Drama digest:
This story goes back in time and is based on the Roman Empire. Cestvys, the show’s protagonist, is an orphan taken as an enslaved person in the Roman Empire. He gets placed in a school bag of pugilists, where he has to defy his life and freedoms through boxing.
The feel-good factor:
The show is mediocrely interesting. It was set up in the times of the Roman Empire, which is a fresh concept to look out for. The blend of Japanese manga with Roman Empire times is an interesting one.
The disappointing factor:
As it’s a show based on a novel, they should’ve followed it well. But instead, 60% of the novel has been skipped. Also, some of the writing for the show is not thoroughly researched, which has led to inappropriate information.
In-depth analysis:
Cestvys is an orphaned slave, in the Roman Empire. He is just 15 years old. Even though he’s a slave, with no proper lifestyle, he has a charming personality. He’s forceful it into an academy of pugilists in the Colosseum. Even though it seems scary at first, it becomes clear to him that he needs to do well as a boxer to achieve his long-lost freedom. He takes his boxing lessons under a person named Zafar,j whom he calls master Zafar. Even though small in stature, his natural reflexes and athleticism make Zafar believe in him. Due to all this, Cestvys starts taking boxing seriously and trains hard. One fine day, during a match, the newly appointed emperor of the colosseum named Nero notices Cestvys. Emperor Nero is a 17-year-old and is fond of art, music, and poetry. He was impressed by Cestvys’s skills and takes him as his supporter. The story is all about the twists and turns Cestvys‘s fate goes through for him to get freedom.
Some other characters of the series include:
- Zafar:
He’s a legendary boxer who has been undefeated his entire life. He was considered to be the strongest boxer ever. But, he, unfortunately, retires due to an injury; after that, he becomes a boxing coach. He is a strict but caring teacher.
- Ruska:
A boxing prodigy who’s mastered all his skills at just 16 years of age. Due to his blonde hair, he wears the nickname ‘golden Ruska’. He’s an intelligent and calm guy in general but ruthless and merciless once he’s in the boxing square.
- Sabina:
The wealthiest woman in the city who’s also considered the most beautiful woman ever. There are a lot of conflicts among many people to make her their wife.
- Demetrius:
He is Ruska’s father, whom Ruska hates a lot. He was also an old opponent of Zafar. He is known as the Golden Lion of Attica due to his skills and arrogance. He can be considered the antagonist of the series.
Star power:
Cestvs’s master, Zafar, can undoubtedly be called the star of the show, because even though he couldn’t achieve his own goals, he helped Cestvs gain his freedom.
Overall opinion:
As it’s a manga set up in the Roman Empire, it serves the audience well.
