I’m ashamed to say that I did watch last season, and that I’ve seen every episode. My cognition just isn’t geared toward these kinds of relations. My eyes glaze over reading Numbers and things like that too.
It’s pretty clear that the guy from Jerusalem is up to something. Timon (the local guy) has been a staple character from the beginning. His brother probably had to flee from Jerusalem because he was involved in acts of sedition, or he’s in Rome as part of an effort to foment unrest back home. Stay tuned-- the writers are setting this up nicely (witness the suspicious meeting with the “saffron merchant” in this episode).
It certainly looks like we’re heading straight into Antony vs Octavian…but that’s not right, is it? Doesn’t Antony have to dispatch Brutus and form the 2nd Triumvirate first? Hard to picture at this point.
For those who haven’t checked their history…
What’s *really * hard to picture is Antony marrying Octavia.
Are they supposed to be married already? I don’t think they are, but they sure act as if they were.
BTW, if anyone wants a quick history lesson, just read the wikipedia article on Octavian. You may get spoilers in the process, but it demonstrates that the show has been pretty good about historical accuracy so far, even if they’ve played fast and lose with people’s motivations.
John, aren’t you thinking Atia here, not Octavia?
Not so hard to imagine, really. What purpose would it serve Antony to marry Atia? Put aside any of our own culture’s ideas about marrying for love - in upper class Roman society, you marry for power and heirs. Fattia is looking a little past her prime. Marrying her daughter works nicely: you get the power and the fertile younger woman, plus still boinkin’ momma, conceivably all in one handy household. And tell me that wouldn’t be appealing to Antony! Also, I seem to recall a similar setup in I, Claudius, which Rome is certainly borrowing from.
Also, did anyone else notice what seemed to be a dirty look from Antony as Atia poured olive oil onto her bread? Clearly he’s a little dissatisfied with her figure, which could work to my point above.
Where? I’m not following you.
Put it in a spoiler tag though it really isn’t much of one.
If IMDB can be believed Atia has a few more weeks left. Otherwise we’re looking at a lot of flashbacks.
“Rome” … Atia of the Julii (21 episodes, 2005-2007)
Atia and Antony are acting like they are married. I’ve seen very little to indicate that Octavia and Antony were behaving that way.
So, the assasin ostensibly has the job of mucking out the stables and, as soon as he gets the chance, pops into the kitchen, scoops some stuff out of a bowl and licks it off his finger? And the kitchen girl follows suit? Gross.
Speaking of kitchen girls, was that supposed to be the german slut?
No. It’s Octavia. Historically that’s what happened. That’s why John said it was hard to believe right now (in the context of the show).
Yeah, but silenus was referring to John’s comment that Antony and Octavia are acting like a married couple. Like silenus, I don’t see that at all. Antony and Atia are the ones acting like a married couple.
Fattia…snerk.
Exactly. Thank you.
Right, I think John just got slightly confused. The marriage in discussion…
… happened three years after the events currently unfolding, after Antony’s third wife, who had rebelled against Octavian in Antony’s absense, had died in exile. Atia will be three years in her grave at that point.
- Tamerlane
In that episode they showed a naked girl sprawled on the bed. I took her to be the German slut, and she was somewhat thinner than this cook. I imagine that a household of this importance might have several slaves in the kitchen. And more than one might be a slut.
Yes, I was talking about…
Atia and Antony. She’s ready to move to Macedonia with him.
My bad. I read the post I was responding to incorrectly. It’s all these damn spoilers, for what is, after all, an historical event! 
I know! It was like watching OZ with togas. Nothing will compare to last season’s “penis with a bow.” That was hilarious!
I could just picture the convo of the actor and his agent-
“The good news is there’s a part for you on a TV show, the bad news is you have to appear naked with a bow around your penis.”
Picture the assassin and his agent:
Agent: It’s a great part.
Assassin: What’re my first lines?
A: Something about…ummm…“I’ll suck your cock.”
As: What’s my second scene?
A: Uhhhh…you get buggered in the stables by the slavemaster.
As: HBO, you say?
Atia and Servilia are headed toward an extraordinarily bloody and graphic fight. Not unlike the fight between the Major and Dan in “Deadwood”. Except supposedly more graphic.
Which wife of Antony bore him a daughter at least?
He had at least one Roman daughter(Antonia of course). She married and bore two sons and a daughter. One of those sons was the Claudius of I, Claudius.