SO who is watching Rome?

[King Ragnar]

The show is on soon and i for one am looking forward to it, i have seen numerous previews and it is lokking very very good.

[Geoffrey S]

I'm watching it tonight, and recording it for my Latin teacher. It'd better be good.

[econ21]

Just saw it and was very impressed. I did not realise how much of a historical drama it would be. I can't speak for its accuracy - I'd be interested in what others can comment on in that regard. But at least it focussed on the central political drama (Caesar vs Pompeii) rather than some secondary soap opera stuff. That said, I did also enjoy the sideplots around the two soldiers. The plot was interesting and twisting, with excellent acting and production values. The sex was totally gratuitous and pointless, but that does not really bother me (except that it means I can't let my young son watch what seems otherwise an excellent and educational series).

It seems a worth successor to "I, Claudius", which I remember made a great impression on me in my teenage years.

[Geoffrey S]

'twas messily edited, but enjoyable. Probably more so for people with some knowledge of the events. The syncronising of voices and images was pretty shoddy though. The acting was rather good, and the set design really evoked the feel of Rome. I loved seeing places I recognized around the Forum in full glory.

The sex scenes were a bit too much. A few less would have gotten the point across just fine, and would have allowed for a bit more clarification of events.

[TonkaToys]

I enjoyed it; I was expecting more of a historical documentary, so the fact it was a drama made it more enjoyable for that sort of late evening slot. Also means that my g/f might watch it, so I won't get banished to the spare room when I want to watch it.
Bit gratuitous on the sex scences, but if it is historically relevant then fair enough... at least that is what I kept telling my g/f!

[Sigurd]

I am...

(thank you Internet)

[lancelot]

Just saw it and was very impressed. I did not realise how much of a historical drama it would be. I can't speak for its accuracy - I'd be interested in what others can comment on in that regard. But at least it focussed on the central political drama (Caesar vs Pompeii) rather than some secondary soap opera stuff. That said, I did also enjoy the sideplots around the two soldiers. The plot was interesting and twisting, with excellent acting and production values. The sex was totally gratuitous and pointless, but that does not really bother me (except that it means I can't let my young son watch what seems otherwise an excellent and educational series).

It seems a worth successor to "I, Claudius", which I remember made a great impression on me in my teenage years.

The sex is part of it, is it not? At the heart of 'civilisation' lies rampant over-indulgence and decadence...

And anyway, if you dont mind kids watching people getting stabbed in the head, Im sure some boobies aint gonna be that traumatic.

[econ21]

The sex is part of it, is it not? At the heart of 'civilisation' lies rampant over-indulgence and decadence...

Is it? I am not sufficiently expert on the period to comment, but some discussion has said that Rome gets the sex part wrong and that the Romans were great prudes. The scene with Mark Antony having sex in front of an army column and Octavian certainly felt phoney to me.

And anyway, if you dont mind kids watching people getting stabbed in the head, Im sure some boobies aint gonna be that traumatic.

Touche. But young kids are innocent about sex but sadly familiar with violence.

[TinCow]

As the series goes on, the frequency of sexual acts continues but they become briefer and less graphic. They are often important because they signify political 'alliances' and other such maneuvering amongst the patricians. There are some particularly important 'couplings' plot-wise later on, but again it mainly turns into people getting into bed and then them being naked afterwards. I think the first couple episodes were more graphic for the shock value on American TV.

[cunobelinus]

its amazing it mixes history with fiction .I am liking it alot!

[King Ragnar]

I was very very pleased to see that there was no commercials, all in all it was very good and i cant wait for next weeks.

[lancelot]

Touche. But young kids are innocent about sex but sadly familiar with violence.

Sadly, that is true...I often wonder if the world would be a nicer place if the reverse were true.

[Kaiser of Arabia]

ITs awesome.

[Red Peasant]

Poor script (someone here compared it to I Claudius, shame on you ), wooden acting, big budget but looks cheap, ham-fisted direction, and the Romans come across as animals with virtually no redeeming characteristics or features at all.

Terrible.

Also note that the Taurobolium ceremony was only introduced to Rome/Italy in C2 AD and originally had to be performed by a male priest who represented the god Attis being re-born in a kind of fertility rite. By C3 and C4 AD it is thought that women could also take part. The site of Rome's venue for the rite was St Peter's!

[King Ragnar]

Poor script (someone here compared it to I Claudius, shame on you ), wooden acting, big budget but looks cheap, ham-fisted direction, and the Romans come across as animals with virtually no redeeming characteristics or features at all.

Terrible.

Also note that the Taurobolium ceremony was only introduced to Rome/Italy in C2 AD and originally had to be performed by a male priest who represented the god Attis being re-born in a kind of fertility rite. By C3 and C4 AD it is thought that women could also take part. The site of Rome's venue for the rite was St Peter's!

Have to disagree with you mate it seems very good and i cant wait for the next episode.

[Red Peasant]

I'm glad you like it. Hopefully it will improve for me!

But, as for script and acting, compare it to the other big BBC production of the year, Dickens's Bleak House .... there is no comparison, the latter is far, far superior (and not tied to HBO!).

[Oaty]

The director had to have his head up his butt for episode 8

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

From previous episodes, Titus had a liking for the slave girl. First he meets her with a wagon full of gold. Treats her like a princess and shows his liking for her. Somehow Titus loses her and the slave owner regains posession of her. Vorenus was nice enough to buy the slave for his wife so Titus would know her whereabouts for when he was ready. Now Roman law prevents slaves from marrying citizens. So Titus asks vorenus's aide to buy her freedom so he can marry her. Her lover then thanks Titus for buying her freedom, meanwhile this enflares Titus into a rage and he kills the guy. HELLLLLLLLLLLO. Naomi knows of this deal and didn't say a word that they were lovers, living in the same household I'm sure she knew everything that went on. Titus could sniff out that Naomi had a secret affair but couldnt sniff this out. On top of that Titus just buys her freedom and the slave girl doesnt realize what's in store for her. Hello he buys your freedom your expected to marry him, think he's doing just to be nice to a slave. And then on top of that Vorenus makes the ultimate comment coming from a prude, What you expected her to be a virgin, the man that could not save his own life by fornicating with Cleopatra and was only spared because Titus could step up to the plate.

Just makes no sense to me. Now if she had run to a secret lover, former husband in Gaul, or just returned back to her homeland with no thoguhts of Titus would have made sense. But to plot it the way they did just makes horrible sense

[Sigurd]

The director had to have his head up his butt for episode 8

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

From previous episodes, Titus had a liking for the slave girl. First he meets her with a wagon full of gold. Treats her like a princess and shows his liking for her. Somehow Titus loses her and the slave owner regains posession of her. Vorenus was nice enough to buy the slave for his wife so Titus would know her whereabouts for when he was ready. Now Roman law prevents slaves from marrying citizens. So Titus asks vorenus's aide to buy her freedom so he can marry her. Her lover then thanks Titus for buying her freedom, meanwhile this enflares Titus into a rage and he kills the guy. HELLLLLLLLLLLO. Naomi knows of this deal and didn't say a word that they were lovers, living in the same household I'm sure she knew everything that went on. Titus could sniff out that Naomi had a secret affair but couldnt sniff this out. On top of that Titus just buys her freedom and the slave girl doesnt realize what's in store for her. Hello he buys your freedom your expected to marry him, think he's doing just to be nice to a slave. And then on top of that Vorenus makes the ultimate comment coming from a prude, What you expected her to be a virgin, the man that could not save his own life by fornicating with Cleopatra and was only spared because Titus could step up to the plate.

Just makes no sense to me. Now if she had run to a secret lover, former husband in Gaul, or just returned back to her homeland with no thoguhts of Titus would have made sense. But to plot it the way they did just makes horrible sense

That was in episode 10...

[Xiahou]

Have to disagree with you mate it seems very good and i cant wait for the next episode.

I watch it, but do have some problems with it..... Like why are they wearing chainmail armor? And, I thought roman soldiers werent allowed to marry until they retired? Not to mention their battle depictions are absolutely horrid.

It's an entertaining story, but has some real accuracy issues- plus the gratuitous sex is a bit over the top.

[CBR]

Hm they did use chain at that time. One thing I do like about the show is that it does try and show how the era was and not make it into 21st century just with togas. But it might have some historical inaccuracies.


CBR

[Prodigal]

But, as for script and acting, compare it to the other big BBC production of the year, Dickens's Bleak House .... there is no comparison, the latter is far, far superior

I have to agree with that, BUT you also have to rember that Bleak House was written by Dickens, so all they need is costumes & someone to cut a few bits out here & there from the book.

Now Rome they had to write all by themselves, & although I hesitate to criticise HBO writers, they're not quite up there with Dickens yet, at least I doubt people will be whatching it a hundered years from now.

I think its gotta be taken at face value as an eye candyesque piece of expensive TV. Personally was hoping for something of the same quality as Band of Brothers, but guess stuff like that doesn't come along often.

[Ludens]

I watch it, but do have some problems with it..... Like why are they wearing chainmail armor? And, I thought roman soldiers werent allowed to marry until they retired? Not to mention their battle depictions are absolutely horrid.

Chainmail armour is correct: lorica segmentata wouldn't be used until Augustus' reign, and then it still took some time before it was in common use. Also, the "battles" are just skirmishes. I agree they are rather one-sided (which is only to be expected with the pace of the series), but I have seen far worse.

It's an entertaining story, but has some real accuracy issues- plus the gratuitous sex is a bit over the top.

You are probably right about that, particularly the sex. However, if you are watching the BBC broadcasts, the Belgian ones contain even more! (Canvas also broadcasts the series on Mondays at nine o'clock GMT. They are showing an uncut version that contains several bits not present in British series. Not that these bits are important though, they are mostly small and unnecessary and often bad.)

[Zalmoxis]

I only watched the first one.
BTW, I'm back. I've been gone awhile due to.. computer breakdowns. It's all fixed now.