# "Rome" the TV series: Wow. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 24, 2008, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832 "2008-01-24T17:08:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Koxinga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4af34b/32.png) [@Koxinga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Koxinga)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/61 "2008-01-25T17:42:22Z")
Thirteen!!! Another good bit of acting was where Caesar and Brutus were playing chess, and the conversation starts off a bit playfully with “You know I’ve always thought of you as a son” / “Oh dear, one of those conversations”. By the end, though . . . I fast forwarded through all the Servilia on Octavia action, no thanks. Aside from that, though, my only complaint was the contrived way that Vorenus and Pullo end up in Pompey’s camp, and then reporting to Caesar afterward. It kind of took me out of the moment, realizing how contrived that part of the plot was. Caesar almost as much as says so when he remarks that V&P must have some kind of special protection from the gods–yeah, the writers! ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/62 "2008-01-25T17:48:53Z")
[QUOTE=Koxinga] Another good bit of acting was where Caesar and Brutus were playing chess, and the conversation starts off a bit playfully with “You know I’ve always thought of you as a son” / “Oh dear, one of those conversations”. By the end, though . . . [/quote] Luuuurved that scene! So brilliant, those two actors. > [@](#): > > Caesar almost as much as says so when he remarks that V&P must have some kind of special protection from the gods–yeah, the writers! Yeah. I loved how every time Pullo and Vorenus showed up, it was some variation of, “I SHOULD have you two crucified and flayed for your crimes…but you must have powers from the gods, so I’m going to reward you, etc.” ---
**Author:** ![Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f0a364/32.png) [@Rube\_E.Tewesday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rube_E.Tewesday)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/63 "2008-01-25T18:06:12Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] There actually was a hint of pre-Christianity with the Jewish zealots featured in a couple of episodes. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but no “Tell me, Elias, what do you mean when you speak of the coming of the Messiah” kind of stuff that hack writers love. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/64 "2008-01-25T18:19:46Z")
I agree with that. No hack writing in this series. ---
**Author:** ![LVBoPeep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/858c86/32.png) [@LVBoPeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LVBoPeep)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/65 "2008-01-25T20:53:48Z")
Hi, Just a “me too” post- my boyfriend and I scheduled our lives around “Rome” through both seasons. James Purefoy’s performance was so fascinating, as was Ciaran Hinds and Polly Walker’s. The Vorenus/Pullo friendship was interesting through all it’s ups and downs. I loved when Caesar Jr. is asking Vorenus about his father, all the scenes between Marc Anthony and Octavian and/or Atia, Pullo and the gladiators, and any Vorenus/Pullo fight scene. Another vote for old (young) Octavian but the scenes between Octivian 2.0 and his creepy childlike wife were chilling. Good chuckle when Cleopatra caught Pullo’s eye when she returned to Rome. I felt a real loss when Marc Anthony was in Egypt and “not himself”- definitely felt cheated of the character for those last few episodes but that was probably as it should be as he was doped out and defeated. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/66 "2008-01-25T21:03:52Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] …I **lived** the character of Atia…[emphasis added] [/QUOTE] :eek: Remind me never to turn my back on _you!_ ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/67 "2008-01-25T23:48:06Z")
[QUOTE=Rube E. Tewesday] On the respect for history issue – I really loved that there was no anachronistic character going around moaning about how slavery is wrong, or prophesying the birth of Christ or the fall of the Empire, or any of that stuff that can really get in the way of historical fiction. [/QUOTE] Well, they did have that whole threat by Marc Antony to cut off Cicero’s hands. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2008, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/68 "2008-01-25T23:49:17Z")
When we watch **Journeyman** , we always refer to the lead as Lucius Vorenus. Although I never particularly cared for his character … too tightly wound. But I loved Titus Pullo. I enjoyed this deep, theological discussion between L…V. and Marc Antony, both drunk, as Antony is contemplating suicide: Antony: do you believe in life after death? Vorenus: Yes…I do… Antony: Some don’t, you know. Vorenus; Who? Antony: Men…learned men. Greeks, mostly. Vorenus: Greeks say lots of stupid shit. ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/69 "2008-01-26T00:10:51Z")
My favourites [SPOILER] When Lucius Vorenus and Tito Pullo go into Fulmen’s place. When fulmen sees them and tries to call his men , just to see them all dead. An at the vey end whem Pullo is walking away with Cesarion trying to teach him not to speak like an emperor. [/SPOILER] Thanks to all for the spolier help. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/70 "2008-01-26T01:42:58Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] There actually was a hint of pre-Christianity with the Jewish zealots featured in a couple of episodes. [/QUOTE] I thought they were going somewhere with that. Timon’s brother Levi was up to something suspicious. But they dropped that plotline. ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/71 "2008-01-26T01:56:03Z")
[QUOTE=Tamerlane] I immediately went and checked if it was the same guy as in **Rome** and was very impressed to see that it was. The man’s a damn fine actor. [/QUOTE] Imagine my surprise when I re-watched **Trainspotting** recently. ---
**Author:** ![Septima](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@Septima](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Septima)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/72 "2008-01-26T02:19:31Z")
[QUOTE=Morbo] Imagine my surprise when I re-watched Trainspotting recently. [/QUOTE] Ha! My boyfriend and I were watching _Trainspotting_ after finishing the first season of Rome. While keeping track of actors and movie-trivia is a hobby of his, it was me who got to shout “That’s Vorenus!” during a closeup of the actors face. His quiet “Well I’ll be…” was priceless. 😃 “Pullu, report to princess Cleopatra, and do as she says!” Snerk! And the look on Pullo’s face as he walks towards the tent, clearly thinking “Damn! What sort of slave-asignment has he put me into this time…” ---
**Author:** ![Frostillicus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Frostillicus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frostillicus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/73 "2008-01-26T02:59:49Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] [TWoP](http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/Shows/Rome?strSeason=all&strSortCoulmn=airdate_asc&ShowName=Rome&vgnextoid=adc91464b54c2110VgnVCM1000006dc1d240RCRD) has the recaps, in all their snarky glory. I love reading them after seeing the show…most times I giggle. [/QUOTE] I am midway through Season 2 right now. After every episode, I go to TWoP and read the forum comments and the recap. Cracks me up every time. “Soylent raft.” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/74 "2008-01-26T03:43:59Z")
Those who enjoyed Ciaran Hinds in _Rome_ may want to check out _The Sum of All Fears_, in which he plays a steely Russian leader. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/75 "2008-01-26T05:58:19Z")
[QUOTE=I’m No Saint] YES! He was great. He talked with his hands so well. [/QUOTE] That’s actually (correct me if I am wrong, people who know better; I’m only a former Classics minor) heraldic gesturing. The hand movements have meanings – not anything as sophisticated as real sign language, I guess, but enough that from being able to hear tone, inflection, the odd word, and seeing the hand gestures you’d be able to figure out what the bugger was gabbling about. 😃 I’m actually planning on finding someone around here who knows more of it. That’s the kind of knowledge I love. And Rome was wonderful, just incredibly wonderful. Oh Vorenus, you soppy crazy bastard. Oh Pullo, your disregard for human life is so charming. There’s actually a fellow at my work who looks very much like Pullo’s actor – skinnier, not quite so broad shouldered, but I imagine he’s wondering why I grin whenever he walks by. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/76 "2008-01-26T15:20:33Z")
[QUOTE=Morbo] Imagine my surprise when I re-watched **Trainspotting** recently. [/QUOTE] Oh yes- quite the “holy shit!” moment in our house too! 😃 Ciaran Hinds was also quite good in _Munich_. He seems to disappear into roles very well. You’ve probably seen him in a dozen films and don’t realize it- films like _Circle of Friends_, _Some Mother’s Son_, _Oscar and Lucinda_, _The Road to Perdition_, _Veronica Guerin_, _Lara Croft Tomb Raider_, _Calendar Girls_, _Phantom of the Opera_, _Miami Vice_ and _The Nativity Story_ (playing Herod, ironically!). He can currently be seen in _Margot at the Wedding_ and _There Will be Blood_, and has 5 more films in the can. 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/77 "2008-01-26T16:13:45Z")
[QUOTE=SenorBeef] Now I’m curious. Why does the first set of SPOILER tags show up in plain text, while the second set is interpreted as a spoiler box? Unless I’m missing something, they appear identical. Edit: And when I quoted you, they both showed up as spoiler boxes. What’d you do? [/QUOTE] For the first set, I used the HTML codes for “[” and “]”. You can’t preview them or quote them because once they’re translated after posting, they become the actual symbols. Here are [the codes](http://www.ascii.cl/htmlcodes.htm). Be sure to start each with “&” and end each with “;”. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/78 "2008-01-26T17:37:00Z")
[QUOTE=Dewey Finn] I thought they were going somewhere with that. Timon’s brother Levi was up to something suspicious. But they dropped that plotline. [/QUOTE] I mentioned the same to my wife. They were coming up on Biblical times and then you had Levi’s brother conspiring to kill Herod (well, one of the Herods, anyway). It seemed as if the writers _would_ have gone further with it if the money hadn’t run out. ---
**Author:** ![Gukumatz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/74df32/32.png) [@Gukumatz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gukumatz)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/79 "2008-01-26T22:23:37Z")
[QUOTE=ivylass] [TWoP](http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/Shows/Rome?strSeason=all&strSortCoulmn=airdate_asc&ShowName=Rome&vgnextoid=adc91464b54c2110VgnVCM1000006dc1d240RCRD) has the recaps, in all their snarky glory. I love reading them after seeing the show…most times I giggle. [/QUOTE] Yeah, I love TWoP, and I need to find some way to sneak the following into a conversation some time; “_At that, Quintus himself enters the tent. I could say that Quintus has “Napoleon complex” written all over him, but this is before the time of Napoleon. I could say he looks like one of those guys who compensate for their small size by cultivating a sadistic streak a mile wide, but this is also before the time of De Sade. So I’ll just say “vicious chipmunk” and have done with it._” ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2008, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832/80 "2008-01-26T23:00:27Z")
They do love the snark over there, don’t they? It paid off though with that reference in _My Name is Earl_! I just wish the show could have lasted longer. They collapsed the timeline so much you know they skipped over huge chunks of juicy stuff. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rome-the-tv-series-wow/434832.md?page=3)