While the second episode of Those About to Die had to spend a lot of time setting up our various main characters and the history of the show, with episode 2 we're ready to get in the thick of a nice juicy plot.
The show, set in ancient Rome, is about the high-stakes world of chariot racing and gladiatorial combat, and how it intersects with the politics of the empire. We've got sons vying to take over from the ailing empire, a plebian bettor who wants to start a new racing faction, and captive slaves who want to win their freedom.
It's an exciting show full of cool fight scenes, interesting characters and thick plots, and that's already true as of this second episode entitled "Trust No One" in which we follow the efforts of Tenax to start a faction and stop the plot against his racer Scorpus.
So let's dive into our Those About to Die episode 2 recap to see what happens, and of course spoilers ensue.
The sabotaged chariot
We begin the episode seeing Tenax (Iwan Rheon) add the shares of the blue faction to a growing pile of loot. Someone has also left a metal horse which reminds him of something from his past. Then Scorpus (Dimitri Leonidas) appears, demanding that Tenax investigates his sabotaged chariot.
Elia (Gonçalo Almeida) and his brothers visit the blue faction's stable, where Scorpus is, and he agrees to do a test ride the next day. The horse buyer brings them to one of Tenax's boarding houses where they can stay while in Rome.
Tenax visits the chariot maker's shop to threaten him for information on Scorpus' sabotage, and one of his daughters saw a red-headed man fiddling with a chariot. Tenax knows who this is: the lanky man who he witnessed taking a bribe to start a riot in episode 1: Lucius. Lucius says he did it on behalf of someone else, and Tenax can guess who.
He tells Scorpus that it was Domitian (Jojo Macari) who organized the sabotage, and as you'll remember he placed a big bet on white last episode. This suggests that the emperor's son is in debt, but it works for Tenax's plan to start a new faction, as Domitian is the person whom needs to grant the permission to begin such a team.
Welcome to Rome
The slaves from Nubia arrive in Rome and Kwame (Moe Hashim) is split up from his sisters. Also in Rome is their mother Cala (Sara Martins) who sells jewelry to earn money to sell the children. However Lucius sees this, and him and his men corner Cala in an alley and take her belongings.
At the Ludus Magnus, a giant guy called Flamma (Martyn Ford) is easily beating prospective gladiators in a fight, when the new arrivals (including Kwame) arrive. The man is told to fight a competitor called Viggo, and Kwame begins by losing but turns the fight around and wins.
Domitian witnesses this and is impressed, but stops that when Kwame attacks him. Domitian orders that Kwame be killed in a fight in the arena.
Scorpus meets Elia (Gonçalo Almeida) and his brothers to test out their Andalusian horses, and he's very impressed by them. He offers to buy them for top dollar (well, top sesterces)... but as long as the trio of Spaniards stays to look after them. While his brothers are excited by the idea, Elia isn't as keen. He storms off but his brothers tell Scorpus that they'll get him to come around.
Scorpus then tells Tenax that he bought the horses, and he's all-in on their plan to start a faction. This news alarms members of the blue faction though, as Scorpus used Tenax's money instead of their own as per usual.
Tenax visits the blue faction and sells the shares he won last episode, for a lot of money, to Marsus who will become faction leader with the extra shares. Then he visits Domitian and asks for permission to start a faction, in exchange for the emperor's son getting a secret 50% stake in the faction.
That night, when Lucius is drunk, Cala attacks him to take back her money. However he's sold most of it, so only has a little bit left. In another part of the city, someone breaks into Tenax's stables and poisons all the horses.
Poisoning the horses
Domitian and Titus (Tom Hughes) are summoned by their father, the emperor Flavius Vespasian (Anthony Hopkins), as he declares his will. He states that Titus, the soldier, will succeed him as emperor. This irks Domitian, who afterward makes a plan with his aide in order to bide their time before moving on Titus.
Tenax goes to the stables to discover the ill horses, and it's poor timing because Domitian is about to visit the stables to see the horses. However the Spanish brothers rig up a sling to hold the horse, pretending that it's a technique from their country, which fools Domitian. The ruler agrees to let Tenax start a faction for a 50% share.
A veterinarian discovers that the horses were poisoned by nightshade, and that they'll probably die. One of Elia's brothers wants them to flee but, loyal to his horses, Elia demands they stay. Scorpus knows someone in Pompeii who may be able to save the horses so he rides off to find the cure.
Tenax visits an apothecary to find out who bought the nightshade, and questions the poisoner to find out who paid for it to happen. He discovers the carriage of the organizer, and sets people off to find who it belongs to.
When the first of the horses dies, Elia's brother makes good on his pleas and flees the city. Later that day, Elia meets someone in his apartment when he helps her carry her bag up the stairs.
Some children hired by Tenax discover the carriage he's looking for and, after summoning him, follow it to a slave auction. Tenax sees who the owner is and it's Antonia, who's Scorpus' lover but also Marsus' wife.
At that same auction Cala tries to bid on her daughters' freedom. She's wildly outbid by Antonia for the first daughter and Tenax wins the second one, even though Cala bid higher. However Cala follows Tenax to his home and he lets her see her daughter.
Tenax has bought the daughter in order for her to use the other daugher to spy on Antonia. Cala offers to help out if Tenax will let her buy her children's freedom later, and he agrees.
Viggo visits Kwame in captivity, as he knows Flamma is going to kill him in the gladiatorial fights. Viggo wants Kwame to teach him how to fight big opponents, and in exchange he'll show Kwame how to use Roman weapons. Kwame agrees, stating that he wants to free his sisters and also kill Domitian. Viggo decides to help.
