We delve into the thrilling recap and review of "Those About to Die" episode 2, commencing with Scorpus's urgent arrival at Tenax's abode, bearing news of the chariot sabotage that would've spelled Tenax's doom if he hadn't declined the new chariot. Tenax, unwavering, embarks on a quest to uncover the culprit. Close to executing the craftsman Lentullus, he realizes it wasn't him but Domitian's trusted aide, Lucius.
Meanwhile, Titus defies his father's wishes and declares his desire to be with Berenice, the Judean queen. Armed with newfound knowledge, Tenax visits Scorpus, revealing Domitian's scheme to sabotage the chariot race to win his wager on the white faction. Deep in debt to numerous betting taverns, Domitian relies heavily on his father's strings. Inspired, Tenax crafts a cunning plan.
Elsewhere, Cala, in the midst of selling her precious pearls, is ruthlessly robbed by Lucius. With a mix of wit and courage, she retrieves them, but Lucius has already squandered most, leaving Cala financially strained. Kwame arrives, accompanied by fellow gladiators, and is challenged to face Viggo. Despite his unfamiliarity with Roman swords and shields, Kwame emerges victorious, albeit awkwardly, igniting Domitian's fury. Nonetheless, Domitian keeps Kwame, planning to have him slain by the fearsome gladiator Flamma.
Scorpus, finally astride the Andalusian steeds, is overwhelmed by their blazing speed. He brokers a deal with the three brothers, promising to purchase the horses if they remain in Rome. However, the youngest, Elia, refuses to stay.
Tenax then visits Marsus, Antonia's husband, and sells him the crucial 500 shares of the blue faction, catapulting him to the helm of the faction, surpassing Caltonia. Prior to this encounter, Antonia had noticed Scorpus purchasing his own horses, sensing a potential departure. With his newly acquired funds, Tenax approaches Domitian, offering a partnership to establish a fifth faction. The prospect of half ownership, coupled with Scorpus and the Andalusian steeds, intrigues Domitian, desperate for cash.
Later, Vespasian's decision to appoint Titus as king over Domitian echoed through the halls, citing the necessity of a warrior-king. Domitian seethed with indignation, yet he nursed his own ambitions—the formation of the fifth faction. As Elia and his siblings debated their future in Rome, they stumbled upon a distressing sight: their steeds lay sickly. Scorpus and Tenax stumbled upon this unwelcome revelation, only to find Domitian himself arriving to inspect the horses.
According to the physician's diagnosis, the horses had fallen victim to a malicious dose of nightshade. Tenax struggled to deter Domitian's visit, yet fate conspired, and the emperor entered. Finding the horses hoisted in slings, Domitian grudgingly accepted their excuses, sealing a bargain with Tenax.
In desperation, Tenax and his allies turned to yellow ash, a substance often deemed poisonous. Yet, Scorpus vouched for its curative powers, recalling how it had once saved a horse. He and one of the brothers journeyed to Pompeii, seeking the advice of the physician who had administered it.
Meanwhile, Tenax set out on a quest to uncover the perpetrator behind the horse poisoning. His suspicions narrowed down to someone traveling in a luxurious litter adorned with gold and green stripes. The following day, that same litter arrived at a slave auction, where Tenax was present. Cala, desperate to reclaim her younger daughter, Jula, found herself outbid by a mysterious figure in the litter—Antonia, who purchased Jula for a staggering 3000 sesterces, beyond Cala's reach.
Aura, Cala's elder daughter, was fraudulently purchased by Tenax for a mere 500 sesterces. However, Cala struck a bargain with Tenax, offering herself as a mediator, providing him with insights from the House of Marsus through Jula. In return, Tenax pledged not to harm Aura and would sell her freedom once his mission was accomplished.
Later, Viggo sought Kwame's aid, teaching him strategies to overcome opponents larger and stronger than himself. In exchange, Viggo imparted the secrets of Roman swordsmanship to Kwame. He also spoke of the "Wooden Sword," a symbol of freedom. "When a gladiator delights the crowds, they may demand his release, granting him the Wooden Sword and liberating him from this arena," Viggo added, the words resonating with Kwame.
