilythiya (played by Viva Bianca) have some affection for the ludus owning couple.
Viva’s character is a confident well bred and cultured Roman who knows her place and how to put those who who are beneath her in theirs. As fate would have it these two families collide on the whole out of the lower status’ couple’s desire to rise up in ranks using the more connected military family. All this takes place in a background of love, hate and seething anger between different personalities in the ludus each seeking to rise and take the place of champion amongst the gladiators. The gladiators are foreseen by an older fighter faithful to his master and with keen eye for those with skill. Spartacus in the meantime (name comes later) has to work through his own issues and rivalries including a hatred from ilythiya and Glaber for breaking an agreement made with him while on the battlefield years prior.
You have the same dynamics at play in Domina although here the protagonist is seen making moves to the top through careful planning and intrigue with strategic marriages and breakups. She seems to retain her position though despite these calculated moves. In Domina (Livia Drusilla) she is the daughter of a general who was in support of the Republic and who must flee with her conniving and opportunistic husband from rival generals who wish to purge the empire of Julius Ceaser’s supporters. In the first season there is a conversation long before things go sideways where Domina meets two young ladies (one of whom was Scribonia) and tells them how she is richer and more beautiful that them. This rivalry will go on to dominate the encounters between this trio culminating in a nasty divorce and consequent marriage to Octavian which seals Livia Drusilla’s position in power.
You need to watch the story of ilythiya’s revenge mid series when the revolt takes place after the trap that was set by Lucretia fails or is undone by events. It represents one of the best comebacks that I have seen in any series.
Those about to die also manages to tap into similar subject matter by focusing on the underbelly of Roman life through the eyes of an up and comer who sues his contacts to set himself up as an influencer in the gambling dens of the day and his knowledge of the dark streets to forge a place for himself in high society. As this happens another layer of the show explores succession and sibling rivalry as a politician and a general seek to replace their father.
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