Gladiators UK - 2024 Reboot

[sasukewarrior333]

I've really enjoyed this so far, but have some major criticisms of the format. Will comment more on it after the finale.

[sasukewarrior333]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Plenty of likable personalities, mostly fun events and good aesthetics. That being said, I do have a few comments. Minor spoilers lay ahead:

I don't like how when a contestant was injured for the Quarter Finals, the replacement contestant was someone who wasn't even in the heats. Why not just go for the second fastest runner up? (or the 3rd/4th/5th depending on who was available?)

The multiplayer Gladiator events feel kinda hit and miss. (The Gauntlet isn't as intense as it used to be, Collision is pretty good but I wish it still used the wrecking balls instead, Powerball is okay and the Ring is fine but feels like watered down Powerball)

Singleplayer events are all good.

I wish the events were above water like in the 08-09 version but I understand this was likely a budget thing.

Where was Hang Tough?? One of the most iconic events and it was only used like 3 or 4 times.

We could do with some more events. Some ones I'd love to see would be Tilt, Pursuit, Earthquake, Pyramid or Atlaspheres, though I appreciate that this may be in part due to safety concerns.

Clattenberg as ref is mostly okay but has had a couple questionable calls (like saying that one contestant left the Gauntlet "deliberately" when most certainly did not) and also doesn't quite have the right cadence for the iconic lines like the "Gladiators ready?", countdown and "You will go on my first whistle". Sonia and Lee were just kinda invisible.

The Walshes were fine but didn't leave much of an impact. Bradley's clearly more at his element hosting trivia based gameshows rather than physical and Barney needs more experience.

The Gladiators are all cool (and also really hot in this version for some reason), Legend is a great heel who subverts the wrath of the typical Gladiators heel and replace it with pure wit, while Nitro is a goofy little (in comparison to the other men, he's still 5'11 lol) ball of energy who can't be mean even when he's trying to

Contenders were fine, albeit a lot of them were forgettable. My favourites were both Finlays, Wesley, Chung, Kerry, Tualaith, Paul and Marie-Louise. Don't really get the online hate for Betti, she was fine. Jake was the only one who annoyed me, but I'm sure he's probably a fine guy in real life, I just didn't gel with his style of confidence in the show.

For how much precaution they seem to be taking to avoid injury, it sure does seem like we're still getting a lot, along with even injuries that are making competitors have to withdraw, on one occasion on the spot.

[penguincatfish]

The show has been renewed for Season 2.

There will also be a celebrity special. No details yet, but will probably air around the end of the year.

Casting for Season 2 is open until June 13, 2024.

www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/take-part/gladiators