Rome (new HBO series)

HBO ^ | August 2005 | some HBO shill

[SunkenCiv]

After eight years of war, Gaius Julius Caesar has finally completed his bloody conquest of Gaul. Just as he is prepared to celebrate a resounding victory and return to Rome with his army, he receives word that his daughter Julia has died in childbirth.

[SunkenCiv]

This new series is reviewed in TV Guide (the issue with Tom Brady on the cover), and looks like it will be fun.

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[Embraer2004]

It is an excellent program. It is true to historical facts and it is seen through the eyes of two soldiers from Julius Cesar's legions.

[jdm]

FYI: Your "Way Back Machine" link has two "http://'s" in it -- just thought you'd want to know/fix.

[SunkenCiv]

Hail, Rome!
by Matt Roush

Starting in 52 B.C., as Rome nervously awaits Julius Caesar's return after the conquest of Gaul, the story is told largely from the perspective of two soldiers: upright and humorless Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and recklessly bawdy Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson). They're an unlikely and entertaining odd couple, our windows to a Britaly -- Italy with British accents -- that teems with political and sexual intrigue.

[marajade]

It is a great series so far... my husband and I enjoyed it.

[johnny7]

“ ...that teems with political and sexual intrigue.

Historical fare for the 'West Wing' audience.

[BenLurkin]

I tell Ben Jr. Rome in its declining decades must have looked very similar to what is happening to America today.

(Moral/social decline, erosion of political checks and balances, massive invasions of culturally different immigrants)

All the more the shame since America is much superior in concept and purpose than Rome if not in achievement. It was the high point of western civilization: an enlightenment political systems melded with a christian social base. We did not deserve to suffer the fate of Rome. Historically we once had much in common with the wonderful Dutch Republic that sprang up after expulsion of the Spanish.

But it is in the nature of history that nations, like trees, have limited life spans. Only the tremendous redwoods of China and India extend over the millenia. The lovely cherry tree that was the American Republic has blossomed and born fruit and is now dying.

The United States will continue to exist in name only; populated by people who have no memory or understanding of the principals upon which it was founded and who are culturally incapable of conducting affairs in the manner conceived by the founding fathers. It is instead likely to become a major component in some terrible global political system.

Winston Churchill correctly predicted a "new dark ages made all the more sinister and prolonged by the terrible powers of science". A second renaissance may never come and if it does it will be long off.

[billnaz]

If the rest of "Rome" is as good as the first installment we will definitely watch it.

"Deadwood" started out well, but we soon got fed up with the "F" bomb being dropped every other word. It was like watching "The Sopranos" with Stetson hats!

[Dustbunny]

I know it is a series that I would truly enjoy. Unfortunately we do not have HBO and since we watch little TV and already pay $49. per month for regular channels that we seldom watch, can not justify the expense just to watch one weekly show.

[SunkenCiv]

Oh, I see it now, thanks! Goes to show how few people have ever used those links I post. ;')

[SoCal Pubbie]

Rome seems like it will be a good series and I enjoyed the first episode. The only question is, with so much information out there and authentic reproductions available all over the internet, why can't they use accurate armor for the Roman soldiers? The legionaries of the Republic were outfitted quite differently from the later imperial period, and the stuff shown was accurate for neither time.

[Ciexyz]

I don't have cable, but I'm sure the miniseries will be out on cable within several months. Looking forward to it, since I'm a fan of Russell crowe's film "Gladiator".

[Rummyfan]

I wouldn't write us off yet! And the Roman Empire endured for almost five more centuries from the time of Caesar.....

[ValenB4]

It's OK. The scenery and costumes are very well done. I don't like the actor playing Caesar. An actor who is a dead ringer for Caesar would have been Peter Woodward, who was on Babylon 5 and also hosted a military show either on Discovery of TLC.

The depiction of Atia is totally over the top - it looks like they wanted to make a domineering female character in order to make things interesting. But she's like Livia (from I, Claudius) on steroids. Servilia was more like the way Atia is being portrayed.

[SunkenCiv]

I'll second RF, and also mention that the empire survived in the East until the 14th century. Moreover, there's no stasis. The world isn't a rock hurtling through space, it's people, and so the world changes with every birth and every death.

[billnaz]

Be of good cheer. "Rome" will no doubt be out on DVD one of these days. BTW, we gave up on cable long ago and got a dish. Cheaper than cable, considering what you get, and better quality sound and picture.

[Babu]

I watched the first episode and enjoyed it. -- Looking forward to more. I have always been fascinated by the Roman empire. Very brutal culture, yet they were great engineers and very productive.

There was a show on HBO about a week prior about the making of it that was very interesting, and also there is a related show coming up on the History Channel about the engineering of the Roman Empire itself that looks to be fascinating.

[Dustbunny]

Cable is not available in our area, in fact nothing comes in even with a TV antenna. Radio reception is also almost nonexistent and regardless of what Rush says, there are areas of the US that do not carry his radio broadcast that we are able to access. So my husband gave me a 24/7 for my birthday and we went into debt to buy DirecWAY. We have a DirecTV dish and a DirecWAY satellite LAN as dial up's (Earthlink) are so very, very slow (19000, 24000, and the really big one 36000).

[Antoninus]

I heard from my brother that the series features a homosexual relationship between Julius Caesar and Octavian. Not sure how he knew that, but it immediately turned me off from any interest I may have had in it.

[neb52]

Eeeewwww, so much for historical accuracy. Why do the people in Hollywood/TV have to make every Historical hero gay!