The gladiator series has returned to Starz, and critics are impressed. Spartacus: House of Ashur launched on December 5, 2025, with a notable achievement: a perfect 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes. This new show presents an alternate history where a famous villain from the original series lives and builds his own empire. The series marks the franchise’s first major return to television in over a decade.
The Story and World of the New Series
This series changes the history of the original Spartacus story. In the earlier show, the character Ashur, played by Nick E. Tarabay, was killed. House of Ashur asks a simple question: what if he did not die? In this new story, Ashur betrays Spartacus and helps the Roman army. For this act, he is rewarded with his own gladiator school, the House of Ashur. He is no longer a slave but a master, known as a Dominus, running the same school that once owned him.
Ashur’s new life is not easy. He is rich and has power, but many Romans look down on him. They see him as a coward who betrayed Spartacus. To earn real respect, he needs a champion. After his best fighter dies, Ashur finds a potential new champion in an unlikely place. He buys an enslaved woman who fights fiercely against her captors. He renames her Achillia, played by Tenika Davis, and forces his trainer to prepare her as a gladiatrix, a female gladiator. This decision causes conflict within his school.
The show also explores the dangerous politics of ancient Rome. Ashur must deal with powerful Roman senators and their families who do not accept him. Historical figures like Julius Caesar, played by Jackson Gallagher, arrive in Capua, adding more danger and complexity to Ashur’s plans.
How Critics Are Reacting
The early reaction from professional reviewers has been very positive, leading to the show’s high Rotten Tomatoes score. It is important to note this score is based on the first six published reviews and may change as more reviews come in. Critics who have seen the first five episodes praise the show for being a worthy continuation of the original series.
“It offers us a rarity… a spin-off series that not only honors the legacy of its predecessor, but one that, at times, rivals it,” wrote a reviewer for RogerEbert.com.
Reviewers note that the show keeps the style of the original Spartacus series. It features intense, bloody action and deals openly with adult themes. They also highlight the strong performances, particularly from Nick E. Tarabay, who shows new depth as Ashur, and Tenika Davis as Achillia. The relationship between these two outsiders forms the emotional center of the story.
A Look Back at the Original Spartacus Series
House of Ashur is a follow-up to the popular Spartacus series that aired on Starz from 2010 to 2013. The original series followed the historical rebel slave Spartacus. The first season, Blood and Sand, started the story. After the lead actor, Andy Whitfield, became ill, the network produced a prequel miniseries called Gods of the Arena to continue the show. The role of Spartacus was later taken over by Liam McIntyre for the final seasons.
The original series was known for its stylized violence, complex characters, and dramatic storytelling. It developed a dedicated fan base. Critically, the earlier seasons had mixed scores on Rotten Tomatoes, ranging from 52% to 73%. This makes the perfect debut score for House of Ashur a surprising and notable contrast.
Also Read:
Details on the Cast and Release Schedule
The series brings back several faces from the original show. Nick E. Tarabay returns in the lead role of Ashur. Lucy Lawless, who played Lucretia, also returns for the premiere episode to help set Ashur on his new path. The cast includes new characters as well: Graham McTavish plays Korris, the trainer of the gladiators; Jordi Webber is Tarchon, an ambitious fighter; and Claudia Black plays Cossutia, a Roman noblewoman.
The first season has ten episodes. The first two episodes, “Dominus” and “Forsaken,” were released on December 5, 2025. New episodes will be released weekly on Fridays. The season is scheduled to run through January 30, 2026.
Creator Steven S. DeKnight, who created the original series, returned as the showrunner for this new chapter. He has mentioned having plans for up to five seasons of this story, as well as ideas for other potential spin-offs in the same universe, depending on the show’s success.
Credits: ScreenRant
