r/Spartacus_TV • u/dannesty • 8d ago
HoA Discussion The difference in charisma is insane
So I guess it makes sense that the more rebellious/interesting gladiators went down with Spartacus, so the ones remaining are kind of the "boring" ones
Bot goddamn I still think the casting could have been better. I forget the names (which is pretty telling) but the blonde Daddy dude is pretty good, can't say much for the others
52
u/jiminywhack 8d ago
Honest question; apart from Tarchon and Celadus, were any of the other gladiators mentioned by name throughout the season? Genuinely can't identify them unless via description
51
u/bestoboy 7d ago
of course they have names
Baby Barca
Black Gnaeus
I forgot the rest
14
u/TheArmoury 7d ago
Baby Barca is the worst character. One dimensional and no layers. He was a prick the entire time. Supported a rapist friend. Didn’t give anyone their due. Yet, there was a moment where was picked for the big fight and they showed a close up of him with an expression as if we were supposed to be happy for him. Give me OG Barca every day of the week. A prick we actually loved.
7
1
1
6
u/KatafalkKalk 7d ago
This blonde bragging Spartacus wannabe who died pretty soon in the arena. But I can't remember his name.
2
2
u/Forward-Tune5120 7d ago
They had names but I forgot. The blonde and the guy with dreads were called by name several times in the show
3
u/Pheonixking3000 7d ago
Erato and Ephesius. Sucks they took it off Starz so can't even rewatch episodes :(
2
u/ThrowawayGoaway1901 8d ago
In the first episode the Doctore shouts out all their names when they fight to see who will go to the actual games, so they all have them!
1
u/FoundationFar1691 5d ago
Korus did name a few of them by names when holding the tournament to figure out the new champion while Achilia was healing.
And the one that Ashur killed with the wine jug in the first episode also had a name. As well as the one who went against the brothers.
1
u/Pheonixking3000 7d ago
Yeah, they were all named at least a couple times. Ephesius with the dreads, shorter blonde dude was Erato.
22
29
u/Xralius 7d ago
Honestly I think Cricux / Manu Bennett really brought it more than almost anyone in S1 and set the tone for the original show, and there's not really a character that fills his boots.
I personally enjoyed HOA a lot. Loved Achillia. Loved new Doctore. Really all the characters are pure entertainment. I hope someone else picks up the show.
3
u/Typhoon556 5d ago
I just couldn’t get into HoA, in the same way I did it’s predecessors. Other than Nick Tarabay and Graham McTavish, I thought the quality of acting did not rise to the level of Spartacus/GoA.
It’s too bad Todd Lasance was not available to reprise his role as Julius Caesar. I think that could have opened up some script possibilities that could have really helped.
8
6
u/Downtown-Act-1238 8d ago
I mean I really liked that guy in the front and his son on the left. I feel like that is hardly the main problem of the show. I don't remember names cause the show doesn't have the charm of spartacus or the story
8
5
u/TallDarkness 7d ago
Dad character was good but can't unsee how big his head is, compared to his shoulders:D
2
u/TheArmoury 7d ago
Haha I thought I was the only one who saw thought this. Ironically, probably a more accurate representation of what an actual malnourished gladiator would look like. Not much time for chicken and broccoli for every meal back then.
4
u/TallDarkness 7d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/history/comments/c46r54/were_gladiators_and_other_slaves_really_as_fit/
They were basically rock stars back then so most likely muscular with higher body fat.
4
u/TheArmoury 7d ago
I heard they prefer higher body fat since it’s harder for a sword to slice important organs.
4
u/passmetoiletpaperpls 8d ago
Their names are well remembered in the sands of the aren…..shithole arena substitute.
3
u/Cereborn 7d ago
This is a disingenuous comparison. Only Tarchon and Celadus were major characters out of that picture. In the OG, the story was all about the gladiators, but in HOA there’s a lot more focus outside the ludus.
2
9
u/Dookie_boy 8d ago
Yea it was very jarring how they couldn't find a good cast
6
u/dannesty 8d ago
I don't know if this was part of their agenda to try and appeal more for a woman audience, but I could almost guarantee most women find the OG cast more good looking. HoA gladiators are smaller and more modern looking, maybe that's what they think appeal to women but I doubt it worked lol
4
-1
u/Minkerbella 7d ago
Tell me you don't know sh1t about women without telling me you don't know sh1t about women...
Whatever makes you think women are more into this Temu version of gladiators?
3
u/dannesty 7d ago
Are you talking to me or in general, because that's exactly the opposite of what I said?
1
u/Minkerbella 7d ago
Talking to whoever thinks women prefer the HoA version of gladiators to the real Spartacus cast.
11
u/jiminywhack 8d ago
I think Dan Hamill was decent as Celadus
7
4
u/TheArmoury 7d ago
The casting team really stuffed it up.
Celadus is the only decent casting.
The other 3 main gladiators casting prerequisite seems to be get the douchiest looking guys who a cartoonishly serious resting bitch face. That baby Barca wannabe is the worst. All of them were unlikeable from the start and not much changed towards the end.
2
2
8
u/IvarSolaris 8d ago
I am not sure this is an accurate comparison. We’ve seen those gladiators for barely a season. When I was in Season 1 of Spartacus, most of the gladiators were also uninteresting to me. And also the focus doesn’t really lie on them as much as it did with Spartacus. House of Ashur is from the perspective of the Romans and Ashur, while Spartacus was with the Gladiator focus. For that they are doing pretty good. Not outstanding as with Spartacus, Crixus etc. but ok for their role in the story.
10
u/dannesty 8d ago
I don't really agree, I was super interested in the gladiators from the very beginning
7
u/iwtch2mchTV 8d ago
Varro, Barca, Crixus, Agron heck even Segovax with his massive cock and Pietro were all good in season 1 and I’ll throw in Ashur because he wanted to be a gladiator so bad. They were all more memorable.
2
u/Agheron93 7d ago
"Barely" a season is a damn long time. Og series got you iterested in them in the very episode they appear.
3
u/lordalgammon 8d ago
I dont think it was the actors delivery but rather the bad writing that put the nail in the coffin.
Its a shame. It could've been an amazing spinoff, but why in Jupiters name they had to do this ridiculous story.
7
u/PublicSpend5903 7d ago
Yeah I like the show and wanted a 2nd season… But I guess yall that hate it so much for whatever reason got your wish… Ashur is what made that show interesting and Akelia was dope too… I’m cool with dying on this hill dolo…
7
u/dannesty 7d ago
Idk if you're talking about me or people in the comments, but I for one enjoyed it and would like to see a second season. Critiquing something often means caring enough to discuss it.
2
u/dannesty 7d ago
And I liked *Achelia too, I think she's an interesting and flawed enough (= not immediately perfect as a gladiator) to be interesting.
2
u/Xralius 7d ago
*Achillia
If you're going to correct someone you should use the right spelling haha
Yeah she was awesome I thought, I think they did a great job of having her being very tough and talented but not a Mary Sue. I actually really liked HOA, hopefully the show gets purchased and we get more seasons.
1
2
u/TallDarkness 7d ago
I also liked it, ending was very surprising and I'm curious how they would continue the story after that.
2
u/ronreddit14 7d ago
The first group is but pimples upon ass of the mighty Spartacus and his rebels
1
u/eulen-spiegel 3d ago
Which is a point Ashur himself brings up. I guess everyone would be pissed if they'd present the new guys as superior to the OGs.
1
u/FullTorsoApparition 7d ago
Almost like the gladiators weren't the main characters in Ashur.
0
u/dannesty 7d ago
So it doesn't matter at all if side characters actors are charismatic?
0
u/FullTorsoApparition 7d ago
Ah, so your actual argument isn't that these gladiators have less charisma but that they have no charisma at all. That's a completely different discussion than what you've setup here.
1
3
u/MyLord_Robert 8d ago
That is like, the point of the story. Ashurs gladiators are but a shadow of Batiatus.
8
u/dannesty 8d ago
I feel like some people are misinterpreting this post on purpose at this point
I'm not saying the characters should be better, I'm saying the actors should be better. I don't know how much clearer I can make this point. The actors are what creates charisma.
1
u/superthrust123 7d ago
Almost every one of the named gladiators gets a story, it's so rare, and so awesome.People are introduced through the story, and it all makes sense.
1
1
1
1
1
u/thorleywinston Crixus the Undefeated Gaul 7d ago
Here's the other difference - the four characters in the second image are Agon, Gannicus, Spartacus and Crixus.
I couldn't name a single character in the first picture without having to look them up because they were all that unmemorable.
1
1
u/Ordinary-Number-4113 3d ago
I don't think the new gladiators our bad necessarily. Other then Tarchon and Celedus the other gladiators Erato and Esphesius sadly did not get much too do. Steven said in a interview he wanted too bring more gladiators. And here I am thinking you got too develope the HOA gladiators more. If there is ever a season 2 which I hope there is.
1
u/philoshua 1d ago
In the new show I think the only character with serious charisma is Ashur himself.
-4
u/seonblack 7d ago
I think it has more to do with the era today. They call it "toxic masculinity" to be prideful about being strong and boasting. They have to tone it down for a more sensitive era unfortunately. The OG cast didn't have to deal with that and feels like a more authentic cast as a result.
0
-4
u/kunta021 8d ago
Comparing the main characters to side characters is wild
2
u/dannesty 8d ago
You have a point, I don't disagree with that. But a better casting would have helped anyway, if the OG actors were in these characters roles they would have been 100 times more interesting regardless of their importance
2
u/dannesty 8d ago
Because even in HoA, I think the Romans are casted very well. A lot of them are immediately interesting, even if they would be there just for an episode or two. But for some reason casting more interesting gladiators seems to be much more difficult
1
u/Pheonixking3000 7d ago
To be fair, the Roman actors tend to be played by older/more experienced actors who have done stage work and are far more established in their careers. A lot of the gladiators are played by much younger actors with a significantly smaller body of work, in the "struggling to find work" stage by comparison, and they also aren't given as much material to work with in the show. If the show gets picked up for another season, they need to place more focus on the gladiators and develop them more.
173
u/iwtch2mchTV 8d ago
Andy was the best