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Alexander: The Making of a God (2024), a Netflix historical docudrama, is a captivating exploration of Alexander the Great’s extraordinary life, blending dramatic reenactments with scholarly insights to create a vivid portrait of one of history’s most iconic figures. Rated an impressive 8.4/10, this six-episode series traces Alexander’s journey from an exiled prince to the architect of a vast empire, offering both entertainment and education. Led by Buck Braithwaite’s compelling performance and enriched with stunning visuals, the series is a must-watch for fans of historical dramas, ancient history, and epic storytelling. In this 2000-word review, we’ll dive into the series’ plot, performances, themes, historical accuracy, and cinematic achievements, optimized for SEO to reach audiences searching for Alexander: The Making of a God insights.

Overview of Alexander: The Making of a God

Premiered on Netflix in 2024, Alexander: The Making of a God is a hybrid docudrama that combines scripted drama with expert commentary from historians and archaeologists. Directed by Hugh Ballantyne and Mike Slee, the series chronicles the life of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king who conquered much of the known world in the 4th century BCE. Spanning six episodes, each approximately 45–50 minutes, it covers his early struggles, military triumphs, and complex legacy.

The series stars Buck Braithwaite as Alexander, with a strong supporting cast including Mido Hamada as Persian King Darius III, Agni Scott as Stateira, and Will Stevens as Hephaestion. By weaving dramatic reenactments with insights from experts like Dr. Salima Ikram and Dr. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, the series grounds its narrative in historical and archaeological evidence. Its blend of spectacle and scholarship makes it accessible to both casual viewers and history enthusiasts.

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Plot Summary: From Prince to Conqueror

Set in the 4th century BCE, Alexander: The Making of a God follows Alexander (Buck Braithwaite) from his tumultuous youth in Macedon to his conquest of the Persian Empire. The series begins with Alexander as a young prince, navigating court intrigue and his father Philip II’s ᴀssᴀssination. Exiled and underestimated, he rises to power through sheer ambition and strategic brilliance, transforming Macedon into a global powerhouse.

The narrative traces key moments: his victory at the Battle of Issus, the siege of Tyre, and his clashes with Darius III (Mido Hamada). Each episode delves into Alexander’s personal and political struggles, from his loyalty to companions like Hephaestion to his obsession with surpᴀssing his father’s legacy. The series doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of his conquests, including the human cost of his relentless campaigns.

Interwoven with the drama are expert commentaries that contextualize Alexander’s actions, drawing on archaeological discoveries like the Alexander Sarcophagus and ancient texts. The plot balances epic battles with intimate character moments, creating a compelling arc that captures the emotional stakes of empire-building without revealing spoilers.

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Stellar Cast and Compelling Performances

Buck Braithwaite’s portrayal of Alexander is the series’ cornerstone, delivering a performance that captures both the king’s charisma and his ruthlessness. Braithwaite imbues Alexander with youthful energy and steely determination, making his transformation from prince to god-like conqueror believable. His ability to convey Alexander’s emotional complexity—ambition tempered by doubt—adds depth to a larger-than-life figure.

Mido Hamada shines as Darius III, portraying the Persian king with dignity and gravitas. His scenes opposite Braithwaite crackle with tension, highlighting the clash of empires. Agni Scott’s Stateira, a Persian princess, brings a nuanced perspective to the narrative, while Will Stevens’ Hephaestion offers a heartfelt portrayal of Alexander’s closest confidant. The ensemble, including Dino Kelly as Ptolemy, grounds the series’ epic scope in human relationships.

The expert commentators, including Dr. Salima Ikram and Dr. Lloyd Llewellyn-Jones, add intellectual weight, their insights seamlessly integrated into the drama. The cast’s diversity reflects the multicultural world of Alexander’s empire, enhancing the series’ authenticity and appeal.

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Themes: Ambition, Legacy, and the Cost of Power

Alexander: The Making of a God is a meditation on ambition and its consequences. Alexander’s relentless drive to conquer is portrayed as both his greatest strength and his tragic flaw, pushing him to achieve the impossible while alienating those around him. The series explores how his obsession with legacy shaped his decisions, from adopting Persian customs to declaring himself divine.

Legacy is another key theme, as Alexander seeks to surpᴀss his father and rival mythical heroes like Achilles. The series questions whether his empire was a triumph of vision or a fleeting monument to ego, inviting viewers to reflect on what endures. Expert commentary contextualizes these themes, comparing Alexander’s ambitions to modern notions of leadership.

The cost of power is a sobering undercurrent, with the series highlighting the bloodshed and cultural upheaval of his campaigns. Personal relationships, particularly with Hephaestion and his mother Olympias, underscore the toll of his quest. These themes make the series resonate with audiences, offering timeless lessons about power and sacrifice.

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Historical Accuracy and Educational Value

Alexander: The Making of a God stands out for its commitment to historical accuracy, drawing on primary sources like Arrian’s Anabasis of Alexander and archaeological evidence from sites like Alexandria and Persepolis. The series recreates key battles—Issus, Gaugamela—with attention to Macedonian phalanx tactics and Persian military strategies. Costumes, armor, and set designs reflect the period’s Hellenistic and Persian aesthetics, informed by recent excavations.

Expert commentary enhances the educational value, explaining artifacts like the Issus Mosaic and the cultural context of Alexander’s policies, such as his fusion of Greek and Persian traditions. While the series dramatizes personal relationships for narrative impact, it remains faithful to the historical record, acknowledging gaps in evidence where speculation is used.

For viewers, the series is a gateway to ancient history, making complex events accessible without sacrificing depth. It encourages further exploration of Alexander’s era, from the Hellenistic kingdoms to the Persian Empire’s legacy.

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Cinematic Achievements: Visuals, Sound, and Production

The series’ cinematography is a triumph, capturing the grandeur of the ancient world with sweeping aerial sH๏τs of battlefields and vibrant recreations of cities like Babylon and Susa. Directors Hugh Ballantyne and Mike Slee balance spectacle with intimacy, using dynamic camera work to immerse viewers in chaotic battles and quiet character moments. The siege of Tyre, with its fiery catapults and naval clashes, is a visual highlight.

Production design is meticulous, with sets and costumes reflecting archaeological findings. Persian palaces gleam with opulence, while Macedonian camps convey rugged utility. The series’ use of real locations, like desert landscapes doubling for the Middle East, adds authenticity.

The score, composed by Tandis Jenhudson, blends orchestral swells with ancient instruments, evoking the era’s cultural richness. Sound design—clashing swords, thundering hooves—enhances the visceral impact of battle scenes. The integration of documentary elements, with seamless transitions between drama and commentary, showcases innovative storytelling.

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Why Alexander: The Making of a God Resonates in 2025

In 2025, Alexander: The Making of a God taps into a growing appeтιтe for historical docudramas, following the success of series like Vikings and The Last Kingdom. Its blend of drama and scholarship appeals to audiences seeking both entertainment and insight. Alexander’s story, with its themes of ambition and leadership, mirrors modern discussions about power dynamics and global influence.

The series’ diverse cast and focus on cultural exchange reflect contemporary values of inclusivity, making it relevant to a global audience. Its streaming success on Netflix, with millions of views reported in early 2025, underscores its cultural impact. Social media engagement, with hashtags like #AlexanderTheMakingOfAGod and #NetflixHistory trending, highlights its popularity.

For fans of epic tales, the series delivers spectacle and emotional depth, while history buffs appreciate its rigorous research. Its accessibility makes it a perfect entry point for exploring ancient history.

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Where to Watch Alexander: The Making of a God

As of May 18, 2025, Alexander: The Making of a God is available exclusively on Netflix, with all six episodes accessible for streaming. A Netflix subscription is required, and the series is offered in multiple languages and subтιтles for global viewers. For the best experience, watch in high definition to appreciate the visuals.

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A Farmer’s Misplaced Hammer Led to the Largest Roman Treasure in Britain

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November 16, 1992 was the day which changed Suffolk-resident Eric Lawes’ life in a huge way. What he thought would have been an innocent search for a hammer he had misplaced on his farm in Hoxne Village, Suffolk, England ended up bringing him much more than he had bargained for — namely, uncovering the hiding spot of a long-hidden treasure. Based on the Guardian’s coverage of the story, Eric Lawes had been previously gifted a metal detector upon his retirement as a parting token. He decided to put his retirement gift to good use in order to locate the hammer which he had had some trouble finding. According to a 2018 Smithsonian Magazine article, when the device started recording that there was a strong signal coming from the earth, he knew that he was about to discover something big. As he started digging, it soon became clear to him that he had unearthed a treasure trove.

The Guardian reports that, when Lawes saw that his preliminary digging had yielded a few gold coins and silver spoons, he immediately contacted both the local archaeological society and the police department. Archaeologists came to the property the following day and had the area of earth holding the treasure carefully sectioned-off and removed. Their hope was that at a later stage, in their laboratory, they could examined the items in order to identify both their age and how they were stored.

When all was said and done, close to 60 pounds of items made from silver and gold were found on the site. These included more than 15,000 Roman coins, 200 gold objects, and several silver spoons. For archaeologists, this find — which later became labeled as the Hoxne Hoard — was an incredible discovery. AP News reported that archaeologist Judith Plouviez was over-the-moon about the discovery, saying that it was “an incredibly exciting and amazing find.” What’s more, another archaeologist, Rachel Wilkinson, told Smithsonian Magazine that this discovery was “the largest and latest ever found in Britain.”

Ordinarily, archaeologists would use radiocarbon dating as a means of identifying the age of ancient relics. However, they couldn’t locate any suitable material from the haul. Consequently, they determined the age by examining writing on the coins, as well as the ruler carved into them, estimating that the treasure was probably buried in either 408 or 409 AD.

Roman-era archaeologist Peter Guest told Smithsonian Magazine that “if you look at them a little more carefully, then they should be dated to the period after the separation of Britain from the Roman Empire.” He offers as part of his evidence the fact that almost all of the coins found in the Hoxne Hoard were clipped – in other words, small chunks of their edges had been taken off. These clippings would have been used to create coins which were similar to the Roman coins of that era.

Guest has a logical reason for this, arguing that “The Roman Empire wasn’t supplying Britain with new gold and silver coins, and in light of that, the population tried to get over this sudden cutoff in the supply of their precious metals by making the existing supplies go further.”

Archaeologists also believe that the treasure belonged to a Romano-British family. During that time, considering that there was so much societal discord and upheaval, it was common for Romans who had settled in Britain to bury their most prized possessions.

That said, one archaeologist is of the belief that the hoard had a lot of sentimental value for the Romano-British family to whom it is believed to have belonged. In her book The Hoxne Late Roman Treasure: Gold Jewellery and Silver Plate, Catherine Johns claims that the manner in which the treasure was kept supported this claim. Some of the items which were recovered had been packaged in small, wooden boxes which were lined with leather. What’s more, pieces of wood, locks, and nails, among other things, surrounded the gold and silver pieces. This leads Catherine to assert that the package was carefully buried and not simply chucked away in a rush.

Interestingly enough, the items unearthed might shed some light on the identity of the family who owned them. They cite a gold bracelet bearing the inscription “UTERE FELIX DOMINA IULIANE,” which roughly translates to “use this happily Lady Juliane”. A second name “Aurelius Ursicinus” has also been discovered. This has consequently led some to believe that Juliane and Aurelius were the couple and the original owners of the treasure. That said, that has yet to be confirmed.

All in all, the discovery was a real treasure for archaeologists, and by extension, for Lawes. According to Smithsonian Magazine, in recognition of his discovery and willingness to contact authorities, the British government rewarded him with over £1.7 million, an amount which he shared with the farmer whose land was dug out in order to get the treasure. Funnily enough, apart from the treasure, Lawes also found his lost hammer — which now resides in the British Museum.