NINETOES VS. SPARTACUS: HOUSE OF ASHUR EP109

We’ve reached the penultimate gladiatorial battle for this season of STARZ’s long running Spartacus franchise and the HOUSE OF ASHUR series.

Caesar demands a painful sacrifice from Ashur.

Directed by Robyn Grace

Written by Diya Mishra, Henry G.M. Jones, and Beverly Ohiko

Starring Nick E. Tarabay, Graham McTavish, Jackson Gallagher, and Tenika Davis

Hey there, television lovers. It is your old pal, Ninetoes, coming to you from Ninetoes HQ. Today I am looking at episode nine of Spartacus: House of Ashur. I have coffee in my system, and my thinking cap on, so let’s get to it!

Ashur is a survivor. That is what every episode leading up to this one has taught me. He is a SURVIVOR. His body is in fighting form. His mind is always in motion. He is viewed as the lowest form of snake shit by those he would call peers. He is a Syrian, not a Roman, and he wears it like a suit of armor. He is basically the Gen X of the Roman world. You can’t hurt his feelings; he held the flashlight for his father. You get the idea.

While his world is on the precipice of being tossed into the ravine his ludus rests on, he is given a chance at redemption that can give him all of his dreams. All he has to do is Caesar’s bidding.

Now, if Caesar’s bidding came in episode two or three, it would have been a short-lived series. Bingo, bango, bongo, Bob’s your uncle, thy will be done.

BUT…

With everything that went on in this episode: The impending union of Viridia to Pompey (this is May/December at its worst), the death of Celadus in the last episode, and his funeral, the ongoing feud of Achillia and Tarchon for top spot, etc. There is one singular moment that piqued my ears. It was not a fight in the arena. It was not the blatant nudity or buckets of blood. It was a single word. Not a word, a name.

Gabinius called Ashur by name.

You might be thinking, “So? It’s his name!”

Sure, but until this point, he was referred to as “Syrian”. Now, calling him by name puts Ashur in the realm of a friend. Not just acquaintance, but of trusted ally. Gabinius recognized him as a man of worth.

Remember Caesar’s bidding? Yeah, he tasks Ashur with killing Gabinius.

Surely Ashur can figure something out to bring about Caesar’s bidding without getting Gabinius’ blood on his hands.

This episode is all about emotions: love, anger, lust, jealousy, betrayal, grief, etc. I do not think there was one missed.

One more episode to go!

Until the next time, I bid you happy viewing.

Darren “Ninetoes” Perdue is a book and media reviewer. When he is not reading, he is watching true crime shows, cooking for his family, or working on a plan for universal domination. If you see him on his porch, say hi. He does not bite…much.

PLEASE NOTE: The views and opinions of the staff of Memento Mori Ink do not necessarily represent those of Memento Mori Ink or Crystal Lake Publishing. Thank you for understanding.