Those About To Die Ending Explained

Peacock’s new historical drama Those About To Die introduces viewers to the corrupt and violent underworld that surrounded Rome’s gladiatorial spectacles during the reign of Emperor Vespasian and his sons. Those About To Die stars an ensemble cast led by Sir Anthony Hopkins as Emperor Vespasian, and includes story lines that cover each level of Roman society, from the gladiator and slave trade to the machinations of the highest political powers.

Set in the year 79 AD, Emperor Vespasian is at the end of his life at the opening of Those About To Die. His sons Titus (Tom Hughes) and Domitian (Jojo Macari) were already positioning themselves to ascend to power upon his death, but when he finally dies and Titus is named emperor, Domitian’s schemes ratchet up as he attempts to undermine his brother’s rule to take the throne for himself. He becomes increasingly reliant on his partnership with the crime boss Tenax (Iwan Rheon), and the two ultimately work to end Titus’ life and seize power for Domitian.

As they maneuver, former Numidian trader Cala enacts a number of plans to free her three children from slavery, eventually working her way into Tenax’s inner circle thanks to her intelligence, mastery of languages, and head for numbers. Her son Kwame establishes himself as a fan-favorite gladiator, and is chosen to fight in the opening games of the Flavian Amphitheater, now known as the Colosseum. At the end of the first season of Those About to Die, a number of major characters saw their fortunes change for the better, while others met their end in an appropriately bloody fashion.

Who Is The Emperor At The End Of Those About To Die’s Finale

The rivalry between Titus and Domitian comes to an end

In the final two episodes of Those About To Die, Domitian and Tenax find themselves with their backs against the wall as Titus discovers evidence of Domitian’s plots to undermine his authority. He receives word that the navigator of a grain ship can confirm that Domitian delayed shipments of grain behind his brother’s back, hoping to further the Roman people’s frustration with Titus as they grew hungrier. In a last-ditch effort to save their own lives and end Titus’, Tenax bribes Manilius and his praetorians to turn on Titus to the tune of 10 million sesterces.

To come up with that sum, Tenax proposes that they bet everything they have on Scorpus to take the lead and win in a specific round during the opening games of the Amphitheater, and to fix the race to ensure that outcome. Unfortunately for them, Scorpus is killed early in the race by Elia, who sought to avenge his brother’s death at Scorpus’ hands. Tenax luckily finds the money he needs to cover his debt to Manilius, and as Titus forces his brother to accompany him to talk to the navigator, Tenax follows with the praetorians.

This leads to a final showdown between Titus and Domitian with Titus surrounded by the guards loyal to Domitian. Titus proposes that his brother kill him himself with a sword, knowing that if he suffers a violent death, his brother will be the most likely suspect. Tenax wisely sneaks up behind Titus and smothers him with a wet rag, ensuring there would be no physical evidence of foul play if Titus’ body is examined.

Upon returning to Rome, Domitian tells the senators that his brother died of natural causes, blaming his death on some bad fish that he had eaten. In the immediate power vacuum, Domitian declares himself the new emperor, and while initially hesitant, the Senate confirms his self-appointment. The series ends with Domitian placing the emperor’s crown on his own head, having finally seen his schemes come to fruition.

How Cala And Tenax Rise In Power

Two of the show’s smartest characters come out on top

As a reward for his service and loyalty, Domitian makes Tenax the Aedile Ludi, a Roman magistrate who is tasked with managing the games at the new Amphitheater. Born as a common stable boy, he scratched and clawed his way to power using his wits and not a small amount of ruthlessness. His gambling tavern held sway over many of the season’s events, as did his manipulation of the chariot races with his friend, the crowd-favorite charioteer Scorpus.

Cala (Sara Martins) also finds her position improved by season’s end. She originally came to Rome as a simple Numidian trader, concerned only with freeing her three children, who found themselves enslaved and split up to serve different masters. Her supreme intelligence and mastery of languages makes her a useful asset for Tenax in the running of his gambling tavern, and she establishes herself in his household. Her motives remain the same however, as she gains the position in an effort to free her daughter Aura, who is a slave in Tenax’s house.

In the end of Those About To Die, Cala actually betrays Tenax, and schemes with Antonia and Berenice, Titus’ mistress, to provide proof of Tenax and Domitian’s betrayal to the emperor. Berenice is killed on her way to Titus, and Cala’s betrayal is discovered by Tenax. However, when he confronts her she notes that even though she betrayed him, she never lied to him, and therefore she not only retains her place in his house, but is given even more control of his gambling tavern.

How Kwame Earns His Freedom

His hand is forced by the Domitian’s schemes

Kwame (Moe Hashim) became a gladiator in the first place after displaying his fighting ability to the Roman soldiers taking him and his sisters into captivity, but his skills did not translate perfectly to the arena. He learns what he needs to survive from Viggo (Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson), a Norse warrior and fellow gladiator at the ludus in which he is trained. The two form a friendship, each recognizing the other as a good man with ultimately good intentions, and who fight for their loved ones.

Kwame’s run-ins with Domitian earlier in the season, and his subsequent defiance of his wishes, established a deep mutual hatred between the gladiator and the would-be emperor. As a final act of cruelty, Domitian pits Kwame against Viggo one-on-one in the arena during the opening games, forcing them to fight by threatening to kill Kwame’s sister Jula and Viggo’s son if they do not. The two men engage in a bitter struggle, with Kwame ultimately triumphing and killing Viggo at Titus’ behest.

As a reward for his impressive display and his bravery, Titus presents Kwame with the rudis, a wooden sword that represents freedom for the gladiator. He leaves the decision on what to do with it up to Kwame, and he presents it to his sister Jula as a way of granting her freedom from the house of Marsus and Antonia. It’s evidence of Kwame’s selflessness, and continues to reinforce the notion that he is the character with the purest heart in the world of betrayal and deception.

Kwame promises Viggo he will keep his son alive, but a furious and petty Domitian orders his son’s death anyway. The enmity between Kwame and Domitian stands as the starkest reminder of the cruelty of Rome. Simply due to their status, Kwame is a victim of untold cruelty at Domitian’s hands, and proves exactly how evil and devious Domitian is, almost more so than his scheming to murder his own brother.

What Happens To Antonia In Those About To Die’s Ending

Her scheming ends in tragedy

Antonia and her husband Marsus, the Consul, have an opposite arc compared to most of the other characters. Antonia and Marsus begin in a position of power and wealth, and as such they begin to dream of higher position. They conspire to usurp the reign of Vespasian and then Titus, but ultimately their activities are discovered and Marsus is arrested. Antonia retains her freedom as her role in pulling Marsus’ strings remains unknown to all but a few.

Domitian decides to make an example out of Marsus in the opening games, and places him on a boat in the flooded Colosseum. He and the senators who aided his betrayal (along with Hermes, Domitian’s former lover) are eventually devoured by crocodiles, with Antonia watching alongside Cala. Antonia decides that she has no more stomach for Rome and its schemes, and ends the season seeming to resolve to leave.

Antonia and Marsus are a prime example of just how dangerous the political intrigue of Rome was. Even their privileged position and wealth wasn’t enough to keep them from being swallowed up by the deadly games surrounding the halls of power and the gambling underworld. She begins as the inverse of Kwame and his siblings with money and influence, but ultimately ends up victimized just as they were.

How Those About To Die Sets Up Season 2

Many major characters survive the bloody finale

Those About To Die clearly wasn’t meant to be a limited series, as the show’s ending moves many of its surviving characters into new positions of power. The political intrigue and corruption of the gladiatorial games is far from over, and with Domitian now on the throne he has a new level of power to put to diabolical use. Tenax and Cala both have new roles that will keep the ground-level perspective of the gladiatorial games, and Kwame may still be a gladiator having passed his freedom on to his sister.

Domitian declared before the Senate that the new Amphitheater would not be manipulated by the five colored factions who dominate the chariot races, but rather it would be entirely about providing the people of Rome with entertainment. That could completely shift the power dynamic of the games, and with Tenax now making the decisions for how the games unfold it gets even more interesting. It seems likely that he will continue to try and manipulate his way upward, and Cala will likely be along for the ride as she continues to try and free Aura and Kwame.

The Real Meaning Of Those About To Die’s Ending

The corruption in Rome runs deep

The central idea that Those About To Die communicates is that a person’s position in the world is never secure. Intelligence, ruthlessness, and a bit of luck can make even the poorest individual a person of influence. Likewise, having wealth and power does not preclude anyone from falling victim to the schemes of others; even the Emperor of Rome is not safe from the whims of the public and those who seek to supplant them. The power dynamics at play in the show are constantly shifting, which is part of what makes the show so entertaining.

Another, simpler theme is that one thing holds more sway over society than any amount of power: money. Loyalty, influence, and influence are all for sale for the right price and for the right buyer, which is why the gladiatorial games devolved into something so corrupt. The gladiators themselves give their lives for the sake of others increasing their wealth, whether through shares in the factions or through winning bets. It’s a concept that translates directly to the modern world, which can be little more than an updated reflection of the power dynamics seen in Those About To Die.

Those About To Die (2024)

Set in the year 79 AD in Rome, “Those About to Die” dives into the brutal and complex world of gladiatorial combat. The series explores the dark underbelly of Roman entertainment, where the promise of free food and blood-soaked spectacles keep the restless population in check. The narrative focuses on various characters from all corners of the Roman Empire, whose lives intersect in the grand arena.

Cast

Anthony Hopkins , Tom Huges , Sara Martins , Jojo Macari , Gabriella Pession , Dmitri Leonidas , Moe Hashim , Iwan Rheon

Release Date

July 18, 2024

Seasons

1