As a Sally Rooney fan, I first discovered Paul Mescal when he played Connell in the BBC adaptation of Normal People alongside Daisy Edgar-Jones.
Since then, he’s been popping up on my feed—from fan edits and *those* short shorts to photos of him dating Gracie Abrams, one of my favourites.
I also enjoy period pieces, history, and mythology, and I had watched the original Gladiator as a kid. So I was hyped for Gladiator II, and because of the big names attached, I was even more inclined to check it out.
Director Ridley Scott takes us back to ancient Rome, but Gladiator II doesn’t hit the same intensity or emotions as the original.
The story starts with the twin emperors Caracalla (Fred Hechinger) and Geta (Joseph Quinn), whose sort of comedic performances as corrupt rulers give a glimpse of the state of the collapsing empire.
Meanwhile, Lucius (Paul Mescal), who is in exile, experiences tragedy when his wife is killed in a Roman attack. This is supposed to be his “I am going to take revenge” moment, but it doesn’t land as firmly.
He is also Maximus and Lucilla’s son and Marcus Aurelius’ grandson. However, he does not seem to be as filled with rage as his father. At the same time, his fighting sequences are incredible, especially when he takes on his father’s armour and sword in the last battle.
While Mescal’s performance has layers, he doesn’t quite bring that ferocity Maximus had, and his approach often feels too low-key against the movie’s grand scale.
Pedro Pascal as General Acacius is solid and brings some depth, though the film makes it hard for his character to really shine.
On the other hand, Denzel Washington owns his role as Macrinus, a former slave turned power-hungry plot master. He’s sly and full of tricks and adds a lot of suspense and unpredictability to the story.
Visually, Gladiator II has everything you’d expect from Ridley Scott—epic battle scenes, fabulous costumes, and brutal fights. The Colosseum fights, war battles, and gladiator scenes all look great and pull you into ancient Rome. But some CGI, like the fight with a bizarre-looking ape, feels off.
With strength and honour, I can say that Gladiator II is not my Roman Empire. It’s not the best sequel (are they ever?), but it’s not the worst either. It might keep genre fans entertained and has a stunning visual appeal, but it lacks an emotional punch and strong character arcs.
