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Examining an under-appreciated classic.
There are plenty of solid shows for folks to watch nowadays, that being said, I know I’m not being original when I say there are too many choices and platforms to choose from. Especially if like me you have kids - making any decisions on new shows at the end of the night is a rarity. Usually I just like to put on comfort food for my brain. Community is my personal favorite.
That being said, I do like to dip into a pool of other favorites from time to time. Band of Brothers in the winter. The Americans in the fall. And the rest of the time it’s a bit of a free for all.
One show I do come back to somewhat routinely is HBO’s Rome.
It was a relatively short lived show with just two seasons from 2005-2007. The common perception around the length of the show is that the production costs were excessive and it became a financial burden for HBO to continue.
It can be quite distressing when a fan favorite show, albeit in this case relatively lesser known, is canceled after such a brief run. As I was in the midst of graduating high school when this ran, and did not have HBO allowed in my house (The porn! Think of the soft core porn, my god!), I was not invested in the show during its initial run.
The reason I eventually picked it up anyway is because I thought, well yes it was canceled, but I already know what happens to Caesar so, really nothing to lose if the show cut off early or didn’t get to make its mark. And I knew at the least there must be some solid battle scenes flanked by tasteful nudity. Thankfully, even with only two seasons Rome stands out as one of the more satisfactory TV shows I can remember.
Now this is of course pre-Game of Thrones, but you also definitely get your fix of British actors being smarmy with one another if that’s your thing (to my shame, it’s probably way too much my thing). Fun fact, I did look up the word I was looking for was "smarmy" and not "swarmy". I’m sure by having to do so if a Brit was nearby they would correct me. “It’s Levi-Oh-sa, not Levi-o-saah”
I mention GOT as you get some solid familiar faces in there to help draw you in if you haven’t seen it. Mance Rayder (Ciaran Hinds) plays Caesar, Edmure Tully (Tobias Menzies) plays Brutus, that shithead, and Ellaria Sand (Indira Varma) plays Niobe, the wife of one of our main protagonists, Lucius Vorenus.
The show essentially follows two different storylines that consistently converge and split off from one another.
The first is the obvious, it follows the politics and intrigue of the rise of Julius Caesar from Roman war hero to Emperor, and of course, his assassination at the hands of the senate.
The second storyline and how it connects with the first is what gives me the most enjoyment. It follows two Roman legionaries and their exploits, brutal, hilarious, and anything in between. Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo are actual historical figures, mentioned in Caesar's own personal writings.
Interestingly while there is some divergence from their true historical path, the introduction to both characters is aptly portrayed when the audience first sets eyes on them.
From the always historically accurate Wikipedia:
Vorenus and Pullo appear in Caesar's Commentarii de Bello Gallico, Book 5, Chapter 44. The episode describes the two as centurions, approaching the first ranks, who shared a bitter personal rivalry, and takes place in 54 BC when the Nervii attacked the legion under Quintus Cicero in their winter quarters in Nervian territory.
In an effort to outdo Vorenus, Pullo charged out of the fortified camp and attacked the enemy. Pullo cast his javelin into one of the enemies from a short distance, but his belt was simultaneously pierced by a spear, preventing him from drawing his sword, and he was surrounded by other Nervii. Just then, Vorenus, following Pullo from the fortifications, reached the site of the mêlée and engaged the enemy in hand-to-hand combat. After slaying one of the enemy and driving back the rest, Vorenus lost his footing on the irregular terrain. As the Nervii drew closer to him, Pullo came to his aid. After slaying many of their opponents, the two retreated to the fortifications amidst roaring applause from their comrades, or "covered with glory," as described by Caesar.
Throughout the series they act as foils for each other, uptight and dour (Vorenus) and a raucous degenerate (Titus). Much of the humor is derived from their interactions, their eventual understanding and appreciation of one another, and how out of place they are in interacting with histories heavy weights in Caesar, Mark Antony, Cleopatra, and more.
The inclusion of Titus and Vorenus allows the show to not take itself too seriously. I think that’s important to remember upon rewatch. It does try to do its drama seriously, but honestly it almost seems like the precursor roadmap on how to blend adult elements in historical eras successfully in a show format. Game of Thrones is obviously fantasy, but of course is mostly about personal conflicts, intrigues, and all the violence that comes with it. I think Rome for its time tried its best with some great casting and entertaining set pieces, even if it came off as cheesy at points. It does not make me appreciate it any less, probably more to be honest.
When a story is so well documented that it’s impossible to be spoiled, hopping in for a couple quick seasons without emotional investment and commitment can be a relief given today’s endless supply of heady shows to choose from. It’s a well I alway go back to (I checked for lead). Give it a shot, I don’t think you’ll regret it.
