After a highly action-packed episode that finally saw Spartacus: House of Ashur return to proper gladiatorial combat, Episode 6 might feel a bit restrained in comparison. With Achillia on the cusp of death due to the injuries she sustained in the Primus, the action is confined to the ludus, with the only swordplay being non-lethal training to determine who among Ashur’s house will stand as interim champion in her absence. But don’t be fooled. “Empty Things” has the best political maneuvering of the season thus far, some of the strongest character moments, and by far the most drastic implications for the remaining episodes.
The unexpected focus is on Korris. The House of Ashur’s weathered Doctore has found love in the form of Opiter. And here, an opportunity presents itself that might allow Korris to spin that mutual affection into a life away from servitude and combat. When Ashur, panicking about what Achillia’s potential fate means for his future, throws his medicus off a cliff when he informs him that the infected hand will need to be removed, Korris is sent to entreat with Opiter about borrowing his medicine man. This opens a door to a new chain of events that threaten to elevate Ashur’s status to previously unimaginable heights, and then, by the end, threaten to leave him even worse off than when he started.
Opiter plans to leave Capua. He confesses to Korris his involvement in maneuvering Cossutia and Viridia so that they could be attacked by Caesar’s “Cilician” pirates, and heroically saved by Korris and Ashur. Now, he’s worried that he might be killed, so he’s not inclined to blab about his involvement in that scheme. He does send a medicus, one who exclusively speaks fast-paced Greek that Ashur can’t understand, but he also sends Korris back even more annoyed than usual about all the scheming that has been going on behind his back.
And there’s plenty of scheming going on back at the villa. Cornelia remains in residence, abusing Ashur’s hospitality and flexing her storied family name – more significant even than Caesar’s, apparently – to make a mockery of her host. Initially, it seems like she’s just being self-serving to torment Ashur. She sleeps with his slaves in his bath, invites Cossutia and Viridia over without his knowledge, and when Korris proposes a tournament to determine which of the gladiators will stand as champion until Achillia recovers, she steals three of them to partake in a more intimate tournament for the ladies’ benefit. But she does, of course, have a plan of her own.
Cornelia is trying to manipulate Cossutia into marrying Viridia off to an ally of Caesar’s, Quintus Thermus. At present, this is something of a secret; Messia overhears it, but she’s still too salty about Hilara to share the information. But she tips her hand a bit when she organizes a meeting with Gabinius so that Ashur can sell the plan to him. But Ashur’s deeply into Viridia, and the interest seems to run both ways, since his own self-advancement – not to mention elevating Achillia, a woman, to the status of vaunted arena champion – has revealed to her that there’s more to life than “pretty and empty things”, which on some level she considers even herself to be.
In the sixth episode of "Spartacus: House of Ashur," Ashur makes his way to Gabinius, unafraid to voice his dissent towards Caesar's authority. To his surprise, Gabinius agrees to terminate the arrangement without hesitation. However, Ashur's bargaining position is further strengthened by the recent developments in the saga between Korris and Opiter. The former has accepted the latter's offer to escape together, and Opiter must sweeten the deal to convince Ashur to release Korris from his service. If Ashur agrees, Opiter promises him his villa, his ludus, and all the gladiators within.
Ashur is not pleased about Korris's departure but can't resist the allure of such a lucrative deal. Naturally, his own ego proves to be his downfall. Running into Proculus in the market, he can't help but boast about how much his status will be elevated by Opiter's holdings. He seems to have it all figured out.
Celadus wins the tournament to become the interim champion, but Ashur generously grants that honor to Tarchon, whom he defeated in the finals, so that Celadus can become the new Doctore, paving the way for Korris's departure. All he asks of Korris is to stay with him to pray for Achillia's survival—a significant indication of how desperate he has become, given his staunch non-belief. This request is granted, and Achillia awakens from her nightmares of past violence. However, she will likely be out of commission for some time yet.
However, the otherwise happy ending is shattered by the Brothers Ferox. Sneaking into Opiter's villa in the dead of night, they brutally murder his staff and ultimately hack him to pieces—a clear directive from Proculus. Korris's romantic future is ruined, and Ashur is left in a worse position than ever. If only he had kept his mouth shut.
