Our 'Those About to Die' episode 1 recap commences in the heart of ancient Rome, where the ambitious Tenax, proprietor of a gambling den and mastermind behind the betting operations for the gladiatorial spectacles, stands tall. These games are not merely a fleeting amusement in the midst of Emperor Vespasian's tumultuous reign. Vespasian, a former general, ascended to the throne victoriously following the demise of the preceding emperor. Together with his sons, the politician Domitian, the youngest, and the general Titus, the eldest, they ushered in the dawn of the Flavian dynasty.
We are ushered into the construction of a new gaming arena, crafted from the spoils of Titus' triumphant victory over Judea: The Flavian Amphitheatre. Four racing factions, each embodying the red, white, green, and blue houses, emerge. Contrary to custom, Vespasian refuses to sell shares of the amphitheatre, declaring it a gift to the people. This choice rattles the feathers of the faction lords, fearing the Flavians' threat to their existence and the redirection of wealth from the venerable Circus Maximus to this new arena.
As these events unfold in Rome, we shift our gaze to Numidia, the Roman province nestled in the heart of northern Africa. A pair of siblings, taken as slaves for defending themselves against a Roman soldier, are bound for Rome. Their mother, Cala, a Numidian trader, gathers her resources without delay and embarks on a journey to Rome, while her son, Kwame, ventures into the wild to hunt a lion for the Romans.
Trouble brews in the city as the empire struggles to transport grain, leading to a devastating famine. A single spark ignites a raging inferno as rioters swarm the streets, making their way towards the emperor's palace. Domitian proposes a diversion for the masses, and thus, the bells clang, signaling the commencement of the games. The crowd scrambles to witness the match.
Meanwhile, Tenax prepares for the betting frenzy, compelling Scorpus, the games' hero and a renowned champion, to participate. This draws a colossal crowd of eager bettors, fueling the anticipation for an epic spectacle.
As fate wove its intricate threads, three Spaniards arrived in Rome's bustling cityscape, eager to showcase and sell their prized steeds. Rufus, a man drowning in debt to the powerful Tenax, sought guidance from a prophetess, desperate for insights on the forthcoming chariot race. Guided by her cryptic predictions, he wagered on Scorpus, trading 500 precious shares of the blue faction, illicitly obtained from his unsuspecting wife.
Tenax, sensing a lucrative opportunity, cunningly manipulated Scorpus to ensure a victory tailored to his own gain. As the chariot race unfolded, its outcome hinged on Tenax's devious scheme. Amidst the thunder of hooves and the cheers of the crowd, Scorpus emerged victorious, but at a tragic cost. Two riders perished in a catastrophic clash, their chariots reduced to smoking wreckage by faulty wheels. The people, momentarily ecstatic, forgot their grievances against the emperor, enraptured by the spectacle.
After the dust settled, Tenax repaid the prophetess, her true identity as his accomplice now unmasked. He plotted to liquidate the blue faction's shares, amassing a fortune to forge a new power base, intent on disturbing the city's wealthy equilibrium.
Elsewhere, Vespasian's frustration boiled over as Titus's delays in grain transportation escalated. Titus's entanglement with the Judean queen further inflamed Vespasian's ire, who demanded her immediate return, imperiling Titus's imperial aspirations. Unbeknownst to Titus, the queen traversed the labor camp, where eighty thousand Judeans toiled beneath the sun, building the amphitheatre that would become the Roman Colosseum. She utilized her position to aid her people, however she could.
Kwame, his face etched with determination, confronted his imprisoned sisters, demanding their release. But his demands fell on deaf ears, and he was imprisoned alongside them. Their mother, Cala, found them and urged Kwame to showcase his might in the arena, the only means to avoid a fate worse than death in the mines. Kwame's prowess did not disappoint, and he secured a place as a gladiator, negotiating for his sisters' transfer to Rome as well. With the increasing demand for gladiators, this feat was not impossible. Cala, her heart heavy but her resolve unwavering, plotted to reunite her family in Rome, where she would buy them back from the clutches of slavery.
Meanwhile, Scorpus inspected the wreckage of the chariot race, his eyes narrowing as he discovered a chariot with a fatal flaw, the silent culprit behind the devastating crash.
