Those About to Die is a ten-episode historical drama set in Rome around AD 79. It brings chariot racing, gladiatorial combat, betting and imperial politics together, using real rulers and events as a backdrop for a largely fictional story. Season 1 premiered on July 18, 2024.
What is Those About to Die about?
The series follows people whose lives converge around Rome’s public spectacles and the business built around them. Its story spans the arena, the chariot races and the political maneuvering around the imperial succession. The result is an action drama and political melodrama, not a documentary reconstruction.
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The main storylines
- Tenax: An ambitious betting operator navigating the profitable, dangerous world surrounding Roman games. Tenax is fictional.
- Scorpus: A celebrated chariot racer whose success makes him a focus of the racing story. Scorpus was a historical figure, though the series reshapes his life and chronology.
- The imperial family: Vespasian and his sons Titus and Domitian are caught up in questions of power and succession.
- The arena: Enslaved people are forced into the brutal spectacle, bringing the human cost of the games into the story.
Is Those About to Die based on a true story?
It is inspired by history, but its plot is not a straightforward retelling of documented events. The series is set during the reign of Vespasian, following the upheaval known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Vespasian, Titus, Domitian and the charioteer Scorpus were real people. The drama uses them as historical anchors while changing chronology and biography for its story.
Tenax and several other principal characters were invented. Actor Jojo Macari, who plays Domitian, called him “a very well documented man” in a 2024 Syfy Wire feature; that historical record does not make the show’s dramatized scenes a factual account.
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How many episodes are in Season 1?
Season 1 has ten episodes. Peacock announced that all ten would be available to stream on the July 18, 2024 premiere date; Rotten Tomatoes’ episode guide also lists ten episodes.
Where can you watch Those About to Die?
Peacock is the listed streaming destination. Availability is territorial: the Peacock page accessed for this listing indicated that streaming requires a device physically located in the United States and that the service is unavailable in some other territories. Check Peacock’s current listing and your location before relying on access; the US restriction should not be read as a guarantee of availability in every location or at every later date.
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What book inspired the series?
The series was inspired by Daniel P. Mannix’s nonfiction book Those About to Die, about gladiators and games in ancient Rome. The book provides background and inspiration; it should not be treated as a source for every character or plot event in the television season.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What did critics think of Season 1?
Critical response was mixed. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics consensus praised the spectacle while finding the characterization and narrative cohesion wanting. In a 2024 review for TIME, Judy Berman described the show as violent and soapy, with an unwieldy cast. These are critical assessments, not a measure of audience response; no audience survey or viewership total is established in the cited coverage.
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