Fans of the old-fashioned sword-and-sandal epic are in luck. Blending the dangerous chariot racing of “Ben-Hur” and the bloody arena spectacle and imperial politics of “Gladiator,” “Those About to Die” begins streaming on Peacock. Far from celebrating the glories of ancient Rome, “Die” dwells rather obsessively in the dimly lit gambling halls, locker rooms and stables of a city and a society besotted with vulgar, violent spectacle. The parallels between the Rome of 2000 years ago and our own distracted society are evident and intentional.
“Die” lists Roland Emmerich (“Independence Day”) among its many executive producers. He also directed five of the 10 episodes. Anthony Hopkins portrays the elderly and weary Emperor Vespasian, who became caesar after a bloody power struggle. Proof that succession dramas didn’t start with “Succession,” he must decide which of his two very different sons will become his imperial heir.
Titus (Tom Hughes) has proved himself on the battlefield. The more decadent Domitian (Jojo Macari) has excelled as the master of spectacles, key to the bread-and-circuses philosophy that keeps Rome’s citizens subjugated. If Domitian has a weakness, it’s his ardor for a Hebrew princess. Domitian’s gambling debts are many, and they subject him to blackmail and the numerous schemes that propel this drama.
Subplots about, involving Scorpus (Dimitri Leonidas), a champion charioteer whose partner wants him to front a lucrative venture, financed in part by exploiting Domitian’s many debts. Scorpus sees his future victories secured by procuring stallions from Spain, introducing horsemen from Andalusia into the city’s grimy streets. A lion-whisperer from Nubia looms large in the story when he is captured and relegated to the bloody arena. His mother and sister are also swept up in Rome’s sordid slave trade.
Heavily promoted to fans of professional wrestling, “Die” bounces back and forth between bloody spectacle and political intrigue. Unlike contemporary WWE spectacles, “Die” spends much of its time exploring the sleazy machinations behind violent and vulgar spectacle.
Some fans may quibble about the series’ dark tone — not its cynical storyline, but its lack of daylight. It seems that three-quarters of the show is lit by candlelight or oil lamps. It wallows in the seamy side of ancient history. You can practically smell the sweat, blood and horse manure.
— Set in the world of karate, inspired by “The Karate Kid” and featuring Ralph Macchio, the star of that 1984 feature, “Cobra Kai” streams the first half of its sixth season on Netflix.
— “The Commandant’s Shadow” (9 p.m., HBO, TV-MA) follows the 87-year-old son of Rudolph Hess, one of Adolph Hitler’s earliest supporters and confidantes, as he meets surviving victims of the Nazi regime.
— Hulu streams the second season of the true-crime documentary series “How I Caught My Killer.”
— Produced by LeBron James, Maverick Carter and Sloane Stephens, “Uninterrupted’s Top Class Tennis” looks at the highly competitive world of junior tennis and its teenage participants. Streaming on FreeVee.
TONIGHT’S OTHER HIGHLIGHTS
— A congressional aide is found murdered after delivering crucial testimony in a corruption case on “Law & Order” (8 p.m., NBC, r, TV-14).
— A shy teen investigates the violent death of her best friend in the 2024 shocker “When Mom Became a Murderer” (8 p.m., LMN, TV-PG).
— Grovel-to-grovel coverage of the Republican National Convention (8 p.m., PBS; 9 p.m., NBC; 10 p.m., CBS and ABC).
— Artificial intelligence sets the tone on “Big Brother” (9 p.m., CBS, TV-PG).
CULT CHOICE
A Nazi spy (Rod Taylor) creates a fake hospital room to cajole a drugged American officer (James Garner) into spilling secrets about the D-Day invasion in the 1964 thriller “36 Hours” (8 p.m., TCM, TV-PG). Based on a story by Roald Dahl.
SERIES NOTES
Book smart on “Young Sheldon” (8 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … “Don’t Forget the Lyrics” (8 p.m., Fox, r, TV-PG) … “Press Your Luck” (8 p.m., ABC, TV-PG) … Sam fraternizes with the staff on “Ghosts” (8:30 p.m., CBS, r, TV-PG) … “Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars” (9 p.m., Fox, r, TV-14) … “Lucky 13” (9 p.m., ABC, TV-PG).
LATE NIGHT
Sen. Bernie Sanders and OneRepublic are booked on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” (11:35 p.m., CBS) … Jimmy Fallon welcomes Dave Bautista, Shaun Levy and Glass Animals on “The Tonight Show” (11:35 p.m., NBC) … Anthony Anderson, Ken Jeong, Kevin Bludso and Remi Wolf appear on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” (11:35 p.m., ABC).
Glen Powell and Anna Sawai visit “Late Night With Seth Meyers” (12:35 a.m., NBC) … Taylor Tomlinson hosts Mandy Moore, Chris Sullivan and Milana Vayntrub on “After Midnight” (12:35 a.m., CBS).
