Return to the Sands in ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’
“I’m going to inherit everything your husband had and it will be the rise of the House of Ashur”
Steven S. DeKnight and Nick E. Tarabay team up again—12 years since Ashur’s demise—in a twist of fate that is Spartacus: House of Ashur. This return to the sands of the arena is an act of Ashur living an alternate version of his life, 1 of many possibilities, that makes him the new Dominus as the inheritor of former House Batiatus—living the prophecy in which he once predicted. As one of the favorite “villains” in the original series, Nick reprises his role as Ashur as if he’s never taken a day off from the sands. This time around, Ashur is granted the opportunity to live the life he feels he is owed, train the greatest warriors in the most prominent ludus (gladiator school) in all of Rome, and gain the respect he desperately craves.
So why here? Why now? What makes House of Ashur different? Ashur’s story is the story of the ultimate underdog, a person who was a victim of circumstance who fought desperately for status and riches just to have it snatched from him when it was just within reach. Even with the hands of fate involved—Ashur, the Dominus, with status and riches—he must still fight to be worthy in the eyes of the existing powers. This makes HoA feel differently than the original. While Spartacus was a story of rebellion, HoA is a story of grit, and Nick takes center stage as he expands upon Ashur’s story, his motivations, his fears, and his humanity.
One thing Ashur has never done is play by the rules. His methods, though questionable, have always been ahead of his time and this time is no different. For the first time in history, Ashur makes a bold move and brings a woman into the ludus, a woman by the name of Achillia. Played by Tenika Davis, the gladiatrix steps into the sands with the world against her and only one person in her corner: Ashur. Like Ashur, Achillia is an outcast running away from demons that refuse to release their barbed grasp on her life. She not only must prove she is worth the gamble to Ashur, but prove she is the worth the gamble for herself.
House of Ashur breathes life back into a beloved franchise with its bold story and even twistier turns. Also starring Claudia Black as Cossutia, India Shaw-Smith as Viridia, Jaime Slater as Cornelia, Jackson Gallagher as Caesar, and Graham McTavish as Doctore/Korris, the ensemble binds together the “what if”—a story where the slave is now the master, and, a story from whom he seeks respect, they seek his permanent destruction.
House of Ashur, like its predecessor, will explore themes of betrayal and loyalty in Roman society as the power balance is in threat of a major shift. But another major theme is one rooted in the human experience—love, lust, jealousy, desperation, freedom. The House is not just a representation of Ashur’s second chance. The people within those walls—from the servants to the gladiators—represent every obstacle he’s ever faced, every degrading name he’s ever been called, and every spit in the face he’s ever received. His ludus is more than a training ground of warriors. It is the very foundation of his fight for his place in Roman history.
Spartacus: House of Ashur will air a 2-episode premiere Friday, December 5, on the Starz app and Starz on-demand, and every Friday thereafter.
Check out an exclusive sneak peak into episode 1 “Dominus” below.
© Kivonshe | So There’s That Podcast
Original editorial commentary on film and television. All rights reserved. Reproduction or redistribution without attribution is not permitted.