Barbarians Rising
GenreDocudrama
Written by
  • Lindsey Shapero
  • Oliver Nilsson-Julien
  • Chris Fallon
  • Colin Heber Percy
  • Lyal Watson
Directed by
  • Simon George
  • Declan O'Dwyer
  • Maurice Sweeney
Narrated byMichael Ealy
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes4[1]
Production
Executive producers
  • Adam Bullmore
  • Joe Cushing
  • Simon George
Producers
  • Michael Waterhouse
  • Chloe Leland
Cinematography
  • Richard Kendrick
  • Gary Clarke
Editors
  • Paul Holland
  • Lewis Albrow
  • David Barrett
Production companyOctober Films
Original release
NetworkHistory Channel
ReleaseJune 6 (2016-06-06) –
June 27, 2016 (2016-06-27)

Barbarians Rising is an American docudrama television series executive produced by Adam Bullmore and produced by Chloe Leland and Michael Waterhouse that airs on History Channel.[2] It premiered on June 6, 2016.[3]

Synopsis

The series is told from the perspective of leaders of peoples that fought Rome, who were termed barbarians by the Romans. These individuals were famous for challenging the rule of Rome.[3] Depictions of these leaders and historical events are interspersed with brief commentary from modern scholars, historians and experts on military and public policy.[1][4]

Cast

Episodes

No.TitleOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
1"Resistance"June 6, 2016 (2016-06-06)0.970[5]
2"Rebellion"June 13, 2016 (2016-06-13)0.777[6]
3"Revenge"June 20, 2016 (2016-06-20)0.894[7]
4"Ruin"June 27, 2016 (2016-06-27)0.804[8]

Production

The History Channel ordered Barbarians Rising in December 2015.[2] The cast, and the U.S. and Canadian premiere dates of June 6, 2016, were announced in May 2016.[3][9]

Broadcast

History (Canada) debuted the miniseries the same month as the United States and has it available for viewing On Demand for a full year.[10] Barbarians Rising premiered in the United Kingdom on August 31, 2016. It is scheduled to premiere in Italy and Australia on July 4, and in much of Europe on July 17. The series will premiere in Germany in September 2016, and in Japan, Spain and Portugal in fall 2016.[3]

Reception

Despite the high number of viewers, the show received mixed reviews. Brian P. Kelly of The Wall Street Journal gave Barbarians Rising a mixed review, commending History Channel "for offering a show that deals with, well, history" while also noting "the series is slowed to the point of exhaustion by its lengthy re-enactments".[1] Verne Gay of Newsday was also mixed in his appraisal of the miniseries giving it a grade of 'C' and remarking that "The sword-and-sandal mini-epics here are lavishly produced, and (for the most part) dramatically comatose."[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Brian P. Kelly (June 6, 2016). "'Barbarians Rising' Review: The Other Side of History". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Denise Petski (December 2, 2015). "History Orders 'Barbarians Rising' Docudrama About Rise & Fall of Roman Empire". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Erik Pedersen (May 10, 2016). "'Barbarians Rising': Cast & Premiere Dates For History's Roman Empire Saga". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  4. ^ a b Verne Gay (June 3, 2016). "'Barbarians Rising' review: Roman Empire's fall sluggishly retold". Newsday. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  5. ^ Mitch Metcalf (June 7, 2016). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.6.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 10, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  6. ^ Mitch Metcalf (June 14, 2016). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.13.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 15, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.
  7. ^ Mitch Metcalf (June 21, 2016). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.20.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 24, 2016.
  8. ^ Mitch Metcalf (June 28, 2016). "SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.27.2016". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 30, 2016. Retrieved July 1, 2016.
  9. ^ Laura Prudom (May 16, 2016). "History Schedules 'Six,' El Chapo Documentary, Ozzy Osbourne Series for Summer". Variety. Retrieved June 17, 2016. On Monday, June 6 at 9 pm, docu-drama "Barbarians Rising" tells the story of the rise and fall of the Roman Empire from the perspective of the barbarian leaders who brought it down, including Hannibal, Spartacus, Arminius, Boudica and Attila.
  10. ^ "Barbarians Rising | History Channel Canada". Archived from the original on May 9, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2016.

External links

History Channel original documentary films and miniseries
Categories