This week Starz debuts it new Spartacus spinoff House of Ashur, reviving the cult hit that helped shaped modern prestige genre television. We've seen the first half of the season, and have returned from the ludus to tell you what we witnessed there. Is Spartacus: House of Ashur a worthy follow-up to the original series' blood-drenched fight scenes, copious nudity, and brutal twists and turns?
From what I've seen, the answer is a yes that resounds as loud as any colosseum crowd. Spartacus: House of Ashur is both a retread of familiar ground from Spartacus, as well as a fresh spin on the beloved gladiator series that feels a bit lighter and a lot more fun. The overriding feeling I had watching House of Ashur is that Spartacus creator Steven S. DeKnight and his team had a grand time making this series. That translates through the screen, and by the end of its fifth episode, I was firmly hooked and eager to see where the story goes next.
Let's break things down a little bit further. There will be NO SPOILERS in this review, so carry on without fear even if you're saving your first experience on the sands for the two-episode series premiere this Friday, December 5.
Spartacus: House of Ashur review
The original Spartacus had a lot of dark humor, but on the whole, it was a much more brooding show than House of Ashur thanks to the basic set up. That series followed the titular slave-turned-gladiator as he led a rebellion that shook Rome to its foundations. There are some scenes that really dig into the supremely messed up dynamics between Roman nobles and their slaves, and the many things those unfortunate enough to end up under the Roman yoke were forced to do. At the same time, we knew going in that Spartacus was not responsible for overthrowing the Roman Empire in history; that made the series feel like a doomed march, where no matter how inspiring our hero was, things were always bound to end in a tragic way.
Spartacus: House of Ashur is a very different beast. Nick E. Tarabay's Ashur was a standout character from the original series, but he was also one of the most loathsome because he was utterly opportunistic and never afraid to stab those around him in the back if it got him an inch of advantage. The spinoff doesn't necessarily make him more sympathetic, but its "what if" alternate history does present him as an underdog who is hated by all of the Roman nobility, and that gives him more room to win over the audience. In this life, Ashur didn't die on the slops of Vesuvius after betraying his gladiator brothers; instead he helped the Romans win a crucial victory, and was rewarded with the ludus of his former master, Batiatus. Tarabay is as good as ever at portraying Ashur; perhaps even better than the original show, thanks to the opportunities presented by the spinoff's slightly lighter tone.
Don't let the fact that Spartacus: House of Ashur is a little funnier than the original make you think it's all fun and games, though. There's definitely a feeling that Ashur is moving toward darker times ahead that permeated the episodes I saw. This series is bloody as hell, with some truly gruesome kills that are unlike any I've seen on TV. The mandate for Spartacus has always felt like it was to make the gladiator battles as stylistically outrageous as possible, and House of Ashur revels in this challenge. It's a blast to watch. The threat level gradually ramps up throughout the show as well, which is a welcome counterbalance. One duel in particular reminded me of my personal favorite from the original Spartacus, the blindfolded Gannicus fight in Gods of the Arena. If you've seen it, you likely know how high of praise that is, and House of Ashur earns it.
The writing in Spartacus: House of Ashur feels like a play in the best way
However, the glorious battles of Spartacus: House of Ashur would be nothing if the show failed to get us invested in the characters, or had shoddy writing. Fortunately, these are both areas where this spinoff really excels. It is no small task to introduce a whole new cast of characters in the Spartacus universe and expect viewers to care about them the way they did about the likes of the Mad Thracian, Crixus, and Gannicus, but Spartacus: House of Ashur actually pulls it off.
Beyond Ashur, one of the other leads is the grizzled Doctore (trainer) of the ludus, Korris, played to perfection by Graham McTavish. If you watch a lot of fantasy or historical fare, you've almost certainly seen McTavish before in shows like Outlander, House of the Dragon, or The Witcher. But despite his deep catalog of credentials, Korris might be one of my favorite roles I've seen McTavish in to date. It gives this excellent actor room to fully explore his range, and Spartacus: House of Ashur is undoubtedly better for it.
McTavish and Tarabay aren't the only standouts. Tenika Davis does a phenomenal job as the female warrior Achillia, the gladiator father-son duo of Celadus (Dan Hamill) and Tarchon (Jordi Webber) present a fascinating dynamic that only grows better as the season goes on, and Roman nobles like Cassutia (Claudia Black), Cornelia (Jamie Slater), and Caesar (Jackson Gallagher) add a viperish vindictiveness that is delicious to watch.
All of these great actors are propped up by writing that feels a notch above the original Spartacus, both in terms of its tightness as well as its florid use of language. Spartacus: House of Ashur almost feels at times like watching a Shakespearean play — until someone drops a sudden expletive, the comedic timing of which is shockingly consistent throughout.
Those are a few of the main highlights that stood out to me for Spartacus: House of Ashur, though of course there are others. The costuming is lush, the settings gorgeous to look at, and the score sweeping enough to put you right back in the ludus despite the fact that it's been more than decade since Spartacus was last on Starz. The plot has many twists and turns, and while it does take a little while to get some proper steam behind it, the build-up is good enough that I was always extremely entertained.
The main drawback this series has is that if you don't like the pulpy style of Spartacus, where blood fountains out of dismembered body parts and the nearest orgy is only a hallway tracking shot away, you will not like this show. But if you remember Spartacus fondly, or have always been curious about Starz's hit Roman historical saga, then Spartacus: House of Ashur is a highly entertaining watch that is very much worth the time.
Verdict
Spartacus: House of Ashur is a fitting revival spinoff, which leaves the original show in tact while bringing viewers on an interesting, alternate story set in the same world. There's a feeling that this is a production that has been honed as keenly as any blade in the ludus, as the writing, direction, acting, costuming, and virtually every other production element exude a sense of craft. That includes that absolutely over the top nudity and violence. If Spartacus: House of Ashur wants to shock you, you can be sure that it's going to do it in exactly the way it intends, and it will pull it off. It's a fun watch that I'm eager to give a second go as the series airs on Starz over the next few months.
Spartacus: House of Ashur premieres its first two episodes on Starz on Friday, December 5 at 9:00 p.m. ET. After that, new episodes will follow weekly for the rest of the season's 10-episode run.