Those About to Die is a sprawling historical drama that transports viewers to 79 AD Rome, where Emperor Vespasian (Anthony Hopkins) launches the Colosseum era to placate a restless populace through gladiatorial combat and chariot races.
The ten-episode first season follows a varied ensemble—gritty gladiators like Kwame and Viggo, charioteers backed by rival factions, and scheming courtiers—all maneuvering around politics, ambition, and survival as Rome’s underbelly thrives on blood-sport spectacle.
Visually vivid but narratively mixed—holding a ~47% approval on Rotten Tomatoes and with some critics calling out cliché or underdeveloped characters—its scale and production value remain undeniable.
Launched July 18, 2024 in the U.S. and July 19 internationally, the full season is available for streaming exclusively on Peacock in the U.S., and via Amazon Prime Video in many other regions.
