"Rome" on HBO

[zff]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

Wow, this week's episode was awesome.

The cold war between Atia and Servilia isn't so cold anymore, ay? According to what I've read on Wikipedia, both are supposed to die soon. Looks like it's going to be good. I wonder what the hell Timon is going to do now, and I wonder if Atia is going to send anyone after him.

I don't think this new older Octavian looks anything like the previous one, but I still see an uncanny resemblance.

What I didn't like:

• The historical inaccuracies bug me a little. Like portraying Cicero as a spineless coward. That's not quite accurate. He wasn't so much a coward as a survivor. And he didn't defy Antony until the Philippics. And Octavia was by all accounts a strong and intelligent woman, not this weak, clueless little girl that the show portrays her to be.

Most of what I know about the period is what I've learned since I started watching the show, but yeah, I know what you mean.

I like to imagine that some of these historical inaccuracies are due to the fact that history is mostly written by its victors. I'd imagine Octavian would've wanted history to remember his sister as a strong woman and to forget the relationship his mother had with Antony. I know that doesn't explain away all the discrepancies, but it's a fun theory to entertain while watching the show.

[cynsaligia]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

Regarding the most recent episode... did anyone catch what Atia whispered into Cleopatra's ear?

"die screaming, you pig-spawned trollop."

i wish we still insulted each other so colorfully today.

[kiwidiva]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

That was a classic line! What a pity some of you didn't hear it!!

[Pua'i Mana'o]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

"die screaming, you pig-spawned trollop."

i wish we still insulted each other so colorfully today.

sort of on-tangent: for years, my friends and I would joke if pidgin evolved a bit differently in reconciliation with the evolution of English from the 19th century until now, to wit:

What doth you like?
Witherfore stay 'oe?
Begone with thine dumb ass!

and so forth...

[zff]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

This last episode was kind of interesting... What do you suppose Atia is up to, and do you think Octavian bought it?

[Marco]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

This last episode was kind of interesting... What do you suppose Atia is up to, and do you think Octavian bought it?

I'm not really sure what you mean. What do you think Octavian should have "bought"?

It's historical fact that Octavian teamed up with Antony and Lepidus to form their triumvirate and defeat Brutus and Cassius. So, even as weak as they made Lepidus seem in the episode, it's still historically accurate, as far as I know.

The new Octavian really came into his own, in this episode. I hated the switch in the previous episode, but I have to admit, the new guy captures all the mannerisms and accents of the young Octavian perfectly. He was 21 when he formed the Triumvirate and defeated Brutus at Phillippi, so I reluctantly agree that it was the right choice to make that change.

I liked this episode a lot (big surprise, yeah?), but I was a little surprised at a couple of things:
- Octavian not anticipating Ciceros countermove after declaring Brutus and Cassius murderers. He seemed to show a lot more intelligence in the first season, and should have anticipated that move. At least in my opinion, he should have.
- The Vorenus and Pullo relationship is still interesting, but I don't like how they seem totally separated from historical events, which is opposite from what occurred in the first season. i.e. Pullo actually fathering Cleopatra's baby, their encounter with Pompeii and letting him go free, Vorenus playing a role into how Caesar was murdered, etc. I dunno. I just liked how they were portrayed as unintentional players in history in the first season. Now, it seems like their roles are rather inconsequential.

I'm looking forward to next week, where we might actually see a battle occur. I loved Antony's cameo and hope he gets more screen time next week. They could devote an entire episode on Antony going shishi and I'd watch it!

[zff]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

I'm not really sure what you mean. What do you think Octavian should have "bought"?

Well, Atia is not one to apologize to anyone, not even her own son, unless it was part of a greater (and probably more sinister) self-serving scheme. On the surface, it would appear that she is making reparations with her son because she realizes he is a stronger ally than Antony. I think this is what she wants Octavian to believe, and I think he bought it.

I don't buy it though. I think Atia is up to something evil, but I'm not sure what. Whatever it is, I'm sure it doesn't end well for Octavian. I suspect she and Antony are conspiring to kill him, actually. I don't see how Atia was able to talk Antony into the triumvirate so easily without promising him Octavian's head eventually.

The Vorenus and Pullo relationship is still interesting, but I don't like how they seem totally separated from historical events, which is opposite from what occurred in the first season. i.e. Pullo actually fathering Cleopatra's baby, their encounter with Pompeii and letting him go free, Vorenus playing a role into how Caesar was murdered, etc. I dunno. I just liked how they were portrayed as unintentional players in history in the first season. Now, it seems like their roles are rather inconsequential.

YES! YES! YES! I wholeheartedly agree. That is the biggest thing the show is missing this season. I especially loved it when we see the attack on Marc Antony on the way to the Senate had nothing to do with stopping his veto; it was because someone wanted revenge on Pullo for killing a cheating gambler the night before. That was hilarious.

History (as far as I know) has no record of Atia and Antony being involved, so it was necessary for Octavian to have Antony marry his sister to solidify the triumvirate. The show tells a different story, however, and I don't quite see how the writers will justify Antony marrying Octavia. I hope some clever and interesting twist will explain this all in the next few episodes, and I hope it involves Vorenus and/or Pullo.

[WindwardOahuRN]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

ARRRGGGH!

When I saw the listings for "Rome" I figured they were reruns. Like the "Sopranos" and "Six Feet Under" stuff.

I can't believe I've missed the first few episodes of this season.

Anyone know if they'll be doing one of those "catch up" marathons?

[Marco]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

Well, Atia is not one to apologize to anyone, not even her own son, unless it was part of a greater (and probably more sinister) self-serving scheme. On the surface, it would appear that she is making reparations with her son because she realizes he is a stronger ally than Antony. I think this is what she wants Octavian to believe, and I think he bought it.

I don't buy it though. I think Atia is up to something evil, but I'm not sure what. Whatever it is, I'm sure it doesn't end well for Octavian. I suspect she and Antony are conspiring to kill him, actually. I don't see how Atia was able to talk Antony into the triumvirate so easily without promising him Octavian's head eventually.

Shoots, I see what you mean now. You could be right, but I think you're giving too much credit to Atia. In my opinion, she's above average in intelligence and has a certain cunning, but not even close as akamai as she thinks she is, when compared to thinkers like Caesar and Octavian. And I really doubt Atia would conspire to kill her own son. As nasty and mean as she is, she does seem to care in her own strange way about her children. And I know the show is taking liberties with history (which doesn't bother me as much as it used to), but Atia is supposed to have died by now. Servilia, too.

YES! YES! YES! I wholeheartedly agree. That is the biggest thing the show is missing this season. I especially loved it when we see the attack on Marc Antony on the way to the Senate had nothing to do with stopping his veto; it was because someone wanted revenge on Pullo for killing a cheating gambler the night before. That was hilarious.

Yah, that was really funny. They've accidentally shaped Roman history all by themselves! I guess you could say it started right in the first episode of season one, when they rescued Octavian from the Gauls and brought him to Caesar after finding his Eagle standard. If they hadn't done that, Octavian would prolly have been killed or enslaved, and that would be the end of that.


Windward: I'm not sure, but I always thought they didn't do those marathons until just before the last episode, or near that time. You could probably catch up using HBO On Demand. There's only 4-5 episodes left, I think.

[WindwardOahuRN]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

Windward: I'm not sure, but I always thought they didn't do those marathons until just before the last episode, or near that time. You could probably catch up using HBO On Demand. There's only 4-5 episodes left, I think.

Thanks. I'll keep an eye out for it.

And I think I'll avoid this thread for now.

[cynsaligia]

Re: "Rome" on HBO



gaaaaah...if i understand correctly, tonight's eppy of rome (episode 21--something in latin that means something like, even the gods cannot stop a hungry man) next to last. i love this show terribly--almost as much as i loved BtVS, but perhaps more intensely, since its lifetime is shorter. it's great how what each character does or does not do affects another or others in unexpected ways. here are some predictions, which i've marked as spoilers bcs they might reveal stuff those who haven't kept up don't wanna know...yet:

pullo and vorenus end up having to fight on opposite sides. vorenus dies, but before doing so, he tells pullo what really happened with niobe. pullo then goes back and tells the children, and they forgive him. we see vorenus "dreaming" as he dies, that he is reunited with niobe.

ceasarion finds out about pullo.

we find out who antonia's father really is, or perhaps agrippa "becomes" her father after antony & cleopatra's defeat.

octavian, atia and octavia all make nice.

the truth about timon's brother comes out (tho this part of the story, i think, is poorly developed).

i never thought atia to be completely coldhearted, and the last couple eppies bear this out. she may be cunning, but i thought her cunning to be more "respectable" than servilia's and truly with her family's well-being, not just her own, in mind. after a certain point, servilia was all about personal revenge wrapped up in the "good of the republic." talk about psycho biotch!!

and how was brutus' "jesus" scene??! it made enough of an impression on me that, when the beau and a friend and i (we all watch rome), recently watched the 007 movie, "casino royale," and i spotted the actor who plays brutus chatting with M, i hissed, "JESUS!"

interesting how pullo and vorenus, as time goes by, become more and more like each other, or seem to trade places. they seemed so unlikely a pairing in the first eppy of the series.

i love the tension between antony and vorenus. with antony's propensity to stick his hoo ha anywhere and vorenus' uptightedness, i joke inwardly that in the end, they become lovers and live happily ever after.

i read someplace that this may not be the last season, as earlier reported. the actor who plays pullo has supposedly said that he'd signed a five year contract. i'm too lazy to check on the internets if this is true. anyone else hear this, or better, know?

[kiwidiva]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

So, was last Sunday's episode really the finale?

I must have missed a few episodes somewhere along the way but was wondering what the Rome fans thought of the final show.

[sinjin]

Re: "Rome" on HBO

So, was last Sunday's episode really the finale?

I must have missed a few episodes somewhere along the way but was wondering what the Rome fans thought of the final show.

Unfortunately yes. I will miss it.