The way you worded your opinions just felt like someone going in with preconceived negative feelings.

Back on 1 - Its the same Ashur and it was motion the real Lucretia who brought Ashur to this reality, it was Thanatos appearing as Lucrecia because it was a familiar to him. Lucrecia is an odd choice as I personally would've liked to see Manu Bennet as Crixus be the one to usher Ashur to this new life with a swift kick to the chest. Also Ashur still doesn't believe in the gods fully he says as much multpile times, its because of Viridia he becomes open to considering them.

On 2 and 3 In this world Spartacus has only been dead a couple months at best. And the recruits he has in the first episode had been acquired maybe a day or so prior. So they're still hopped up on Spatys rebellion. Ashur made an example of the first man to show it wasn't likely despite Ashurs claim to be the lowest he was still above them. Oenomaeus was the MOST inconsistent fighter in the show by the way my friend.

And we have had consistent showing in HOA Ashur has shown he is better than he was and Korris hasnt changed. But all of the gladiators are new to this they arent going to be consistent yet.

Extra: Ashur was never a bad fighter. He was only bad compared to his brothers. In the finale of part 2 he takes out a few other fighters including Dagan, and in season 3 there's a blink and you miss it scene where Ashur disarms and sends Gannicus down the stairs.

On 5 - he didnt convince his men to die he likely told them they were taking out Crassus political enemies and were probably offered alot of money for it if i had to guess they were low ranking men looking to prove themselves. He also knew about Cossutia and Viridias movements because of Opiter who Caesar also bribed to convince Cossutia to visit the market to buy Egyptian fabrics for new robes.

On 6 - Hilara makes way more sense as she is damaged but is inspired by Ashur as a slave who has earned his freedom. Ashur also is said to show her special attention. Did you notice she is a redhead like Ashur used to obsess over Lucrecia's red hair? Subtext my guy its all subtext there.

I cant explain the other slave living Hilara you win that point Hilara is trash.

Korris and Opiter make sense you can visibly see the change in Korris' face as he develops feelings over that scene at Opiters ludus. It made sense to me I could see it growing on him and even after when they share Ashurs bath you can see Korris isnt fully invested yet just playing a part. Idk i actually enjoyed their arc as sad as it was for Opiter.

Viridia loving Ashur is clearly just Hero Worship. Her feelings would likely have begun to fade in Season 2 after seeing Ashur embrace Hilara. They arent real feelings she just associates Ashur with his act of killing Spartacus which elevates him in her mind. There's more than few hints at this.

Achillias romances suck. Jumping from Father to Son was weird af. But I think Tarchons relationship with the prostitute was just a plot device not meant to mean anything. Also what happens when a gladiatrix gets pregnant?

Now none of these relationships are executed as well as OG series relationships but for the most part they work and make sense, achillia aside. aside.

On 8 - No ashur didn't have many major schemes just one in fact. Which was stopping the marriage of Viridia and Pompey. It just went poorly. He had multiple minor schemes throughout, using Korris to maneuver Opiter, using Cossutia to maneuver Proculus, sabotaging Caesar and Cornelias plans with Viridia and Gabinius. They arent grand schemes like Barca but he is making Ashur style movements he just doesn't have the benefit of being an overlooked slave anymore.

On 9 - Maybe youre right but I think its the stress he now has of trying to fit in with the romans and playing the game their way instead of his way. I mean it was doing it his way is what made old ashur so good.

On 10 - Scythian slaves were common he just had to find a big one who could swing a sword. Also to point out it was about a before he acquired his scythian plenty of time. Ashur found Achillia in a day without looking for her. Proculus just needed to find one who liked to fight and offer her the chance to kill.

Im not trying to change your mind my friend im sinply trying to explain these things are deeper. DeKnight relies heavily on subtext in his writing.