I disagree w the idea that the game could be anything. "Medieval fantasy MMO" is a genre where just by *mentioning* it, they imply SO much. The way that medieval fantasy is innately tied to the very birth of gaming via Dungeons and Dragons, the way MQ is basically just an in-world Everquest or WOW. Medieval fantasy has a long history of being the mental escape. Going all the way back to Arthurian tales, appreciated long before LOTR.

Just a classic case of writers unnecessarily changing things that should not have been messed with, particularly Daemon’s storyline, he was wasted entirely. Also it’s hard to give the writers a pass when they work on each season for YEARS, like seriously, 2 and a half years for season 2 really makes it feel worse since they had all the time in the world.

I started watching in 2006, still watching 🎉

Super well said. I loved your take on this movie and I also love rewatching it and learning new things about it every Christmas season. No negative review or mediocre sequels can take away my adoration for this film (along with Lost in New York which I like).

Bad script and bad acting by lead actor, two thumbs down!

This ‘analysis’ does not really offer more than “if he did I would have liked it more”. We don’t really care for what you have liked more. There is no real analysis on how it would have made the movie better beyond “I would have liked it more”. A story is not necessarily better because you liked it more, or when it is more like LOTR.

Is Willa really a playwright though, really? I know it was a running joke, and there's ironic misogyny at play, but I don't think it would be unfair to say she was actually an escort whose exclusive client indulged her delusions of grandeur. A sugar baby who hit the jackpot. Nothing about Willa strikes me as someone who has something interesting to say on stage. But, again, this could be part of the point of her character - we never truly get to meet her, because none of the Roys (except Conner, kinda) respect her at all. The audience's insight into Willa is very thin.

The note about looking for moments Logan "earns his reputation" is a great observation. I just watched for the first time (my partner was rewatching with me), and I was actually struck by the lack of these moments. I *assumed* there would be some Michael Scott 'aha' moments where we realize "okay, so Logan's a shitty human but you can't deny the man knows his business." Nope. Nothing. Really, nothing - whatever Logan did to earn his fortune and power, all we get to see is the withering Emperor overseeing the end.

Hanno / Luscious gave me Gary Stu vibes the entire film. I thought the Acacious fight would display how inept Luscious SHOULD have been compared to a trained Roman general, yet despite being a street rat kid most of his life, he somehow defeats everyone he faces. The reason Maximus is undefeated in the arena is because he's top tier Roman infantry/ cavalry and a GENERAL in the height of the Roman Empire.

A lot of people are feeling a certain way about Lucius being the son of Maximus but fail to realize this was always the case you just had to put two and two together from the original film, Lucila states her son is almost 8 in the original, to which Maximus says the same about his son implying they were secretly together before her forced marriage caused them to stop seeing each other this is also obvious because a general should not be with his kings daughter so they would have had to cover up their relations and afterwards the child they had already made was named to be the son of her “husband” seeing they were together shortly after her and Maximus stopped seeing each other and would fit the timeline

That wasn't "Gladiator 2" That was "Training Day 211 AD"

i think you're overthinking it, it's a show first and foremost about character dynamics and layered interactions, it's a series of character studies interacting in the same place and using those character studies to make commentary on particular themes represented by each character- in essence a slice of life, not an intentionally structured mystery, the fact that it has no real structure but consists almost entirely of thematically charged character moments is why I like it, because playing into a standard plot based narrative isn't what the show is trying to do, that's why it truly feels like a bunch of people crossing paths and having experiences together before coming out the other side on their own journeys, in fact if it had more plot trappings i wouldn't bother with it at all because any kind of on the rails structured plot is the writing's weak point

Good summary. To me the number 1 problem with a sequel to this movie was always going to be finding a lead actor with the sort of gravitas and charisma it takes to play such a strong and individual hero character. They did not find one.

Additional note to your thoughts on Jim's personality and how he treats his non-Pam love interests: I think the flaws he has further cements him as a humanized, likable person/character. Sometimes decent people do make bad romantic blunders and nobody is immune to being the person who dumps someone after they move to be nearer, as sucky as that is to do. Humans make mistakes and there's value in thise mistakes if they're learned from

excellent review, thanks

They made one fat comment to sukie, from Luke when she was pregnant 😂

In the extended version of the episode with Jan’s baby shower, there’s a scene where Michael says goodbye to Jan’s baby. And he says to the baby that he also grew up with an absent father and he turned out okay, but it’s quite obvious that deep down he’s actually worried about the baby turning out like himself. And it was genuinely heartbreaking to watch for me. It takes a special kind of character to bring out that much empathy in a viewer, even in small moments like that, after doing so many horrible and idiotic things.

I agree with everything you said but outstanding performance by Emma D'arcy?? Lol. Smirking (randomly rubbing dirt on her face) and mewing at the camera from episode 2 onwards is not that outstanding 😂

You should take a look at Brazilian author’s Machado de Assis work “Dom Casmurro”. The way we don’t know if Harper actually cheated or it is all in Ethan’s head reminds me of Bentinho and Capitu and the mystery of whether or not she cheated

The way u described the show feeling sci-fi due to the characters acting seperately in their own stories yet acting in harmony with the overall story is why i described this show as Shakespearean to my partner!! Shakespeare will write tons of fully fleshed out characters with entirely seperate motives and somehow all characters will, by the end, weave into a massive and cohesive story. Its beautiful and makes the story fun!

Amazing video thank you

1:01 “everything i don’t like is facistism”

redefining happiness so they think they have it ??? r u joking

Why wouldn't Portia steal those pills? I don't think its that deep except to give some insight into her character and the nature of her relationship.

I just discovered this show last week. It is the most amazing piece of television art that has come along in years.

I love Succession. It’s not just a show to me-it’s a deep dive into the raw, messy layers of power, family, and ambition. Every time I watch, I’m struck by how the Roys, for all their obscene wealth and influence, are so painfully human. They’re fragile, petty, desperate for love and validation, yet utterly incapable of giving it to one another. What pulls me in the most is how the show doesn’t just entertain-it challenges me. It holds up a mirror to human nature and forces me to confront the contradictions within myself: the need to be seen, the fear of failure, the quiet ways we all jockey for control in our relationships. The Roys are extreme, yes, but the dynamics-those moments of loyalty twisted into betrayal or affection laced with cruelty-feel universal. And then there’s the absurdity of it all. The way Succession exposes the fragility behind the polished veneer of power is both hilarious and tragic. It makes me think about how money and status don’t shield anyone from their own insecurities or the weight of generational baggage. In fact, they amplify it. I love how the show layers everything so perfectly-the biting dialogue, the haunting music, the subtle glances that say everything. The drama, the psychology, the unspoken battles, the slow unraveling of characters who can’t escape their own worst impulses...It’s brilliant, brutal, and impossible to look away from-and I don’t think I’ll ever stop being fascinated by it.

ordinary actor with bad story..

This was proof that adapting British hits could work in America

5:10 😫😫😫

I made the decision to avoid watching Gladiator II after seeing the trailer. Sharks? Really? The original film was perfect and delivered a clear hero and villain. How could you improve on that?

Watched this show religiously after discovering it on syndication many years ago. What made it appealing was the characters dealing with problems in their idealistic world where there is no crime, poverty, chronic illnesses, or lingering mental issues after a good cry or rant. Everything will work out in the end, which is what everyone in life wants. By watching these quirky and privileged characters in their perfect world, we escape from our daily problem-filled mundane lives. Through good writing and storytelling, we accept their reality.

Main actor is a nobody because they spent all the money on an ensemble cast. The moment I saw Denzel I knew I’d never watch it.

The story was incoherent.

The actors who played the emperors were lame.

The production is of straight-to-video quality.

I've read most of the comments so I have nothing more to add, except, LOVE YOU and YOUR WORK!!! 🤩🤩🤩💜💜💜 Give us more, please! 🙏💜

just finished the serie and now i want more. you got my sub in the first minute.

For those of us who are fond of the original characterization of Lucius Verus Aurelius, it seems like too far a stretch to have alienated him from his life of sanctuary under the empress's wing. This film puts too much distance between him and Rome, which makes his vendetta against Rome seem contrived and artificial. I can hardly believe that a son of an empress of Rome, who was weened on Rome's teat as it were, somehow finds himself driven at odds against the city of his youth - and o' big fail with him having to be reintroduced to Maximus's armor in the gladiator dungeon as though he didn't even know Maximus! That is a big loophole in the story that was accidental, I know, but there is no way, since Lucius was there at Maximus's death in the arena, that he would somehow have forgotten about that tragic moment!

You’re so correct. I work in this industry and am frequently annoyed by the mistakes in the storytelling.

“What we do in life echoes in eternity” is written, IN F’ING ENGLISH!!!!!

You said it better than I could!! I felt the same after watching the film

Out of 3 movies which I've been waiting for ( New Mad Max, Alien and Gladiator), Gladiator 2 did the best in terms of entertaining which kept me in, while others being just a shallow copies of a better movies with Romulus me personally thinking being just a joke. I agree with lot of critique put in, the fact how they messed up a historical names is a nonsense, and seems more of a riddley scott move to humiliate people into the thing, tho there is something you never mentioned and that being Lucious mother being killed in the end of the movie, it's just such a cheap and unnessasery move to put character onto the next scene, out of anything it got me out of the movie the most on pair with lack of background character building and lack of time for any of the antogonists, like these 2 gladiators in the first movie ( big guy and black guy) they barely had any lines and had more in them than these twins Gladiator 2 got. Still knowing current movie industry and how mediocre everything is at least Gladiator 2 was entertaining and had well made fighting scenes, with ship battle being the best out of them for me.

They should have made the film follow a child Lucius on his way to Africa, while Rome focused both on securing a new Emperor and the challenges with Christianity becoming bigger culturally. The culture of Africa would have been a great arena for a new costume, characters and feeling that worked with Gladiator, not competing with it.

y'know, i actually think Maximus being Lucius's father was the only RIGHT play as it was foreshadowed in the original film. As for the comments slandering Maximus' integrity, need to END. So what if Maximus loved another person? So what if he had child with her? For who are we to judge every action of another person? All this finger pointing non-sense needs to stop. A good person will and does make mistakes, and thinking we are the judge of what sins are permitted and which sins are not, is a travesty. Now i am not defending the entirety of Gladiator II's production by expressing this opinion. Just wanted to illustrate that we should think twice before being so hostile and fiery about Maximus, his character as a whole, and what "righteousness" means. Back to the foreshadow i spoke of... In the end of Gladiator I, Lucilla consoles Maximus after he slays Commodus, and tells him "Lucius is safe" before he dies and passes on to the next life. Not sure about anyone else here, but when i heard this, i immediately knew that Maximus was his father. Earlier in the film i already questioned a relationship of some kind after they encounter each other in conversation upon Maximus leaving Caesars tent. Lucilla's temperament subtly warranted that they had some kind of intimate connection. Maximus lies to her about his conversation with her father, which provokes a lewd laugh and an immediate change of behavior on her part, magnifying this suspicion. For real though-- i could make an entire 30 minute video with more supporting facts but don't really want to and am already tired from typing this up. Anyway, Gladiator I remains untarnished to me. Gladiator II was okayge.

this randomly showed up on my recommended feed the day after i watched phyllis wedding and guest lecture. loved it! instantly subscribed

Really well put. I agree with you on all points

I hate that Lucius is maximas son… it’s stated that his son was of the same age in the first and I have a hard time believing maximas cheated on his wife and son who he couldn’t wait to go home to

Paul Mescal was really, really bad. No charisma whatsoever. He clearly got the role by being friends with and/or doing favors to director Ridly Scott. Lightyears away from Russell Crowe's magnetic performance back in 2000.

Home Alone is wonderful. My favourite Christmas movie.

I do love your suggestive changes to make the sequel easier to digest. While I don’t think I could find alot of tweaks to fix the rushed script but as far as Hanoi goes, I’d propose 3 possible edits/tweaks that would make his narrative journey different than what we got. 1. If we were going to have that battle at Numidia, I would tweak that he got knocked out before his wife died instead of seeing his wife killed in battle. It would create more confusion w/ the audience & Hanoi in that moment when he sees his wife with the boatman. It would add a layer of guilt to his rage when he finds her body, being unable to save her in battle which would increase when the leader lays down his life in the gladiator pit intensifying Hano’s rage. 2. If he is revealed to be Lucius, I would not make him related to Maximus at all. Instead I would tweak it to when Lucilla says to him that Maximus while not bound to him by blood, fought to protect him, fought to ensure he lived. Only in a cruel sense of fate he ends up walking the same path like Maximus, in this sense making Maximus more of a spiritual father to Hanno instead of a blood relation. 3. In that fight between Hanno & Acacius, I’d adjust the scene to make Hanno more feral/barbaric when he fights. Displaying that he has given completely into his rage, making every plea from Acacius deafening to his ear. When the moment comes when Acacius drops his sword in a show of surrender, I’d have Hanno stab Acacius, not killing him but mortally wounding him. Showing how deep his rage is, then I’d have the moment slow down to have the camera focus on Hanno’s expression as he’s more animalistic in his attack but when Acacius places his hands on him. Hanno comes to his senses a little and the noise around him is a little less deafen as he hears his mother’s screams. It’d be in this moment he lets go of the blade, leaves it in Acacius as he bleeds out, unwilling to land the killing blow opening the door for the Emperor’s to give the order to the Preatorian guard. Hanno can still have his exchange with Macrinus but when he confronts his mother again, his words are more genuine as he’s filled with a sense of shame & clarity.