# Spartacus: House of Ashur (2025)

> A former gladiator turned ludus owner allies with a fierce gladiatrix to stage spectacles that scandalize Rome's elite.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/156960

## Facts

- Seasons: 1
- Episodes: 10
- Episode runtime: 60 min
- Status: Canceled
- Genres: drama, action, history
- Created by: Steven S. DeKnight
- Network: STARZ
- Cast: Nick E. Tarabay, Graham McTavish, Tenika Davis, Jamaica Vaughan, Ivana Baquero, Jordi Webber, Claudia Black, India Shaw-Smith
- TMDB rating: 6.6/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt29921437/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: accessible
- Violence: graphic
- Tone: brutal, sensational, defiant, gritty

## What critics say

Reception is limited and mixed, with the available review faulting its revisionist characterisation and credibility while grudgingly praising the sets and cinematography.

## Synopsis

Spartacus: House of Ashur is an American premium cable historical drama created by Steven S. DeKnight for STARZ, a single-season spin-off set in the world of the earlier Spartacus series. Nick E. Tarabay plays Ashur, a former slave who has clawed his way up to own the very ludus that once held him. Tenika Davis plays Achillia, a fierce gladiatrix he allies with to stage a new kind of arena spectacle that scandalizes the Roman elite. Graham McTavish plays Korris, a veteran fighter whose loyalties shape the ludus's fortunes, and Claudia Black appears among the political players circling the arena. The engine of the show is ambition: Ashur wants control and revenge against those who kept him in chains, while rival trainers, suspicious patricians, and the constant demand to top each bout press in from every side. Each episode builds toward a brutal fight, staged intrigue, and the sweaty, blood-soaked machinery of the arena. Its tone is sensational and defiant, blending sword and sandal swagger with sharp class resentment and a darker sense of hard-won power. Fans of Spartacus, Rome and I, Claudius will find resonance in its ancient spectacle and political scheming.

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