Don't know if anyone needs a review for this episode, but it's a great one. Our two heroic Roman soldiers, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pollo, are both coping with civilian life in Rome in different ways. Meanwhile the gloriously wicked Atia is scheming how she can ruin Caesar's poignant love affair with the gentle, well-bred Servilia -- mother of Brutus, Caesar's greatest admirer (for now.) This episode shows corruption, evil, and at the end, horrifying punishment for those who fail to live up to Roman morality and decency. The city is alive with sex, sensuality, and corruption, and even though Julius Caesar seems firmly in control it's evident that we haven't heard the last of Pompey and the Senators.
Can I just say, this show is amazing? It has all the sex, drama, and historical accuracy of I CLAUDIUS, but it has something more. It has heart. There's something very down to earth and basic about the way the two Roman soldiers start out hating each other but become best friends. And the way Octavian grows to manhood by learning from these extraordinary men. In a way it's more like LONESOME DOVE than I CLAUDIUS. Titus Pullo is a lot like Gus McCrae and Lucius Vorenus is like Woodrow Call, while Octavian is like brave young Newt.
At the same time, the women in ROME are as wickedly sexy as the women in I CLAUDIUS, but somehow more human. It's fun to see Atia scheming, yet you notice she has a softer side Livia never had. Like when Caesar ignores her at a party and she ends up alone, and later she actually starts crying from loneliness. Or when Octavian sneaks out in the night to do justice and his clever, sophisticated mother doesn't suspect anything because she's already fast asleep! Not that Atia could ever be called a "good" woman but she's more human and more likable in her way than Livia ever was.
ROME really is an amazing achievement and I can't wait to watch the rest of the series!
Can I just say, this show is amazing? It has all the sex, drama, and historical accuracy of I CLAUDIUS, but it has something more. It has heart. There's something very down to earth and basic about the way the two Roman soldiers start out hating each other but become best friends. And the way Octavian grows to manhood by learning from these extraordinary men. In a way it's more like LONESOME DOVE than I CLAUDIUS. Titus Pullo is a lot like Gus McCrae and Lucius Vorenus is like Woodrow Call, while Octavian is like brave young Newt.
At the same time, the women in ROME are as wickedly sexy as the women in I CLAUDIUS, but somehow more human. It's fun to see Atia scheming, yet you notice she has a softer side Livia never had. Like when Caesar ignores her at a party and she ends up alone, and later she actually starts crying from loneliness. Or when Octavian sneaks out in the night to do justice and his clever, sophisticated mother doesn't suspect anything because she's already fast asleep! Not that Atia could ever be called a "good" woman but she's more human and more likable in her way than Livia ever was.
ROME really is an amazing achievement and I can't wait to watch the rest of the series!