Farewell Rome :-(

Where to start?

Let me first say how sad I am that Rome is over. This is one of the best television series I have ever watched. I will really miss Titus Pullo. He is a noble character.

Cleopatra, as it turns out, is a bitch. She tricked Marc Antony into committing suicide. Though, I don't feel sorry for him. He was a bastard.

Octavian is also a bastard, and as I've been saying all along, amoral. He was almost scary. Atia was wondering what went wrong as he used to be such a good boy. Look in the mirror, bitch! Though, Atia evened out in my mind because she stuck it to Livia in the end giving slight deference to Servilla of the Junii (I just like saying that).

I was sorry to see Vorenus die, but I have to say I saw that one coming. He was on the wrong side of the conflict, and the gods have funny way of evening things out. However, he was a good man, loyal to the end. He did the right thing protecting Caesarion because he knew he was Pullo's son. At least, he got to see his family before he died.

I liked that they didn't kill Caesarion. He was Pullo's son, and Pullo deserved happiness. History tells us that Octavian had him killed. Of course, Octavian believes he was killed, just as he believed (and so did everyone else) he was Caesar's son.

I stated in previous posts that I was worried that Pullo would be asked to kill Caesarion. Indeed he was, but he never had any intention of carrying out that task. Titus Pullo was a good man 'til the end. He made some mistakes in life, but he repented, and he held honor. He lied to Octavian in order to save Caesarion's life. Octavian took good care of Pullo, but he knew that Octavian was morally challenged. I really liked how it ended with Pullo and Caesarion, father and son, on somewhat of a comical note with the theme music in the background.

I will miss you Rome. :-(

Chickens coming home to roost

One more episode and that's it for Rome. So sad.

See my prediction from January 22, 2007 about Pullo and Cesarion. Clearly, he is conflicted. Will there be a final showdown with Vorenus?

Is Octavian completely devoid of morality?

I think Octavian has no moral compass. This probably comes from being raised by a nymphomaniac mother with little empathy for the plight of others. He is very astute, and he understand the political landscape, almost to the point where he can predict the future. Every decision he makes leaves others no choice, but to accept their fate, and further increases his grip on power.

For example, on meeting the young woman Maecenas introduces to him, he asks her to marry him. Of course, she doesn't think her current husband, Claudius Nero who doesn't beat her, will mind. He tells her he will beat her because it gives him sexual pleasure. (Did you catch the part about her son, Tiberius? He is, of course, Emperor #2, who if you've ever seen Caligula, you know to be very fucked up.) At the beginning of the episode he was talking about a new morality and laws that will reward fertility and fidelity and punish infidelity. Very Republican of him.

He sends his main competition, Mark Antony, out of town so he can rule with impunity. Antony, for all his faults, at least has some morality. Octavian will enslave his own people for their own good.

I feel very bad for Titus Pullo. I hope he finds out that bitch killed his wife and gives her "what fer." Then again, maybe he had it coming. He will handle things much differently on the Aventine. However, while Vorenus kept the peace, people were happy and fed. As we caught a glimpse of next week, people go hungry.

What will become of Vorenus in Egypt?

As for Timon? Next year in Jerusalem.

The Death Mask episode

Okay, I've been getting lazy with my Rome blogs. Anyway, on with my thoughts about the episode.

This episode dealt with justice as a major theme, I think. Servilla (of the Junii) demanded justice just before she committed suicide. "Now, that was an exit." Her justice was for Atia's life going forward to suck. Let's see what happened. Atia wanted to marry Marc Antony. Her own son kicks her out of the room to discuss the terms of the wedding. She is all excited about the big wedding. Marc Antony marries Octavia. Talk about cold-hearted. More to come for Atia, I assume. I feel kind of bad for Agrippa, though.

We now know what Timon's brother was doing in Rome. He was there to assassinate King Herod. (I can't decide which portrayal I like better, the guy playing King Herod in Rome or Josh Mostel.) Of course, Levi does not get his justice. Nice that King Herod buys a little peace and safety for the Jews. How long does that last?

Posca gets himself a nice little piece of tail. It's not necessarily fair for Jocasta, but Posca has served Caesar well. He deserves something in return. Though, Antony still treats him as a bitch, he exacts a little revenge on Antony by informing Maecenas (Octavian's Karl Rove) of Antony's acceptance of Herod's bribe.

Now to the little spout between Gaia and Eieren: I feel for Eirene because she has suffered somewhat by losing her first love to the hands of Pullo. Now, he loves her and he wants to be a good husband. Of course, now that she is pregnant, she is losing her horny. Enter Gaia, a bitch that likes it rough. She give Eirene some lip, which causes Eirene to want justice. Gaia wants some justice in the form of Titus Pullo's raging woody. After the disciplining, Eirene suggests Pullo discipline her once a month. Hmm? Of course, this story is not done, and Gaia will have her revenge on Eirene.

Vorena the Elder will get justice from her father as she is still mad at him. While Memmio will do the same with her being part of the rouse. How will this one play out?

Will the fall of Vorenus and Pullo equal the fall of Rome?

I know there is much more to say about the episode, but I can't cover it all. Please share your thoughts.

Philippi

This episode should have been called "Poetic License." Before I get into this great episode, I'd like to point out some historical inaccuracies.

First and foremost, neither Brutus nor Cassius died in battle. In fact, it is quite misleading the way it was portrayed in the episode with Brutus removing his armor. Brutus committed suicide, not on the battlefield, but in the privacy of his quarters. In fact, his body was found and identified. Antony even showed respect for him by having his corpse draped with a purple garment.

Enough about what really happened. Atia, Antony and Octavian (though cautiously) are bloodthirsty sons of bitches, aren't they? I guess one way to ensure peace is to murder all your enemies. In this case, they did it preemptively.

Pullo is surely a man of duty honorably carrying out the murder of Cicero. "Do you mind if I take some peaches?" What if Cicero had said "no." You have to wonder if Pullo would have taken them.

I really like Timon. He has rediscovered his Jewish roots. He will not be a partner in his temple's selling out to Rome. I fear for his character, though, that he may have made a decision that will cost him his life in a later episode. Plus, Atia can't be too pleased with him.

With the enemies out of the way, there is no other course for the Triumvirate, but to turn on one another. Octavian has no intentions of allowing Antony a share of the power. We shall see.

Will Servilla reappear?

Am I forgetting anything?

Heroes of the Republic

There was a lot of religion in this episode. I liked how it started out with Timon praying at the synagogue. Vorenus finds religion again, and thus finds favor with the gods. He accepts his children, though they were slaves. He even accepts Niobe's child from another man. Marc Antony grants forgiveness to Lepidus, and he makes peace with Octavian. Atia asks Octavian for forgiveness, and he grants it.

BTW, where does Lepidus come in? This is the first time we meet him. Historically, he was one third of the Triumvirate. Though, he was not a significant threat to power. Rather, his presence was to appease the senate.

Speaking of the senate, did you like how they gave a blank check to the wishes of Octavian? Does that sound like any Senate you know?

Cicero did not like being punked by Octavian. What a puss, though, calling for Brutus and Cassius to return to Rome. Those cowards all deserve each other.

This episode was less violent. Maybe, it was about redemption. I suspect we will see more violence in upcoming episodes, particularly when the legions of Antony and Octavian run into Brutus and Cassius.

The Tortoise and the Hare

Sorry it's taken a while to get this one posted.

Okay, so Atia didn't die. I figured it was probably too soon. Her head slave lost his boy toy. I was hoping to see him made into a eunuch.

Those were some brutal beating scenes. Timon was clearly conflicted and does not enjoy his work. (I've been there.) It is a high price to pay. If he does not serve Atia, is he persecuted because he is Jew? I love his line a la The Elephant Man "I am not an animal!" It gave me some pride to see that they give the Jewish characters humanity, which I think is a commentary on the fact that Judaism has a moral code, while the Roman (polytheistic) religion has none. Moreover, it is narcissistic and self-serving, which is why you won't find anyone praying to Jupiter today. I like the development of Timon's character. Hopefully, he will stick around.

The growth hormone did wonders for young Octavian. I don't think they transitioned that one too well. Anyway, I guess Pullo recognized him.

Anthony recognizes that it is falling apart for him, and he will be forced to reconcile and ally with Octavian. Smart move. Octavian has the support of the people. Kind of like a Roman Obama to Marc Anthony's Joe Biden. (Sorry for the political pun.)

Would like to see a little more of Brutus and Cassius (their characters, not their genitals).

Finally, it is good to see Pullo and Vorenus as mates again. They are an indomitable team. Well, I don't have much else to say. What do you think?