将死之人

【影评】《将死之人》是一部引人入胜的电视剧，它以罗马帝国晚期的历史为背景，讲述了经历过血腥动乱后成为皇帝的罗马皇帝维斯帕先的故事。这部剧以独特的视角展现了那个动荡不安，充满权谋和斗争的罗马帝国。主演安东尼·霍普金斯在剧中扮演维斯帕先，一个日渐老迈的罗马皇帝，面临着来自罗马上层贵族精英的鄙夷，以及他们欲取而代之的企图。他不仅要应对复杂的政治局势，还要在权力的漩涡中保持自己的地位。剧本灵感来源于美国作家、编剧DanielP.Mannix的同名历史著作，并由罗兰·艾默里奇和马可·克罗伊茨派因特纳共同执导，无疑为该剧注入了丰富的剧情元素和情感张力。除了安东尼·霍普金斯等实力派演员，还有汤姆·休斯（饰演提图斯皇帝，维斯帕先长子）、乔乔·马卡里（饰演图密善皇帝，维斯帕先次子）等演员加盟。洛伦佐·里凯尔米、萨拉·马丁斯、迪米特里·列奥尼达斯、贾布瑞拉·派申、MoeHashim等演员也将在剧中扮演重要角色。这支强大的演员阵容为观众呈现了一幅生动而立体的历史画卷。该剧将于2023年3月在罗马开拍，预计在Peacock流媒体平台播出。这部电视剧将带领观众深入罗马的历史背景，感受那个时代的风云变幻和人物间的情感纠葛。它将是一部充满紧张刺激的政治斗争和感人至深的父子亲情的历史剧。该剧的制作团队也值得一提。导演罗伯特·罗达特曾为《拯救大兵瑞恩》等知名电影编写剧本，他的加入无疑为该剧注入了更多的艺术性和情感张力。此外，曾指导过《独立日》等著名电影的导演罗兰·艾默里奇以及德国导演马可·克罗伊茨派因特纳的合作也使得这部电视剧充满了看点。总的来说，《将死之人》是一部充满历史深度和紧张气氛的电视剧，它将带领观众深入罗马的历史背景，感受那个时代的风云变幻和人物间的情感纠葛。它将是一部值得期待的电视剧，它将带给观众一场紧张刺激的政治斗争和感人至深的父子亲情的历史剧。强烈推荐给所有喜欢历史剧和政治题材的观众。

I have to admit that, at the start, I had high expectation of the show. The story goes fine in the first four episodes, then the whole plot turned worse and worse rapidly.

In general, the plot fits some Roman culture but not in most of the scenes. Chariot racing is kind of okish. The scene of Circus Maximus is the best part, which looks magnificent and grandeur. But still there are flaws. The chariotees actually bind the reins around their body instead just holding in their hands. The big letdown is on the gladiator, from which the title comes the famous salution "Ave Caeasar, morituri te salutant"(Hail, Emperor, those who are about to die salute you). But in order to sensationalize the brutality and cruelty, the plot writers just ignored the real culture of the gladiator game. First, gladiators are not some disposable slaves who are doomed to die for the blood-thirsty entertainers. They are not cheap but act as the performers for the audiences. If one died in the combat, it's a big loss for the gladiatorial school. The master of the school just won't let them die as he does in the show. There are certain deaths recorded in the hundred year history of galdiator game, but not as many as the screen writers think. Such stereotype was formed with the rise of Christianity since during the persecution, Christians were thrown into the arena to die as condemned criminal, and I shall say only criminals were left in the area to their own fate. The Romans are quite cruel to the criminals for sure. Either they let them rotten on the cross or die in the arena for fun. At that time, criminals preserve no human rights.

The costume is not accurate as well but for me it's a minor issue. Like the segmentata armor should be in steel not in leather. The patricians seldom wear their togas but only in the senate house, etc etc. But they are the minor issue. The biggest issue for this show is that the plot, starting from the mid, is soaked with Deus ex machina. The most bizarr one is that Tenex stabbed Ursus out of nowhere and saved Cala. It's simply absurd. Another one is that Scorpus killed Elia for no reason. Where's the hatred? Is Elia about win the game? There's simply no evidence. Just because there's not enough laying beforehand makes the whole story bland. One won't even shed the tears with the woeful melody on the background when Tenex shed his for Scorpus. Surprise is not always stimulating.

Tenax in the last episode stated this is his first step in his journey. I wish it could be his last.