So, do you think Octavian really lost his virginity tonight, or was the girl covering for him?
The parentage of Niobe’s child is going to have to come out sometime, I’m surprised it wasn’t tonight. It’s nice to see Verennus and Niobe somewhat reconciled, I think they do love each other, but there’s still and underlying tension.
Terribly disappointed in Simon Callow’s character. Why hire such an explosive actor to play such an insipid character?
That’s who that was? I thought he sounded familiar. As for Octavian, I’m sure the prostitute knew enough not to criticize his performance, no matter how clumsy he might have been. It’s bad for business, as well as her life expectancy.
This episode had quite a bit of sex (and dialogue about sex), even judging by HBO standards. Lucius and his wife. Octavian and the whore. Atia and Antony. (Not a judgement, just an observation.)
The gift for Servilla was definitely interesting. Do you suppose they have casting agencies specifically for well-endowed actors? (Not that he was huge, but he certainly wasn’t tiny either.) I mean, can you imagine casting that particular role? “Ok, so we need someone with a big cock.” “Oh, I know! We can call Big Member Casting Guild, they have exactly what we need!” Or from the actor’s point of view, perhaps: “Ok, it’s not a speaking role, we just need you to stand around with jewelry on your dingus, looking ever-so-slightly proud to have it displayed in all its glory.” " :dubious: What the hell kind of show is this?"
I liked how the proclamation at the end of the episode had a commercial. I don’t recall the exact phrasing, but it was something like, “This proclamation sponsored by [something] Brotherhood of Millers. They use only the finest grain and make Roman bread for Roman people.” Is this historically known to have happened at times, or is this a bit of artistic lisence? As ubiquitous as advertising is nowadays, I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that it was common in ancient times as well.
I don’t know, but maybe they cast the slave with the giant crank by calling some porn studios?
Kind of a slow episode tonight. Not much action but a lot of sex. I pretty much assumed that Octavian did the deed but I suppose they have to be very cautious about shooting a scene like that with an underage actor. They probably didn’t even want to come close to actually simulating sex. Ergo the quick cutaway.
I think I laughed more during this episode than any other.
“Large cock is always welcome!”
“Nice place you’ve got here . . . since I’m with the Quality, do you think . . . ?”
“Don’t even think about it.”
“If you haven’t penetrated anyone before evening, I’m going to be very upset!”
“That girl better fuck him like Helen of Troy with her ass on fire, or I’ll know why!”
“A very good offering was made to Tritan!”
“Well, if Tritan can’t keep me dryer than this, he can suck my cock!”
I was a bit perplexed by the scene with Naiobe’s sister. In the beginning of the episode, Lydie (is *that *her name?) is sitting at Lucius’ kitchen table, and Lucius shouts that her husband is "likely dead!" Lydie breaks down into tears, and he storms out. Why would Lucius, who is ignorant of the entire situation, be so nasty about his sister-in-law’s grief?
Do you think that the long look exchanged between Naiobe and Titus means that she understands that Titus killed her lover?
I admit I was a bit irritated with the episode, because it seemed there was a lot of filler when there didn’t* need* to be.
I think probably the reason they didn’t show any contact between Octavius and the whore is because of his age. He’s only supposed to be twelve (though the actor is sixteen.) Wouldn’t it be “child porn” to show him in a sexual situation?
Sure took me back to my adolescence.
“Have you penetrated anybody yet?”
(Sigh.) “No, Mom.”
“Well, when are you going to penetrate somebody?”
(Eyeroll.) “I don’t know, Mom.”
Vorenus was irritated because it had been three months since Evander disappeared, and Lydie was still sitting at his kitchen table. Apparently he thinks she should have moved on by now. Or at least moved out of his house. Remember, he’s mad at them anyway because they broke that thingee at his feast a couple of episodes back.
I love every shot of Mark Antony sitting at some ceremonial event, bored out of his mind.
Good episode – I laughed out loud at the end, when we got the bread commercial and then Pullo bringing down the wrath of Triton. 
I liked how Atia’s comments convinced Marc Antony to take the 13th to Greece. Atia and Antony were a nice counterpoint to Niobe and Vorenus, with their pillow talk about honor. Atia’s someone that you’d ask for advice, and then do the opposite anyway.
What’s that big wall about, with the squares and the numbers and stuff?
Niobe is just gorgeous. The casting director must have drooled when he found her. She’s so perfect for that part.
I loved the scene with Servilia and Atia’s daughter, and how Servilia picked up that Atia’s daughter was disgusted with her mother’s role in the Servilia/Caesar breakup.
Agree about the episode, but you might be surprised about just what Atia convinced Marc to do. All we know now is that he’s going to Greece. (I’ve spoiler-ed this because it’s a pretty broad hint that might interfere with I surprise I expect in next week’s episode.)
I remember reading an article about a talent agency that specialized in well endowed actors. “Any Given Sunday” was cited as one of their casting triumphs.
He was also mad because Niobe wouldn’t sleep with him while Lydie was in the house.
I thought it was a pretty decent episode. Another look at how things are in Rome. Hardly anything about Caesar, but rather how Anthony is ruling Rome in his absense (like an unpolitical brute) and how Vorenus is dealing with it (the statement about the morality of Anthony’s even thinking about turning his back on Caesar). The storyline about Octavian and Pullo was interesting as well. Trying to make Octavian a ‘man’ and then sending him away to school. I think it’ll serve the character well when Caesar ends up winning and Octavian has his ear.
I think that’s a calendar.
Do we really have to use spoilers for known historical events?
Another scene I thought was interesting was after Antony slapped Atia. Her slave jumped her her feet with a knife, and then held Atia’s head on her lap, tenderly brushing back her hair while Atia wept. This from a slave treated like a piece of furniture . . . . Wouldn’t she have been killed in a horrible fashion if she’d even scratched Anotny with that knife, regardless of the provocation? Would Atia have even wanted the comfort of a slave’s lap?
Wow, they’re having sex like motherfrackers!
I suspected that Octavian did penetrate, but that it was less than spectacular-- like most of us the first time.
As for “Bigus Dickus”, I assumed the makeup dept was involved…
What was the deal with the naked BBW painted red and Niobe praying to her in the street while she collected change?
And I too am curious whether or not the sponsor’s message in the crier’s news is a matter of historical record, or a plausible yet cutesy creative interpolation.
I wonder when Pullo will blow the whistle on Niobe. Vorenus will really have to provoke him (didn’t he say something to Pullo about never being able to keep his mouth shut in the last episode?). Poor Vorenus seems to be a decent guy in a bad situation.
Lots of women getting slapped in this show, eh?
I kept getting the feeling that Octavian is gay, doesn’t want to tell his mother, and penetrated the prostitute from behind so as to see as little of her girlness as possible. Atia already accused him of having sex with Caesar, which in the future will not be entirely without foundation, yes? I was wondering if he and Pullo were ever going to have a moment… maybe later in the series.
Why? It was a big dick, but not out of the realm of humanly possible, ala Dirk Diggler. It looked plenty real to me.
I have also been wondering how long the series will go on until Caesar is killed. Will we see Cleopatra take up residence across the Tiber? So far, they have covered ~5-6 years in 6 episodes, so it’s hard to say how long things will be drawn out.
I’m not sure of her title, but the woman in red is a fertility symbol. Women make offerings and pray before her to become pregnant.
I just got caught up on episodes today (I was a couple behind).
Those were great lines.
I don’t recall, was it known prior to this episode that Niobe’s sister knew about Niobe and her husband?
With as big a slut as Atia is, I’m almost surprised she didn’t take care of Octavian herself.
“Large cock is always welcome”, indeed 