Jupiter’s cock, there’s a new season of Spartacus heading to Starz this weekend. Now, if everything in the last sentence made absolutely no sense to you, Spartacus: House of Ashur is probably not the right show for you to dive into right now – but more in a moment on what those unfamiliar with the brilliance that was Spartacus should do if they want to be initiated into the Brotherhood*. But if you happened to be a fan of the original series – which aired in four installments from 2010-2013 – this is joyous news indeed. Because even though the original series told the full and complete tale of the gladiator Spartacus and his famous slave uprising, it turns out there is still some story left to tell.
*So, I don’t have time to get into my entire pitch as to why you should watch Spartacus – the original run of the series is currently streaming on Netflix – but it’s a series that I really ended up falling in love with on the recommendation of TV critic Mo Ryan. Mo wrote up a great review of House of Ashur, complete with her pitch for why folks should give Spartacus, as a whole, a chance and I highly recommend reading it. Yes, the first couple of episodes are . . . rough. But once you get the hang of the unique language used and the level of melodrama, violence, and nudity (equal-opportunity nudity as well!) and see that the series has some truly compelling characters, stories, and performances, it’s a hell of a ride. But watch the original series before diving into House of Ashur – your experience will be so much the better for it.
But, you say, didn’t Ashur (Nick E. Tarabay), the wily and scheming slave of Batiatus, die during that uprising – after betraying the slaves to the Romans, no less? Why yes. Yes, he did. So, how is there a new series all about him? Well, it turns out sometimes the gods have a sense of humor – or they want to see those who have been dishonored punished even more – and House of Ashur presents us with a Sliding Doors-esque premise*, wherein Ashur was successful in his betrayal and managed to throw the spear that ultimately killed Spartacus during the uprising. This saw him lifted into the place vacated by Batiatus (who, along with Lucretia and all the other major characters from the original series, still died) and made Dominus of the ludus. So, the slave is now the master – although he remains unaccepted by higher society due to his status as a Syrian outsider.
*A fun little Easter Egg: John Hannah, who played the dearly departed Batiatus, was one of the stars of Sliding Doors.
It’s an intriguing premise. Ashur was the master of scheming in the original series, always playing all sides to secure himself the best possible odds and outcomes. He was, for lack of a better phrase, a total shit. And he never managed to achieve what he truly wanted: respect. Instead, he was Batiatus’ bloodhound, doing his dirty work while believing he deserved better. Here, he has the position of Dominus, but he continues to lack respect. Hell, even his gladiators don’t particularly respect him – although he no longer has the injury from the previous series, so he can cross swords with his fighters when the need arises. Tarabay is clearly having a ball stepping back into the skin of his former character, imbuing him with the same discerning eye as before but with a good amount less angst. If I have one criticism of the series thus far, it’s that it takes a bit too long to really let Ashur start working on the necessary schemes to try to achieve his goals. There’s a bit too much expositional work with the gladiators and not enough with the Roman gentry that Ashur needs to work with.
As for those gladiators and gentry, well, we have an entirely new cast of characters (with one key exception who shows up in episode four that I won’t spoil here – although the actor playing the character is new) to get acquainted with. Two, in particular, stand out as cut from the same cloth as those that came before them in this world. Claudia Black (Farscape, Stargate: SG-1, The Nevers, and Ashoka – she’s your go-to gal if you’re casting a badass in a genre TV show) takes on House of Asher’s central woman with power role, playing Cossutia, the Domina of a rival house (whose Senator husband is often in Rome, allowing her more freedom than most wives would have – and she’s gotten a bit too used to it). When you’re in the world of Spartacus, there’s a specific language to learn and you have to be willing to roll with some truly shocking punches from time to time. Black acquits herself exceptionally well, turning in a perfectly calibrated performance. And then there’s Graham McTavish as Korris, Ashur’s Doctore. A seasoned actor, McTavish is spectacular in a non-showy role, grounding a lot of the more eccentric elements of the story. It’s rare that there are sympathetic characters in the world of Spartacus, but Korris appears to be one. He’s certainly not weak, but he’s not conniving in the way so many around him are. There’s a nobility to McTavish’s performance that helps balance out everything that is swirling around him.
The story itself isn’t particularly revelatory. Ashur wants to be granted the right to have his ludus represented at the Capua arena (such as it is – the original arena was destroyed by Spartacus and has yet to be rebuilt). The other ludi do not want a foreigner – even one with a high-profile patron – given that honor. So, Ashur must scheme and play the various power players off one another in hopes of climbing the social ladder. Along the way there are a number of traps and pitfalls the navigate, both in society and within the ludus. And yes, there’s sequences of incredible violence (that strangely thin, red blood is still used and helps the temper some of the especially gory kills), lots of sex (and yes, there are a number of queer characters once again, including some of our central ones), and lots of scheming. And as with the original series, the treatment of slaves and gladiators as property to be owned remains a central theme of the writing. Steven S. DeKnight and his team make sure we never forget – despite some instances where a Roman might treat a slave with grace – that we’re watching people being treated as nothing more valuable than a nice chair. Their deaths are dismissed, their consent is unnecessary, and those with power wield it unrelentingly.
Keeping that in the forefront of the series helps to remind us just what Ashur has risen up from. And how hard it is for those in power around him to accept just who he is now compared to who he once was. Freedom doesn’t mean anything other than you are no longer property. You still have to claw and fight your way to relevance. And while Ashur was never a character one wanted to really root for back in the days of Spartacus, it’s fascinating to watch him try to turn himself into the person he so desperately wanted to become back then. If you were part of the Spartacus Brotherhood back in the day, you’re going to love this series. And if you never gave it a try, now’s your chance. It’s a hell of a ride.
Spartacus: House of Ashur premiers Friday, December 5 on Starz. Five of the ten episodes were provided for review.
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