My initial impression from the first episode that this was rather cheap on all accounts proved true.
And yet, I liked the performances of Iwan Rheon and Sara Martins who put some sparks of life into otherwise shallow and boring characters.
Not much else can be praised though. Anthony Hopkins said a few lines of wisdom then was removed quickly. The VFX is indeed as bad as everyone else is saying, especially noticeable in backgrounds, crowds and beasts. The music is usually way to epic, sometimes even annoying. In the first few episodes some bush drums are being played whenever Moe Hashim comes on screen which is super cheesy. The way the showrunners integrate sexual content feels pretty weird as well. On the one hand, they have the extras show as many shaved male butts and female breasts as possible and on the other hand except the lead actors and actresses from showing private parts even in orgy scenes where everyone else is completely naked but them, who are conveniently always covered in clothes. Thats neither romantic nor erotic, just very artificial - just as the show overall.
If you are interested in this setting, the show is good enough to run in the background while you are on your smartphone.

Seeing Anthony Hopkins I was hoping for a great show but unfortunately it's just not. Show is trying to be something like Rome or Spartacus but its missing on all fronts.
There were few good actors, but some of them were just plain bad. The script is plain or 'cheap', mostly boring conversations, predictable story. The CGI is not good, and in all the cases rule should be: 'If you don't have money for top CGI, just don't do any CGI'.
And for the end, we again are having gays and lesbians and their stories, like I give a f***. Just for that woke pushing in every tv show or a movie it drops in quality almost automatically because they are taking time and focus from an actual story to push their agenda we are not asking for or want.

In spite of high production values, Those About to Die is an historical fiction.

This is sensationalist, blood soaked fare, that deviates, to often wide degrees, from historical fact.

For viewers who are not bothered by historical considerations, its an okay watch but it does raise questions as to why there is a need to revise history, as its actually written.

In summary, revisionist, classical history knock off, fictional action series.