Commodus is the antagonist of this film. In the begining of the film, Commodus as seen as inferior not only to Maximus but to his sister Lucilla. We see this when Marcus Aurelius tells his daughter if she were a man she would be emperor. We also see this when Marcus Aurelius tells Maximus he wants to abolish the emperor position because he knows Commodus is not fit for the role. This already sets the scene for Commodus is rocky family dynamic. 

Though one could sympathize with Commodus in the beginning because he truly just wants to live up to his fathers expectations, that is immediately changed because of his infatuation with Lucilla. Because of her prior relationship (and obvious current feelings) gives more reason for Crassus' infatuation for her. She, to Crassus, is just another thing Maximus has that he cannot attain. So does that means that Crassus was really asttracted to his sister? Or is it just another reason to feel inferior to Maximus?

This artistic direction for his character is one we see in many sword and sandal films. Most times the villians are put into the "other" catagory.  We see it in "Cabiria" with the Carthaginians and in "Spartacus" with queer-coded Crassus. Because of the rise in tolerance for the LGBTQ+ community and for people of different cultures having a villian be apart of those communities would not be a reason to hate them. So to make Commodus unredeemable the director made him have insestious feelings towards his sister, which puts him in the "Other" catagory.

Lucilla is a type of character we often don't see in sword and sandal films. Most of the female leads fit in to the "Madonna" or "Whore" complex, but Lucilla does not fit in to either. She is not sexualized but is portrayed strong, while she is not treated as an untouchable "Madonna" like woman. She is smart and outwardly better politically than her brother but is underestimated because of being a woman. Being a mother is a vital part of her character because it gives her a reason to defy Commodus. She is not only afraid for her life, but her young son as well. Her being a mother does not negate the fact that she is a strong person. If anything it makes her more appealing and well rounded as a character. 

Her relationship with her brother is one that also cements her as a strong character. Her constant fear for her and her son alongside his obvious feelings towards her shows constant resiliance on her part. Watching her de-escalate every sexually tense situation with Commodus gives her more stregnth in the viewers eyes.  Though she is different from a stereotypical sword and sandal female lead, woman or not she shows great stregnth and depth.