HBO Series Rome - a Silly Series

JulieJ

[juliej]

Did Bob Guccione direct this silly, oversexed historically inaccurate mini series on HBO which is mercifully coming to an end?

[juliej]

Vini, vidi, vomit. The series Rome on HBO is no I Claudius. The producers spent a fortune "recreating ancient Rome" but could not get most of the history correct. This series is little more than Dynasty (or Die Nasty as we used to call it) with togas. Among some of the anachronisms: Attia, Octavian's mother and Marc Anthony's lover (which she wasn't) saying "good stuff" after smoking the ancient version of weed; having Agrippa - who was NOT the lover of Octavia - ask her if she knew the identity of her baby's father (I was hoping the actress would answer "As soon as I get the DNA results back"); Attia is actually Fulvia, one of Anthony's wives. This week we are subjected to Anthony's affair with Cleopatra and he will be wearing eyeliner to show how he has "gone native" and offended Roman sensibilities. In the coming attractions, he resembles Michaelus Jacksonus of the group the Jacksonus Quintus (that's Jackson Five to you!). Other inaccuracies: Livia, the wife of the future August, was pregnant with Drusus (the father of the future Emperor Claudius) when she married Octavian - yet she is not with child in this series. Octavian, who was a prude, also tells her that he will on occasion "whip her" for "sexual pleasure" - which is probably the writer's fantasy. As Emperor, Augustus banished Ovid for writing ribald verse and banished his own daughter Julia because of her lifestyle. There was also no mention of Portia, Brutus's loyal wife. The series also has Serivilia, the mother of Brutus, offing herself when in reality, she retired to her country estate after his defeat at Philippi. The writers must have been smoking that Roman weed! I can only imagine how bad the Sopranos will be.

[dljordan]

So don't watch it.

[Dead Dog]

"ROMAN RED!.....People Just Don't Know the Value!"

[N. Theknow]

Among some of the anachronisms: Attia, Octavian's mother and Marc Anthony's lover (which she wasn't) saying "good stuff" after smoking the ancient version of weed;

Perhaps "bono fesces" would have been better?

[lormand]

Cassius and Brutus were said to have committed suicide. In the series, they are killed by sword at the hands of Octavian and Antony's infantry.

Since Octavian's reign was so long, I'm curious to see how they will treat this historical fact.

[Pukin Dog]

What is it about 'DRAMA' that you dont understand?

Rome is brilliantly acted, wonderfully written, and after Deadwood, the best show HBO has ever produced.

I agree with the other poster, if you don't like it, don't watch it. Almost everyone who does watch it, is in disagreement with you.

[Mikey_1962]

Rome: Its not historically accurate like Shakespeare's Anthony & Cleopatra or Julius Caesar. /s

[SmithL]

My son and I both love Roman history, and we both understand that the series is TV, and not history. Nevertheless, we wouldn't miss it.

[BurbankKarl]

I thought Cleopatra was hot....hate to break it to you, but everything on television is fake.

[SmithL]

And we can at least count on the Sopranos to be historically accurate.

; )
And I wouldn't miss it, either

[CrAZyFreeper]

You're right, because when has any writer ever taken liberties with the history of Rome?

You know, you *might* want to skip "300" as well.

[Rummyfan]

Oversexed? Yes it is. But I like the way they play power politics. Also find the Pullo and Vorenus characters very engaging. Didn't watch it when it was first on but now I'm hooked.

[juliej]

I would have preferred "good stuff, dude"!

[juliej]

Non amo te - non possum dicere quare.

[juliej]

It is agreed that Shakespeare at least read Plautus. This series is based on Dynasty with Attia being the Alexis character.

[Rummyfan]

The Sopranos jumped the shark four years ago. I tuned in last season to see what was going on and tuned out the gay love subplot..... and all the rest of it too.

[juliej]

I hope he doesn't write a history paper based on it.

[juliej]

The series will end this year. Otherwise it is retread of I Claudius -now that was a briliant series! And also more accurate although of course, Suetonius (the Roman biographer upon whom Robert Graves based much of his material) took liberties since he was a gossip hound.

[SmithL]

That's what Wikipedia is for.

[juliej]

I have heard that this month's Vanity Fair gives away the ending of the Sopranos. The Sopranos has had many bad episodes. Henry VIII is starting on Showtime and I am afraid to see what the writers will do to that one. Yes, there is poetic license, but some of the writers think "soap opera with costumes" and become ridiculous.