The rivalry between the houses of Ashur and Proculus exploded into bloody revenge in Episode 7, titled “Deepest Wound,” of Spartacus: House of Ashur. After a calculated move by Proculus to eliminate his rival backfired, the gladiator known as Korris unleashed his grief upon the attackers, changing the power balance in Capua. This episode shifted the season from political scheming back to the raw, physical consequences that define life in a ludus.
The Aftermath of Opiter’s Murder Sets a Trap
The episode began with the heavy fallout from the murder of lanista Opiter. His secret lover, Korris, was consumed by a volatile mix of grief and rage, while Opiter’s public ally, Cossutia, pushed for funeral games in his honor. Ashur, seeing an opportunity to expand his holdings, wanted to acquire Opiter’s estate but found it would go to a public auction instead.
Ashur initially suspected Cornelia, the wife of Julius Caesar, was behind the killing after finding Cilician markings at the crime scene. When he confronted her, she denied involvement, leading Ashur to a stark realization: his own loose bragging to Proculus about his deal with Opiter had likely signed the man’s death warrant. This left Ashur exposed, needing money for the auction and protection from a rival who now knew his weaknesses.
Desperate for funds, Ashur made a new deal with Cornelia, offering to support a political marriage he had previously undermined. To sell the lie, he publicly drank drugged wine and spent the night with his servant, Hilara, pretending commitment to the plan. Cornelia agreed to fund his auction bid. However, at the crucial moment, Cossutia accidentally revealed Ashur’s earlier sabotage to Cornelia, who immediately withdrew her financial support. Ashur was left humiliated in front of the entire auction, outmaneuvered by Proculus.
Yet, from this defeat, Ashur saw a new opportunity. He noticed Cossutia’s deep, hidden grief for Opiter. He proposed a theory to her: Proculus was the true killer. Together, they devised a dangerous plan—make Proculus believe Ashur was vulnerable and alone, luring him into an assassination attempt that could be turned into a counter-strike.
Korris’s Grief Fuels a Vengeful Slaughter
The trap was set. Believing Ashur was isolated, Proculus sent the Brothers Ferox—the dwarf gladiators Satyrus, Musicus, and Balbus—along with other fighters to ambush and kill him. They arrived confident, expecting little resistance.
What they found was an ambush of their own. Ashur had brought his own fighters, but it was Korris who stepped forward to face them alone. Driven by a need for vengeance for Opiter, Korris fought with overwhelming, brutal force. The fight was short and extremely violent. Korris made quick work of the attackers, killing both Musicus and Balbus. Satyrus was left alive, but only so he could deliver a message.
Actor Leigh Gill, who plays Satyrus, described filming the intense scene: “Graham McTavish is a wonderful man and an incredible actor, and terrifying when he gets going in those fights… I don’t think everyone was expecting it to get quite so heavy as it did, but it felt so real.”
The message for Proculus was clear: The House of Ashur was coming for him in the arena. Korris also demanded his old position as Doctore be restored. A handshake between Ashur and Korris after the fight sealed their renewed, stronger alliance. This victory had immediate consequences, as the reinstatement of Korris meant Celadus was displaced from the role of Doctore and returned to the status of a frontline gladiator, placing him in greater danger.
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Achillia’s Physical and Emotional Recovery Continues
While the political war raged, the training yard hosted its own battles. Achillia, the “Goddess of Death,” returned to training but struggled with her severely injured hand. The new Doctore, Celadus, worked with her to adapt, suggesting she switch from dual swords to a spear and small shield—a style known as Hoplomachus.
This change was physically effective but emotionally difficult for Achillia. Using the spear triggered painful flashbacks to her past, heavily implying a tragic event where she may have accidentally killed her own daughter with a thrown spear. During a sparring session, she initially used the new style to overpower Tarchon, proving its combat value. However, when the traumatic memories surfaced, she hesitated, and Tarchon capitalized to win the match. Her journey to recovery was shown to be as much about overcoming psychological wounds as physical ones.
Tarchon remained a volatile element in the ludus. His aggression toward Achillia was fueled by his own goal: to earn enough coin in the arena to buy freedom for his lover, who had been abused by a Roman. His actions underscored the constant, personal battles for survival and ambition that thrived within Ashur’s house.
Fan reactions to the episode highlighted its return to the franchise’s core strengths. On the official STARZ Facebook page, one viewer commented, “Holy Jesus that episode end was good. Credit to making it exactly like a typical Spartacus episode but still pushing boundaries.” Another noted, “Finally a decent episode… need more episodes like this.”
The events of “Deepest Wound” successfully reshuffled the deck for the final episodes of the season. Ashur and Korris emerged with a solidified alliance and a clear, public enemy in Proculus. The arena is no longer a distant goal but the appointed battlefield for their coming clash. With Korris back as Doctore to sharpen the house’s fighters and Achillia mastering a new style, the House of Ashur is finally positioning itself not just to survive, but to conquer the sands.
