Gladiator Meets Game Of Thrones In Peacock's Underrated 10-Part Historical Epic

6 days ago 7

Published May 3, 2026, 8:01 AM EDT

Shealyn Scott is a Self-Publishing Senior Writer at Screen Rant. She has been writing for the site since 2024, focused on network, reality, streaming, and classic television.
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One of Peacock's most ambitious series harks back to genre-defining titles like Gladiator and Game of Thrones, but it's still criminally underrated. Without question, Ridley Scott's 2000 film Gladiator is one of the most influential historical epics of all time. Russell Crowe's portrayal of Maximus Decimus Meridius avenging his family's murder by becoming the eponymous Colosseum fighter was an award-winning performance. Similarly, Game of Thrones revolutionized the fantasy genre, blurring the line between classic sword and sorcery and highbrow prestige television for arguably the first time in history.

From the beginning, Those About to Die was even likened to a Game of Thrones plot simply set in Rome rather than Westeros. As the 10-episode series developed, however, its unique identity slowly emerged. Titus (Tom Hughes) and Domitian (Jojo Macari) both vying for their father's emperorship made for a thrilling rivalry, while devoted mother Cala's (Sara Martins) quest to free her children added an unexpectedly emotional edge to the typical blood, sex, and death. Unfortunately, Those About to Die's constant comparisons meant its greatest strengths were often overlooked.

Those About To Die Was Underrated Upon Release

Peacock's Bold Take On Roman History Was Massively Underestimated

The lukewarm critical response to Those About to Die certainly contributed to its less-than-stellar reputation, but constant comparisons to Game of Thrones and Gladiator also worked as a double-edged sword. Being linked to major IPs may lead to a bump in viewership, but more often than not, it merely invites the audience to measure a new series against any acclaimed title it loosely resembles— a competition that's rigged from the start. Furthermore, Those About to Die was never meant to be a replica of Gladiator or Game of Thrones in the first place.

Rather, the Peacock original offers something different entirely. There was clearly a concerted effort made to incorporate some truly fascinating and lesser-known characteristics of ancient Rome, from the show's chariot-racing storylines to its meticulous sets that even the most pedantic history fans can marvel at. At the same time, accuracy obviously isn't its main priority, but the anachronisms almost always serve a larger purpose in the overarching narrative. Sadly, far too few took the chance to watch the show itself, missing out on the genuinely enthralling performances of cast members like Martins and the indomitable Anthony Hopkins (Vespasianus).

Those About To Die Was Overshadowed By Gladiator 2

The TV Landscape Wasn't Big Enough For Two Colosseum Tales

Lucius rubs sand on his hands in the arena in Gladiator 2.

Of course, there was one major factor that helped banish Those About to Die to television limbo: Gladiator 2. Starring Paul Mescal as Lucius Verus Aurelius, son of the first film's protagonist, the blockbuster sequel dropped mere months after Those About to Die's series premiere. Consequently, the film completely eclipsed Peacock's historical drama, prematurely ending any chance it had to succeed in a mainstream capacity. With all the buzz immediately redirected to Gladiator 2, it's no wonder that Those About to Die remains in purgatory to this day, never officially canceled but never renewed for season 2.

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Ironically, the film's release should have helped the Peacock original— at least in theory. The high-budget epic with intense battle scenes could have whetted the audience's appetite for a resurgence of classical films set in Roman antiquity. Plus, the political intrigue of the 2024 series and the bloodthirsty sword-and-sandal structure of the sequel balanced each other nicely as a makeshift double feature. Yet, while Gladiator 2 was far from perfect, its direct connection to a beloved franchise overshadowed Those About to Die during a pivotal moment, and the promising series has been wading in obscurity ever since.