House of Ashur’ Season 1 Ending, Explained

Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for the ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ Season 1 finale.Holy Bellona! What a season finale! The first season of House of Ashur just ended, and it was quite a wild way to wrap things up. All the ruinous acts of folly and built-up rage finally exploded in “Hail Caesar,” leaving some characters on shaky ground and others with plenty to look forward to. The denouement is so good that it’s impossible to predict how Season 2 will turn out. Will things ever be the same again for Ashur after what he just did?

A spinoff of Spartacus, which aired from 2010 to 2013, House of Ashur covers an alternate timeline in which the treacherous slave doesn’t die on Mount Vesuvius during the Third Seville War. Instead, he killed Spartacus, helping the Romans end the slave rebellion. Consequently, he was gifted his former master Batiatus’ ludus as a reward. As a dominus, he purchases Achillia, a female slave who goes on to become his top fighter. Both Ashur and Achillia are subjected to physical and emotional blows throughout the season, but in the finale, each gets the better of their enemies. So, let’s talk about these intense events.

The ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ Season 1 Finale “Hail Caesar” Just Rewrote the Ides of March

Starz

The Ides of March is best known as the date on which Julius Caesar was assassinated in 44 BC. As many as 60 conspirators stabbed the Roman legend to death during a meeting of the Senate. Brutus and Cassius orchestrated the plan, and, according to Plutarch, Caesar had ignored a warning by a seer… even mocking the man on his way to the Theatre of Pompey. Things play out differently in Spartacus: House of Ashur Season 1, Episode 10, “Hail Caesar,” where series creator Steven S. DeKnight makes it clear what he thinks of the legendary Roman. Ashur kills the arrogant politician at the ludus after a brutal sword fight between the two.

Caesar is portrayed by Jackson Gallagher, who invests considerable contained power and menace in his performance, creating an aura of scheming viciousness through the subtlest of facial movements. He first appears in the fifth episode, “Goddess of Death,” and continuously bullies Ashur, arm-twisting him into doing his bidding, while not caring what the Syrian wants.

In the penultimate episode, “Those Who Remain,” the Roman appears to have acquired a sense of compassion, throwing Ashur a bone. He promises to rebuild the arena and give him control of all games in Capua if he assassinates Gabinus and disrupts the planned union between Pompey and Viridia. Too good to be true? Right! He’s never been a model of virtue. In the finale, Caesar pulls the “What the hell are you talking about?” card when Ashur tries to follow up on the reward he was promised. Caesar even insults him, triggering the duel that ends with the Roman’s death.

Because House of Ashur is an alternate history show, creator Steven S. DeKnight was never required to stick to the events laid out in ancient documents and the research of scholars. After all, Ashur isn’t even a real historical figure. Still, DeKnight gifts us a clever version of events. Ashur represents of the 60 senators who stabbed Caesar during the Ides of March. At that point, the Roman had crossed so many people that he couldn’t get away with his actions.

Caesar’s quick death is shocking, considering that, for years, many fans had called for a spinoff specifically chronicling the historical figure’s rise to the top. It would have been interesting to see him stick around for longer. However, House of Ashur proves that a reset isn’t impossible. Ashur came back from the afterlife after being killed at Mount Vesuvius in the original show, and Caesar can, too.

“Hail Caesar” Addresses Key Concerns About Achillia

Tenika Davis in Spartacus: House of Ashur

Away from Ashur, there’s been plenty of controversy surrounding the show, stemming from the choice to have Achillia as a protagonist. Some fans felt that Steven S. DeKnight was taking the “woke” route by putting a Black gladiatrix at the center of the proceedings, yet historical records prove that a fighter named Achilla actually existed. However, the same records also prove that gladiatrices normally fought against women, not men.

Detractors argued that there was no need to watch the show because there was no way a female fighter, no matter how skilled, would destroy skilled male gladiators. However, Achillia doesn’t just stride through the entire show, obliterating every man in a feminist manner. In fact, in most of the episodes, she never has the upper hand. Her fellow trainees often get the better of her, and on the fighting ground, she suffers serious injuries, forcing her to stay on the sidelines for long. Slowly, though, she becomes perfect.

In “Horizons,” Ashur is forced to field Achillia’s lover, Celadus, instead of Achillia for the main event, pitting him against the Scythian, Proculus’s own female gladiator. Surprisingly, she kills him, a move that grants Achillia a proper enemy. In “Hail Caesar,” Achillia finally gets an opportunity for vengeance, and to say she makes a spectacle out of it would be an understatement. She carves the Scythian’s head wide open in a massive show of skill during the games. Later on, Achillia sleeps with Celadus’ equally formidable gladiator son, Tarchon.

The Real Meaning of the ‘Spartacus: House of Ashur’ Season 1 Finale

Ashur in the House of Ashur finale, Hail Caesar

“Hail Caesar” is not only a powerful Spartacus: House of Ashur season finale, but it’s also a clever one. In the back of his mind, Steven S. DeKnight must have known that excellence wasn’t guaranteed. Without Spartacus in the picture, there was no way of telling whether the show’s numbers would be good enough. He thus created an episode that’s perfect both as a series finale and a bridge to the next chapter.

If Starz doesn’t renew House of Ashur for Season 2, fans won’t have much to cry over since the major threads have all been tied up. After being mistreated the entire season, Ashur is now on top. He has killed his most annoying enemy, removing the biggest obstacle in his plan to become as influential as Batiatus. The Dominus may have his warts and peccadilloes, but it’s nice seeing him prevail for once. Achillia also finally looks like the Spartacus-type fighter everyone expected her to be. The two are winners now, and that’s a great way to end things.

If House of Ashur continues, we’ll get stronger versions of both characters. Achillia is now the complete package. After her show of dominance against the Scythian, she can now defeat anyone without questions being raised. It’ll also be interesting to see where her new romance with Celadus leads. As for Ashur, the possibilities are endless.

Could he go as far as the Senate? Could he be this world’s version of Julius Caesar? This version of Ashur is very likable, but the jury is still out on whether he is motivated by noble aims, working for the interests of his gladiators, or he is merely a shameless political opportunist, ready to murder and throw people under the bus at the drop of a tricorn to ensure his survival, and slake his insatiable thirst for power, glory, and women. We’ll find out… or maybe not. Hail Ashur!