Largely about Rome (and a bit on Hanadan)

[dangermousie]

Finished first two episodes of Rome.

Hmmmm. I am rather over the fact that have so many sex scenes. They don't seem to serve any purpose other than to go 'see, we are so edgy, and so daring, and so cool. And weren't those Romans a wicked bunch?' I am also a bit taken aback by the way they chose to portray Caesar: completely emotionless. Whatever else he was (and he was plenty ruthless), this Caesar has not a single human feeling. More puzzlingly, Ciaran Hinds is such a charisma-less icicle as Caesar, it's hard to see why anyone would follow him across the street, let alone into rebellion. I am also confused with the eagle thing. Are they referring to the Legion's standard, in which case, yes, it's a huge deal and not what they make it seem. Germanicus recovering missing eagles some decades later was a HUGE HUGE thing, Empire-wide-importance. Or are they talking about Caesar's personal standard? In which case, OK? They also really simplify all the history, but that is to be expected.

I am also amused at Octavian being Basil Exposition. :D

BUT BUT BUT BUT

Even though I am not in love with the series' portrayal a lot of historical figures (Brutus as a snotty drunken brat? O-kaaaay). I LOVE THIS. LOVE LOVE LOVE. Why? Titus and Lucius. They are just awesome as characters and I am always mesmerized when they are on screen. Especially Lucius. I am fascinated by their relationship with each other, with historical characters, with other fictional characters (Though poor Niobe, Lucius' wife, who apparently had a baby with someone else when Lucius was gone. I place her odds of survival at about 10%. On a good day. Btw, how come Lucius didn't notice she was nursing. Not to be indelicate, but wouldn't she leak?). I actually wish they'd minimize the historical characters' role (none of which caught my attention except Pompey, whose portrayal I find has drawn me in) and make this into entirely Titus and Lucius show.

In unrelated news, I am still amused by that one scene in ep 3 of Hana Yori Dango 2

Did the writers of this drama get dumped/mugged/punched by a foreigner? :D The scene of those people picking on Domyouji keeps cracking me up. Oh, Hanadan, never change. Heee. Seriously. That is totally my idea of fun. Flying 15 hours halfway around the world and paying for expensive hotel in order to stand on a random street corner in Tokyo and pick on passerbys' clothes? Heeee.

Comments

[thelana.livejournal.com]

Trust me, it *IS* the Lucius and Titus show, just wait a while.

I think the whole eagle thing was just a way to introduce the characters and the whole thing is completely dropped and unimportant later on. I heard in the BBC version they actually dropped that whole episode because they figured it wasn't important and just served to teach cough potentially less educated American viewers cough some basic background facts.

I kinda liked Ceasar in the first episode where he returns to Rome and meets with his lover. Was that in the second or the third episode? And I LOVE Posca, Ceasar's scribe/slave.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay on the T&L show! :)

It must be third ep because I haven't gotten to it yet and I watched the first two.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

I am rather over the fact that have so many sex scenes.

They kind of get over that later on - I think it was "edgy, daring" blahblah and then they got more into the story.

Ciaran Hinds is such a charisma-less icicle as Caesar, it's hard to see why anyone would follow him across the street, let alone into rebellion.

Well, I thought this at first too (until "Pharsalus") but if you've watched the season and go back and rewatch, I think he's amazing - he conveys Caesar's immense intelligence and how he's two steps ahead of everyone all the time and I think it's wonderfully well-done, even though he's not chewing the scenery ever. (And his death scene is AMAZING.)

Or are they talking about Caesar's personal standard?

Yes. (And they get into that a bit more in the DVD commentary.)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Oh, I don't particularly hate the portrayals (it might not be my interpretation but that's OK, but I am glad to hear Caesar gets more interesting).

[thelana.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

I really love their Ceasar. Lot's of people really love Anthony because he is snarky at the other characters, but I'm more of a Ceasar/Octavian kind of gal.

I started off really intrigued by Servillia and annoyed by Atia and that things slowly started to reverse. They started off with Ceasar's wife being almost non-entity but she really comes into her own only after his death.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Nah, I am not really into any of their portrayals of real people yet. But it's only 3 eps in.

[kitsune714.livejournal.com]

People have been pimping "Rome" at me for the longest time and I just have never gotten around to seeing it. I think I might check it out if it's still available on HBO OnDemand.

Also, the "Domyouji gets robbed by foreigners"-bit? I NEARLY SWALLOWED MY TONGUE. I wondered if they imported the same actors that played the people who mugged Makino for this scene as well. I admit that I fast-forwarded through this scene because it was just so painful for me to watch (and not in the good, drama angsty sort of painful way, either).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Heeee. But it ended in him beating people up. Which I always love :D

[ancarett]

Rome rocks my world. The characters really develop over the course of the season and there are so many witty touches. I, too, get a little tired of the whole "o, look, sex, aren't we daring!" scenes, but beyond that, it's purely delicious!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's clever and I like that.

[svilleficrecs.livejournal.com]

They do cool it with the sex as the series goes on, and IMHO, Caesar gets a lot more human as the show progresses as well. :)

[svilleficrecs.livejournal.com]

Considering Lucius fathered two children on her and was unaware of the existence of the clit...I give his observational skills about a woman's body the benefit of the doubt.

[pangea-maru.livejournal.com]

*snrk* Well said; I concur. ;-) I love the show to pieces; yes, I know it's not going to get high marks for historical accuracy, but since my own recollection of ancient Roman history is pretty weak, I really don't notice too much. I've always been a sucker for costume dramas anyway; the fact this one has lots of hot nekkid guys is icing on my lurid cake.

Pullo + Vorenus = OTP! Although the writers have stretched the limits of believability at times (i.e. the Egypt storyline - yeah, right!), I love these two characters & am addicted to the show.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I just wanted to mention that this is the most awesome icon I've ever seen.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

ROFL. Good point.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

As many others have said, Caesar gets to be awesome. But who I ended up feeling the most for is Brutus. By the beginning of the season 2 he is just about to break my heart in tiny pieces. Just watch more, there is a scene between him and Caesar somewhere in the middle of season 1 which is just heart-wrenching.

But I guess they don't go for very historically accurate. I just accepted it.

to be indelicate, but wouldn't she leak?

With the kind of sexual life they had up to a point I don't think so. Also he doesn't seem to be particular clever in that field..

But YAY! Of course it is all about Pullo and Vorenus. :D

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Reall, Brutus? This I gotta see (as of now, I want to smack him).

[leechunsa.livejournal.com]

lol, the HYD2 comment is so Lol. hahahaha >DD Maybe?? AHAHAHA!!!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

But it resulted in angsty fighting, so all's good.

[linaerys.livejournal.com]

Lucius and his wife have such an interesting relationship as the series goes on. And definitely, the choice to focus on Lucius and Titus is what makes Rome work. I love the hotness of James Purefoy as much the next girl, but L and T are the heart and anchor.

I predict that you'll find what happens with their relationship really poignant. I also predict that you'll start to like Brutus's portayal more. When the inevitable is kicked into motion, Brutus gets to be very torn between his various loyalties and his honor and it's amazing to watch.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I hope so. I find Shakespeare's Brutus quite interesting and one of my earlier fictional crushes, so I wonder what the portrayal here is going to evolve into.

[mycenae.livejournal.com]

I love Octavian. Octavian's role is basically spelling shit out to everyone else. I also enjoy having Octavian as my favorite character because I know I'm backing a winning horse. He will only get awesomer. It is comforting.

I'm trying to reach back into my memory about season 1... I remember that Titus & Lucius are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern type characters. So, yeah, it is largely their show. (Although obviously not straight up R&G because we get a lot of scenes with just the main historical characters as well.)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Octavian > everyone. At least as far as brains are concerned :D

[grace-om.livejournal.com]

I'm glad I'm not the only one who wasn't totally thrilled with Ciaran Hinds as Caesar. Yes, he's a fine actor, but charisma...not. Nor did I find him believable as a soldier. AFAIK, Caesar was in his early 40ies and exceedingly fit. This guy is paunchy and unfit looking. Maybe it's shallow of me, but it throws me out of the story trying to imagine him sitting a horse for 12 hours. Similarly, the actor who plays Pompey (who was about 10 years older than Caesar and beginning to get paunchy, but was still regarded as an attractive man) seemed too old and, well, weak. However, *he* really grew on me later on, but I won't spoil you (even though I'm sure you're familiar with the history.

Octavian...love. Mark Antony...OMG in the 2d season he *rocks*. And Vorenus and Pullo...magnificent. And all the women are delicious!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Pompey looks like he is 70.

You aren't going to spoil me. I know what happens to him :)

[allbloomedout.livejournal.com]

LOL, your HYD comment. It was hilarious when one of the guys said, "Who does he think he is with that hair,Lionel Richie?" LMAO! ^_^

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Exactly. Why pick on his hair NOW? :)

[allbloomedout.livejournal.com]

Seriously. I wonder if they are going to put that in every episode. It's pretty hilarious. I love how he's the only one that gets picked on. It must be what you get for having better mani that most girls lol ^_^