TV's Violent 'Gladiator' Replacement Dominates Global Streaming Charts

1 week ago 9

Jordi Webber (“Tarchon”) spars with Tenika Davis (“Achillia”)

Published Feb 2, 2026, 2:35 PM EST

Denis is a news writer for Collider. He has covered television for several years, starting with writing scripts for YouTube videos before transitioning to articles. He has reviewed shows across different genres. His favorite types of articles to write are exciting news updates about shows and episodic reviews of the same. He might say he doesn't have a favorite show, but he has watched The Wire, Shameless, The Big Bang Theory, and The Blacklist more than once. Find him on X tweeting about something random that occurred to him about a TV show or the industry.

The House of Ashur might not be seeing the success it wants yet, but that hasn't stopped Spartacus: House of Ashur from conquering streaming services globally. It's easy to see how the alt-history drama has captivated viewers globally. An offshoot of the popular 2010 erotic action-thriller Spartacus, House of Ashur has all the hallmarks of the mothership series. From gory action to rousing romance and sharp dialogue, Spartacus: House of Ashur captures all the good traits of its predecessor.

The show was a critical success, boasting a 92% score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. "It's clever, and it works; outside of the event that enables its premise, the series otherwise retains the gritty realpolitik realism that the original show often revolved around. Spartacus: House of Ashur also largely retains the original series' deep showcase of the ancient Roman Id, parading the empire's honorific culture alongside an unflinching orgy of sex and violence (though not always simultaneously)," Collider's Jeff Ewing wrote in his review of Spartacus: House of Ashur Season 1.

The Starz Original is seeing massive streaming gains ahead of the Season 1 finale set for this Friday. From PVOD services like Amazon to SVOD services like Starz, the show is among the top five most popular in various countries. Spartacus: House of Ashur is the most-watched show on Starz in the US and on MGM+ in the UK. However, the series has attracted undue controversy from review bombers after featuring a Black female gladiator as the lead, which might explain the 55% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes.

What To Expect in the 'Spartacus: House of Ashur' Season 1 Finale

Matters come to a head in Spartacus: House of Ashur Season 1, Episode 10, "Hail Caesar." All the arcs that have been brewing throughout the season converge in the games that pit Achilia (Tenika Davis) against the Scythian (Annie Jacqueline Mossman), who ended Celadus (Dan Hamill). These games mean a lot to Ashur and the entire house, which has been held in low regard. If Achilia succeeds, not only will she avenge her lover, she'll also cement herself as a champion, ending Proculus' (Simon Arblaster) antics, and maybe win her freedom. Meanwhile, Ashur is dealing with the brutality of Roman politics. He played a huge part in the death of his only true friend and ally, Gabinius (Andrew McFarlane). Even for Ashur, the emotional fallout promises to be huge.

Spartacus: House of Ashur creator Steven S. DeKnight has revealed that the story is expected to continue, with Season 2 already written. The show also stars Graham McTavish (Korris), Jamaica Vaughan (Hilara), Ivana Baquero (Messia), Jordi Webber (Tarchon), Claudia Black (Cossutia), India Shaw-Smith (Viridia), Leigh Gill (Satyrus), Jackson Gallagher (Gaius Julius Caesar), Jaime Slater (Cornelia Cinna), and Evander Brown (Ephesius).