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Anybody following "Rome" on HBO?
HBO ^ | 10/10/2005 | Me

Posted on 10/10/2005 12:45:21 PM PDT by Callahan

Episode 7: Pharsalus

Synopsis

As Caesar waits hopelessly for more of his soldiers to arrive from Italy, Pompey's camp prepares for their attack - and for the spoils of victory. Only Brutus appears apprehensive, conceding that while the Republic must be free of tyrants, he cannot celebrate Caesar's defeat. "He was as my father to me."

For his part, Pompey suggests letting Caesar's cornered army "disintegrate and disappear," but the senators argue for a decisive attack. "You are Pompey Magnus," Scipio intones. "You conquer and crush your enemies like insects. People will be disappointed by anything less." This strikes a cord in the general, and soon his legions are sent to the battlefield outside Caesar's camp.

The storm that sank their ship took most of the 13th Legion with it, and Vorenus and Pullo find themselves washed ashore a small island of sand in the Adriatic, surrounded by the bodies of less fortunate soldiers. "This is where we die," announces a defeated Vorenus, who focuses his remaining energy on scratching a goodbye note to Niobe on a stone. Pullo, optimism in tact, turns his attention towards spearing fish. "I wasn't meant to die here."

Back in Rome, a newsreader announces the tragic fate of the 13th - only Mark Antony's safety has been assured. Upon hearing the news, Atia fears Caesar's inevitable defeat will put her at great risk, and sends Octavia to ask Servilia for protection - she needs her men and her name. When Servilia agrees to this request, Octavia is overcome with gratitude, and falls into a passionate embrace with the older woman.

Across town, Lyde returns to Niobe's, still furious with her sister, refusing an offer for money. But when Niobe tells her Vorenus is likely dead, Lyde softens. "You're all that I have left...I am tired of being angry.

On the battlefield in Greece, Caesar's depleted forces fight desperately and fiercely against Pompey's, despite being outnumbered by as many as five to one. The larger army proves to be its own enemy, however, as one flank of soldiers crash head on into another, sending Pompey's entire army into flight - and Pompey himself retreating to seek reinforcements. Caesar quickly sends word to Rome that he has won the battle, while a stunned and bloodied Pompey regroups with the senators -- only to find they are reconsidering their loyalties. "If I had known what an old fool is Pompey, I would never have left Rome," scoffs Brutus, who decides to surrender to Caesar along with Cicero.

Pompey suggests to his remaining men that they head to Egypt, where he has loyal friends. But they feel it's imprudent to travel together, making it clear they no longer view him as their leader. With this, a defeated Pompey sets out alone with his family and what's left of his army and attendants. In the middle of the night, the soldiers and several slaves steal off with his cart and horse. With only a few slaves left, Pompey makes his way to Egypt, informing his guards to conceal his identity en route.

Recharged from his victory, Caesar welcomes Brutus and Cicero with open arms, dismissing their apologies and talk of surrender. "We have only quarreled a little, and now we are friends again," he tells them. With a gasp, Brutus throws himself into Caesar's arms like a grateful child, apologizing for his betrayal. "It is I am sorry," Caesar responds. "I presented you with an impossible dilemma. You did only what you thought honorable, I'm sure."

Desperate for their survival, Vorenus and Pullo build a raft from the bloated bodies of their comrades, and paddle fiercely out to sea. They eventually collapse from exhaustion and dehydration, and awake to find themselves drifting ashore again - this time greeted by what's left of Pompey's camp. The fallen general tries to pass himself off as a civilian, but they are on to him. "Caesar' ll drown us in gold!" an excited Pullo tells Vorenus, ready to pounce on their prize.

But Pompey makes a heartfelt plea to Vorenus, asking him to consider the fate of his family and let him take them to Egypt. As a stalwart believer in the Republic, Vorenus doesn't have much stomach to watch the once powerful leader beg for mercy. He decides to let him be, infuriating Pullo.

When they finally return to Caesar's camp, Vorenus must inform the general of their encounter, and explain why they failed to bring back the man's arch rival. "There was water in his eyes. He is broken. I saw no need to apprehend him."

This explanation only enrages Caesar. "As long as he can be propped on a horse, he is dangerous...I should have you scourged and crucified!"

After pausing to contemplate his punishment, Caesar dismisses the men, much to Mark Antony's disbelief. Recounting the soldiers' many triumphs, he explains, "Those two have powerful Gods on their side. I'll not kill a man with friends of that sort."

Across the shores in Egypt, Pompey and his family arrive safely. They are greeted by a man named Septimius, a former soldier in Pompey's army when he was in Spain. This brings a smile to Pompey's face, as the genial man explains why he's now working for the Egyptians. It's not the Fourth legion of Pompey Magnus's prestigious army, but "a man's got to earn his salt." But as he helps Pompey ashore, Septimius suddenly pulls his sword, and with little warning, thrusts it into Pompey's stomach. Then, with his wife Capurnia and young children watching, the man swings his sword straight for Pompey's neck.


TOPICS: TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: godsgravesglyphs; hbo; rome; tv
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Anybody else watching the HBO show "Rome"? I enjoy it. The latest episode ended with the defeated Pompey Magnus being beheaded as he arrived in Alexandria.

This show is co-produced by John Milius of "Red Dawn" fame. It has its' flaws, but it's still better than most of the crap on TV.

1 posted on 10/10/2005 12:45:24 PM PDT by Callahan
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To: Callahan

My husband's been watching this.

Personally, I think it's just "too much". Every kind of sex thing (of course full female nudity, no males), graphic glorying violence, etc. Just more stuff I will not allow around any kids I have.


2 posted on 10/10/2005 1:06:57 PM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue.)
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To: Callahan
I'm watching it. It is one the best shows I've ever seen on tv. The history is of course condensed and some characters are amalgamations but otherwise it is on solid historical ground.

I really like the arrogance of Marc Antony. They are doing a great job showing the intelligence and wisdom of Octavian/Augustas as well. Vernius and Pollo (sp?) crack me up.

I wonder how much historical ground they plan to cover this season.
3 posted on 10/10/2005 1:19:11 PM PDT by JeffAtlanta
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To: Callahan

My only major problem with the historicity of it are the constant threats by the various parties to have someone crucified.Crucifixion was not permitted as a sentence for Roman citizens. It is why St. Paul was beheaded while Jesus and St. Peter were crucified. Aside from that. I'm really enjoying it, although I wish there were more scenes of the Roman Army in combat. Having lived through third year Latin, I can't wait for Cicero to get his.


4 posted on 10/10/2005 1:19:15 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: the OlLine Rebel

Point taken, but you can't really accuse this show of lacking male nudity. One of the main characters, Marc Antony, spends alot of time sans toga, and in the previous episode, Atia gave Servilia a "stud slave" with a bejeweled phallus as a gift. The flaccid male member hasn't seen this much screen time since "Bill Clinton: My Life" the movie.


5 posted on 10/10/2005 1:46:36 PM PDT by Callahan
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To: PzLdr

You touched on my least favorite part. Given all the bragging about the huge budget for this series, the montage treatment of the battle between Ceasar and Magnus felt really cheap. It totally reminded you that you were watching a TV show and not an epic film like Spartacus or Gladiator.


6 posted on 10/10/2005 1:51:26 PM PDT by Callahan
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To: Callahan

I guess I don't watch it enough! The 1st ep was enough for me (I saw last of last nite).

In some ways this show could be good. However, even w/o the graphic stuff, it comes off mainly as a glorified soap opera IMO.


7 posted on 10/10/2005 2:01:25 PM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue.)
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To: Callahan
I got rid of HBO permanently around 1992 when they had hard core lefty comedians such as Bill Maher, Dennis MIller (who has since repented), etc. who would literally denigrate GHW Bush-Prez41 and/or other Repubs with the most foul language and libeleous accusations you've ever heard.

I've never looked back, and my family (kids and now grandkids) are the better for it.

In my opinion, HBO is the literal heartbeat of the rabid Hollywood lefties.

From what I've heard about current comedians such as Chris Rock, and others, HBO is only getting worst.

8 posted on 10/10/2005 2:03:06 PM PDT by Edit35
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To: Callahan

At least they finally mentioned Titus Labienus, commander in Gaul of Caesar's Xth Legion, and commander during the Civil War of Pompey's cavalry [He was subsequently killed in Spain]. He would have made a truly fascinating character in the series.

Minor beef, first episodes. Vorenus wore his gladius on the wrong hip [He's a centurion], and was never seen carrying a vine staff [his badge of rank].


9 posted on 10/10/2005 2:13:05 PM PDT by PzLdr ("The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am" - Darth Vader)
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To: the OlLine Rebel

"of course full female nudity, no males"

You didn't see the 'gift'?

We're fans of the show. The nudity, from what I gather, was part of Roman culture in its decadence.


10 posted on 10/10/2005 2:14:14 PM PDT by combat_boots (Dug in and not budging an inch. NOT to be schiavoed, greered, or felosed as a patient)
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To: Callahan

Yes, the first episode had a decent but short battle scene in Gaul. I found the Roman system of rotating the troops and the role of The Centurion coordinating it fascinating. Also, I had no idea of the pagan religion system and the brutal treatment(slavery) of their conquered foes. Good stuff.


11 posted on 10/10/2005 2:19:44 PM PDT by Wristpin ( Varitek says to A-Rod: "We don't throw at .260 hitters.....")
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To: PzLdr

Crucifixion was the worst form of several types of capital punishment, and , although seldom employed on Roman citizens, it was within the law, as the defense by Cicero of Rabirius ( a Roman citizen and in fact a senator ) against the penalty of crucifixion in 63 BC demonstrates.
There are instances of Rome employing crucifixion on its citizens, such as in 66AD by procurator Gessius Florus.
In general, from its earliest days, crucifixion was almost exclusively used on slaves and noncitizens.


12 posted on 10/10/2005 2:49:04 PM PDT by Cplus (Crucifixion of Roman citizens was rare but legal)
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To: Callahan
Is it available in encore repeats at different times. A few weeks back I caught two episodes one evening. It is not at a time that worked for me usually. I would watch it if it was on more times.

HBO is so loaded with pornography, foul language, homosexuality, and violence of a perverse kind and the unwatchable Bill Maher, hookers, "how to" sex shows,
and worse.

Originally the "Sopranos" and "Six feet under" were well written and well acted, almost immediately they nose dived into twisted, perverted, unspeakable violence and human behavior. If this is what America wants we are doomed. Only a Christian Revival and turning to God can hold us back from disintegration..
13 posted on 10/10/2005 3:09:23 PM PDT by Countyline
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To: Callahan
Thanks for starting this thread...I searched this before I was just about to start one. ;)

I have been watching religously. Being a bachelor, there is not many shows that I rush home to see (even with TIVO-HD), but this is a great, great, Great show!

I have a BA in history with a focus on ancient rome , and this show is by far, one of the most accurate portrails of roman debauchery and roman life. It goes to show how much of "too much" can happen in a society...and interestingly enough, the romans were so "bad" because Christ had not yet appeared on earth! (Rome: HBO takes place from 55BC-15 MAR 44 BC (ides of march)). I was at dinner tonight for a family birthday and we had all been watching this and several relatives said it was "too much" and very perverse and bloody...

I replied that that is the way the world was before Christ, and how the world will be when/if they reject Christ. Someone at another table chimed in and said that that was an excellent observation and that he was a fan of the show and now has an explaination to his wife on why Romans are portrayed so accurately.

Another thing that I found interesting is the true depictions of how the women were just as insidious and cruel as the men. As the men (at this time, most soldiers were still patricians, even though the Marius reforms from 107BC allowed all Italians/Romans to enlist) were off fighting wars, there were major families of females left to do business, keep farmsteads, trade slaves, and keep the power for their husbands/sons/brothers to return to....and the Julii (pronounced Julie-eye), Scipii (Scipy-eye), and Brutii (Bruty-eye) all veid for power at a facinating point in history.

In all the thousands of years of recorded human history, this one has so many facets which are even practiced today, to numerous to list. This is the time of Cleopatra, Marc Antony, Ides of March, death of republicanism( for a time), etc. Despite this one, of many, Roman civil wars, this one ushered in the golden age of the Roman Empire that was the richest and most advanced, per capita, until the United States post 1945!

Anyways, rant mode off, I really enjoy the series and love the characters....the honorable, unbridled Cato, the patricarchal Pompey, the quiet, but oustanding general Scipio, and of course the self-serving yet probably first republican, Cicero. I like the awkward and bratty/spoiled Brutus who will eventually kill Caesar. He reminds me of Ben Afflack(sp) because in roman times he was beautiful, yet very ignorant, and threw hissy-fits, but unfortunately very rich and powerful, and in company of powerful people even though he was a coward, a liar, and a backstabber (literally) "et tu brute?!"....maybe liberals today are direct descendents of the Brutii?

If you want to read more into roman history, and do not have the time, just type in "ancient rome" in wikipedia.org to get a good touch and go lesson.

If you like accurate, historical fiction, I would suggest "First Man in Rome", by Colleen McCullough of the Thorn Birds fame.

Any other ideas? Like a ping list or a FR:Rome thread?, please contact me!

DCB

14 posted on 10/10/2005 8:26:13 PM PDT by DCBryan1
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To: combat_boots

I knew the "reality" rationale was going to come out.

You're probably correct, alot of this stuff is probably quite accurate (and DUH, we'd see nudity in some1's bedroom! That's true now, no? So why not show more nudes in sit-coms? That's not decadence, that's just normal stuff.)

The point is this is readily accessible to children - and also "adults" who take it as affirmation for their own decadent ways.

Don't tell me they can't infer the various "decadence" rather than show it outright. Maybe people's minds aren't able to get around the subtle approach any more; "sophisticated", huh?

Too bad it's not alot easier to lock this stuff down. Too much TV IS this bad right now, and we don't need more.

And there's more to it than just the sex stuff (including homo garbage) - seeing the heads chopped off, any1?


15 posted on 10/11/2005 6:46:28 AM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue.)
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To: PzLdr

As a matter of curiosity, one of the 2 judges who found Rabirius guilty and occasioned Cicero's appeal happened to be none other than C. Julius Caesar; the other judge was Caesar's cousin Lucius, keeping the verdict in the family. Of course it is absolutely irrelevant that both were champions of the "popular" party, while Cicero and Rabirius adhered to the other "senatorial" party. You could think of this as something like the 9th Circuit handling the DeLay matter.


16 posted on 10/11/2005 12:33:45 PM PDT by Cplus (A coincidence)
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To: Callahan
When Servilia agrees to this request, Octavia is overcome with gratitude, and falls into a passionate embrace with the older woman.

I was appalled and offended that they cut away too soon.

17 posted on 10/12/2005 10:36:54 AM PDT by steve-b (A desire not to butt into other people's business is eighty percent of all human wisdom)
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To: Callahan
It is one of the best shows on TV

And good news its been picked up for a 2nd season which unfortunately won't air until 2007

Given all the bragging about the huge budget for this series, the montage treatment of the battle between Ceasar and Magnus felt really cheap. It totally reminded you that you were watching a TV show and not an epic film like Spartacus or Gladiator.

That's the biggest complaint I have right now, with all the money they were suppose to have spent I was expecting a awesome Braveheart/Gladiator type battle but instead there was nothing, nada, zip. grrrrr even in USA Network's Atilla we got battles.

18 posted on 10/12/2005 8:42:57 PM PDT by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: Callahan

I'm hooked on the show. I love the characters and the whole look of the show. Glad someone started a thread. I went to the hbo site and you can read lots of what other viewers are saying.


19 posted on 10/12/2005 10:53:41 PM PDT by 2rightsleftcoast
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To: 2rightsleftcoast

Any word on a DVD release?


20 posted on 10/14/2005 6:25:11 AM PDT by steve-b (A desire not to butt into other people's business is eighty percent of all human wisdom)
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