I am amazed and baffled at the decisions the writers have made. Atia and Servilia were nothing like they are being portrayed. We have this Pullo and Vorenus as the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern accidentally affecting big events in the manner of Forest Gump. The lesbian relationship between Servilia and Octavia is truly ridiculous. There is too much wasting time with the family problems of Vorenus's wife. We also waste time with the intentionally vague story about Octavius losing his virginity at a brothel. And in another episode we get to look at, for several minutes, a gigantic penis of some slave that Atia is sending to Servilia as a gift. Yet in the meantime, we barely even see Julius Caesar, who may be the greatest and most talented political leader who ever lived.
I really lost faith in this show with Episode 7 - Pharsalus. The battle is barely shown - at first I thought Caesar was reminiscing on past battles in Gaul. But that was it, the actual battle, over in barely a blink of time. But on the other hand, the writers made sure to put in enough time dedicated to a make out session between Octavia and Servilia.
It's like the writers do not have enough confidence in the history by itself to tell an interesting story. These unnecessary attempts to titilate are going to make this show a joke, make the Romans look like a bunch of degenerate bisexual idiots (who yet somehow managed to run an empire for 700 years). Let's face it, the people who get off on such things are largely not going to watch such a historical show. As a result, what could have been a great and memorable show will be just a passing fancy. It does not compare favorably to I, Claudius.
It is not on the History channel. It is on HBO, and I think they are doing a great job.
I agree, USA network's Attila & Sparticus had battles, hell even TNT's Caesar had at least some fighting. All 3 combined probably had only ¼ the budget of HBO's Rome, yet Rome had two chances with Pharsalus and the Siege of Alexandria and both times they showed nothing.
Pharsalus was one of the most pivital battles in history, it's terrible the way they glossed over it like they did. Part of the reason the Romans are so fascinating is they were such bad asses, and not to see them in battle just takes something away from the show.
Well there's always battles of Thapsus and Munda, but from the coming attractions it doesn't look like that will happen either.
But on the other hand, the writers made sure to put in enough time dedicated to a make out session between Octavia and Servilia.
Really? Dam it, I must of missed it.
Over all though, except for the lack of battles I must say it is a great show
Wanna complain about Roman bisexuality? Take it with the contemporaneous writers; whom I quoted as my first sentence.
I,CLAUDIUS was filled to the brim with nudity, sexual acts, and showed less war scenes. I,CLAUDIUS was based on two books of fiction,written by Robert Graves. It too deviated somewhat from factual history, as well as Graves' books.