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Season 1 – Colosseum

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Colosseum Jul 2022 Documentary History Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 4 Reviews Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
This series brings the rise and fall of the Roman Empire to life through the lens of one of the most exhilarating and brutal arenas in the history of humanity: the Colosseum. From the savage truth of a gladiator's life as a slave-warrior to the fascinating ways Rome's emperors used the vast amphitheater to demonstrate total power, "Colosseum" offers a unique and personal look inside history's most iconic empire. Spanning several hundred years, the series unfolds chronologically, from the arena's incredible opening day to its very last games.
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Colosseum — Season 1

Critics Reviews

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Carol Midgley The Times (UK) 08/17/2023
3/5
... The series uses the Colosseum in a lively if sometimes queasy way to explore society and the politics of the time. Go to Full Review John Anderson Wall Street Journal 07/15/2022
The soundtrack, the visuals and even the show’s bookish witnesses to history can wax a bit hyperbolic, but the series takes pains not to rework the overly familiar and just for that is worth a look. Go to Full Review James Delingpole The Spectator 08/24/2023
This particular series is the kind of thing TV was made for -- it’s educational, entertaining and visually enthralling -- and I strongly suspect I’ll end up watching all eight lavishly realised episodes. Go to Full Review Joel Keller Decider 07/18/2022
Between the CGI blood, the disjointed dramatic scenes, and the somewhat stilted expert interviews... [anyone] would be better served reading its Wikipedia entry than slogging through 8 hours of Colosseum. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jerad W @JeraBear 07/31/2022 Despite the overuse of CGI/" Blood, a few Wonky Set Pieces & Builds, the disjointed dramatic scenes, and the somewhat short & stilted expert interviews, I have to admit that the format worked to a certain degree in that it held our attention & did what all good Entertainment & Educational Shows (should) aspire to: it kept us 'WANTING TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.' (*If I could change ONE thing about this show, it would be to have the dramatic scenes done in LATIN, to increase the immersion.....e.g. Can you imagine if the 'PASSION OF THE CHRIST' was done in all English?) Yes, it is overly digitized & uses lightening-fast editing in certain summation segments, but COLOSSEUM still Educates & Delights above an average level. And so I give it a solid 3/5 *'s or a B+ for effort & effectiveness. I.e. GIVE IT A GO.....you will, in all likelihood, not be disappointed;o) See more 07/23/2022 Same format as Mysteries of the Unknown, love it. Very interesting, really enjoyed the first episode. See more Read all reviews
Colosseum — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Campbell Scott

Narrator

Ait Ben Azzouz Brahim

Ludus trainer

Anthony Barclay

Ignatius

Ian Beattie

Symmachus

Timothy Blore

Actor

Daniel De Bourg

Haterius

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Jul 17, 2022 The Gladiators After forming a close bond in the harsh environment of their training school, two gladiators, the barbarian Priscus, and Rome's champion, Verus, must now fight to the death in front of 50,000 spectators. Details Episode 2 Aired Jul 24, 2022 The Builder When master builder Haterius constructs the Colosseum from the ashes of Nero's Golden House, his work is far from over; new Emperor Domitian tasks him with adding in a complex network of underground tunnels. Details Episode 3 Aired Jul 31, 2022 The Beastmaster As the Roman Empire continues to expand, so does the diversity of exotic beasts brought back to entertain the Colosseum crowds; over 1 million animals are slaughtered in the arena by trained beast masters, none more famous than Carpophorus. Details Episode 4 Aired Aug 7, 2022 The Gladiatrix The mighty Emperor Trajan throws his great games of A.D. 107, and the crowd is treated to a rare spectacle: female gladiators. Details Episode 5 Aired Aug 14, 2022 The Martyr The public execution of criminals is a staple, but during Trajan's 123 days of games in A.D. 107, one of these victims is no ordinary prisoner; Bishop Ignatius of Antioch is part of a growing underground religion, threatening Roman traditions. Details Episode 6 Aired Aug 21, 2022 The Scientist Galen of Pergamon makes a name for himself as a physician for gladiators in the arena; a devastating plague sweeps through the city, and Galen catches the attention of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Details Episode 7 Aired Aug 28, 2022 Commodus All of Rome's emperors have put great value on spectacles and games, but only one steps out of the Imperial Box and onto the sands of the arena; a far cry from his father, the great Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Commodus is quick to make enemies. Details Episode 8 Aired Sep 4, 2022 The Pagan By the fourth century AD, a divided Roman Empire is rocked by devastating earthquakes, fires, barbarian invasions and deep religious divides; as Rome declines, the Colosseum, which once stood as a proud symbol of the Empire's glory, lies empty; to restore Rome, one man, a devout worshiper of Rome's old Gods, turns to the arena; can staging elaborate and expensive games there reverse Rome's decline? Details

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Colosseum — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Roel Reiné
Executive Producer
Roel Reiné, Mary Donahue, Jos Cushing, Chet Fenster, Chris Muckle, Matt Robins, Eli Lehrer, Michael Stiller, Brooke Townsend, Richard Foster
Screenwriter
Niall Cassin, Jeremiah Murphy, Sumerah Srivastav, Colin Teevan, Dario Poloni, Jim Greayer
Network
History
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Documentary, History
Original Language
English
Release Date
Jul 17, 2022