ImAgiNaTiON

Quick Historical fact: From what I understand, ancient authors referred to the "turned thumb" during the games, but without ever specifying in which direction (since, back then, it was obvious to everyone). Because of that, it's a bit tricky to figure out exactly which gesture meant what. 

Some say the thumbs down ordered a specific kind of execution, while others think it was a sign to lower weapons, with the thumb representing the sword (but there's also this thing about tucking the thumb inside the hand to say "Alright, let's stop that shit", so basically, it's a total mess). Anyway, voilà ✨

✨ Some close ups (and spoilers...?) ✨

I really wanted Geta to have his thumb turned down, since he's the one deciding who dies and who lives. I also wanted to establish a kind of connection with the blood pouring out of his glass to Caracalla's dagger. A subtle reminder of the moment Geta throws his glass content to his brother's face.

The blood on Geta's neck and the dropping blood from Caracalla's hidden ear is a reference to their fates in the movie.

Ozzy Osbourne biting the head of a dead bat that was thrown on stage is tale of legends and references by Eddie as we know, but here are some other significant moments in metal history:

Ozzy Osbourne pursued a solo career after he was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 (Eddie would’ve been ~13) because of his erratic behavior and drug abuse, he’s replaced by Ronnie James Dio

W.A.S.P debut their first album in 1984 with the song “Animal (F**k Like A Beast)” being released as a single to avoid having their albums banned from chain record stores. They were a main target for the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) for their obscenity but W.A.S.P pretty much road high on the publicity, they are that shit up despite all the death threats they received.

Parental Advisory Explicit Content label was introduced in 1985 (around when Stranger Things S3 takes place), and it hilariously had the opposite effect of deterring the sales of explicitly labeled music.

Cliff Burton, the bassist for Metallica, died on tour in March 1986 when the bus skidded then rolled on the road; Burton was thrown from the window and crushed. “To Live Is to Die” is song dedicated to him composed with his unused riffs.

Other Metal facts:

Black Sabbath’s guitarist Tony Lommi lost the tips of his fretting fingers (on his right hand) in a sheet metal factory accident, he was inspired by jazz guitarist Dango Reinhardt who played with only two fingers on the fretboard due to burn injuries. Lommi made prosthetic tips and tuned down his guitar so he could keep playing. This gave Black Sabbath its unique sound.

Ronnie James Dio is accredited with popularizing the infamous devil horns sign🤘 in interviews he said his grandmother used to use that sign to ward off evil. Speaking of,

While he isn’t Power Metal (a genre that heavily incorporates themes of fantasy with clean and fast guitar that emerged around the mid-80s), Dio is basically the father of it as he had such a big influence over this genre along with bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden

Side Bar: I think if he was given the chance to properly establish his own sound, Eddie would’ve been the frontman of a sick ass Power Metal band beloved by DnD nerds.

Patches on Eddie’s Battle Jacket: