Part 5/8:
A pivotal element of the original Gladiator was its protagonist, Maximus, whose motivations were both powerful and comprehensible. In contrast, the character arcs in Gladiator 2 feel fragmented and lack depth. Lucius shares his rage and ambitions with Pedro Pascal's character, but as he shifts from one enemy to another, his motivations begin to lose clarity. This disjointed storytelling does a disservice to the character’s emotional journey.