Rome - HBO

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » September 2, 2005, 4:17 am

Watched the first episode and it was enough to hook me for all 12 episodes.

I need to see another one or two shows before forming an opinion. It seems a little more of a drama than historically accurate.

What's with all the people watching while couples have sex? The drool coming out of Pompay Magnus' mouth while Julius Ceasar's sister died seemed "staged".

I'll withhold judgement until the "Et tu Brute" scene to see how well it's done.

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » September 2, 2005, 9:15 am

How does it compare to Caligula?

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » September 2, 2005, 10:39 am

I thought it was ok. I won't go out of my way to see every episode since it's pretty obvious where they're going with it. There are lots of subplots and characters to keep track of, which I did enjoy. I like the Centurions and young royalty subplot best of all because it's the most entertaining. All the others are just mediocre right now. Perhaps things will liven up a bit in further episodes, but the premiere failed to truely land me.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » September 2, 2005, 11:49 am

another quality show from hbo.

Kluden · Post by **Kluden** » September 2, 2005, 12:12 pm

Oh yeah, in case you don't get HBO, and want to check out the first two episodes....HBO is free this weekend...for like 4 days or something, and they will be replaying last weeks episode, and obviuosly having the new episode this weekend.

Not sure if this is area specific or cable/dish specific, but I'm thinking its nationwide.

Post by **Xouqoa** » September 2, 2005, 2:34 pm

I watched it the other night before bed (go go VOD) and I enjoyed it.

I think the thing with the people standing around during sex was that they are attendants to the lady. They were fanning her and stuff, and Romans were a lot more open about sex than we are so it probably wasn't anything out of the ordinary back then.

I'll be watching the whole season probably.

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » September 2, 2005, 3:31 pm

i too like to watch sexor on hbo

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » September 2, 2005, 4:02 pm

Well I noticed the lady doing the fanning action which isn't a bad idea but there was an old lady present both times they showed a sex scene who seemed out of place. Maybe she was there to make sure the lady having sex got all the moves right or was there to clean up the mess afterwards.

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » September 2, 2005, 4:07 pm

The opening sequence is just absolutely terrible. I had to get that off my chest. The show was ok, didn't make a huge impression with me. The ending was a lot better than the first 3/4 of the show. It didn't totally catch and reel me in like Deadwood or SFU did with their first episodes.

Lor · Post by **Lor** » September 2, 2005, 4:15 pm

Pretty good, I'll continue to watch.

Keverian FireCry · Post by **Keverian FireCry** » September 5, 2005, 5:52 am

Second episode was better than the first IMO. Will be following this one now for sure. Lucius and Titus are great characters, Attia/Octavia/Antony relationship is good too, but some of the characters could use more developement(Mark Antony, etc) and hopefully that will come soon. It's fun watching history unfold ala HBO

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » September 5, 2005, 12:13 pm

anyone else notice that episode 3 was on hbo on demand? i am now a week ahead.

Keverian FireCry · Post by **Keverian FireCry** » September 5, 2005, 5:50 pm

Ooh, thanks for the tip.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » September 6, 2005, 2:38 am

Watched episode two and agree that it's better than the first. Good stuff.

-there needs to be more female sheep herders along the side of the road.
-this show has lots of sex scenes which is accurate for life in the Roman world back then
-the head trauma operation scene was great!
-one of the senators looks like Mr. Bean

Quality HBO entertainment

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » September 6, 2005, 5:20 am

I enjoyed the first episode, despite the fact that it skipped around so much (by necessity) to establish the various characters, plots, sub-plots, etc. With episode 2 things seemed to settle into a rhythm, and I find myself pretty well engrossed. I'm looking forward to the next episode. The preview was quite a teaser.

The "grandchild thing" was a bit transparent, IMO, but still good.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » September 6, 2005, 12:13 pm

Xatrei wrote:The "grandchild thing" was a bit transparent, IMO, but still good.

that gets cleared up in episode 3.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » September 12, 2005, 2:14 am

[hide=Quote from episode three]Titus: Also. Very important. When you couple with her, there's this spot, just above her cunny, it's like a little button. Now, attend to that button and she will open up like a flower. [/hide]

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » September 19, 2005, 3:40 am

I thought Mark Anthony looked familiar. He's the same actor that played Edward, the Black Prince of Wales in A Knight's Tale.

I'm curious if this series has a chance to be extended beyond the 12 original episodes. It would be cool to see next year's season cover Octavianus' (Augustus) reign after Julius kicks the bucket. I'm thinking all the Egyptian stuff involved might be too much for the budget but seeing Augustus defeat Mark Anthony at the battle of Actium would rock. Who would play Cleopatra?

If it continued several seasons, we could see the reign of Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius and Nero. Sweet!

This series kicks gluteus maximus!

Early Roman Emperors that I'd like to see covered:

27BC-14AD: Augustus/ Octavianus
14-37: Tiberius
37-41: Caligula
41-54: Claudius
54-68: Nero
68-69: Galba
69: Otho
69: Vitellius
69-79: Vespasian
79-81: Titus
81-96: Domitian
96-98: Nerva
98-117: Trajan
117-38: Hadrian

Edit:

Looks like Rome has been picked up for a second season:

Only two weeks into its first season, HBO has renewed its swords-and-sandals drama "Rome" for a second year. Production is set to begin in March for a 2007 premiere.

The lavishly mounted series, a co-production with the BBC, has earned strong critical praise for its densely plotted story about the rise of Julius Caesar (Ciaran Hinds), and its ratings have been fairly solid as well. It premiered to 3.8 million viewers on Aug. 28, and the second episode held onto most of that audience, drawing just over 3 million despite the Labor Day weekend on Sept. 4 (ratings for the Sept. 11 episode aren't available yet).

"Although the first season of 'Rome' is just underway, we're affirming our support for this exciting and ambitious series by preparing for a second season now," says Carolyn Strauss, president of HBO Entertainment. "I'm delighted that critics and subscribers share our enthusiasm for the show."

"Rome" is one of the most expensive series ever produced, costing a reported $100 million for its first, 12-episode season. The cost of a second season, also 12 episodes, will presumably be somewhat lower now that the detailed sets at Rome's Cinecitta Studios are built.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » October 3, 2005, 2:41 am

This show is still great.

In this week's Rome episode, Atia tells Pullo to take Octavian to a whore house to lose his virginity.

Pullo: how much?

House Madam: 1000

Pullo: 1000! I could have half the whores in Nabo for that and their mothers.

House Madam: But we're not in Nabo.

Pullo: All right, we'll pay. But the girl better fuck him like Helen of Troy with her ass on fire or I'll know the reason why!

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » October 3, 2005, 11:25 pm

This is definitely a great show. My wife and I are both enjoying it very much.

Although I have a hard time believing I am watching it on HBO. Not enough "cocksucker" and "fuck".

I am still jonesing for Sopranos and Deadwood.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » October 4, 2005, 12:19 am

This show would have a huge (no pun intended) female following if they knew how many penises were flopping around in it. Has any other TV series had this much male nudity?

I've been looking around for the music for this series but haven't had any luck. I really like the opening score.

Thess · Post by **Thess** » October 4, 2005, 1:30 pm

Winnow wrote:This show would have a huge (no pun intended) female following if they knew how many penises were flopping around in it. Has any other TV series had this much male nudity?

Oz

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » October 4, 2005, 2:34 pm

Queer as Folk.

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » October 4, 2005, 4:39 pm

Winnow wrote:This show would have a huge (no pun intended) female following if they knew how many penises were flopping around in it. Has any other TV series had this much male nudity?

I've been looking around for the music for this series but haven't had any luck. I really like the opening score.

Hey Winnow...renowned television composer Jeff Beal composed the score and does the music for the episodes as well.

http://www.jeffbeal.com/

Take a peek around his site. I know there will be a soundtrack at the end of season 1...when the season 1 DVDs come out. Not sure if there is a way to get a hold of the composition as of yet.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » October 4, 2005, 5:09 pm

I found Jeff Beal's website earlier but didn't see a soundtrack. I also searched the newsgroup for Jeff Beal, HBO Rome, etc but no luck.

I'll survive! I can always replay the opening credits of a TiVO'd episode.

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » November 12, 2005, 12:11 pm

I just started downloading these episodes but the file names don't always say which episode it is. So now I am just trying to put them in order. Also I had problembs with one download's audio codec. It was missing codec 8192. I had to hunt it down online to get the sound to work.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » November 12, 2005, 5:36 pm

Bubba Grizz wrote:I just started downloading these episodes but the file names don't always say which episode it is. So now I am just trying to put them in order. Also I had problembs with one download's audio codec. It was missing codec 8192. I had to hunt it down online to get the sound to work.

I don't know if this will help (unless they flash the name of the episode at the beginning of it) but here's the episode names/guide:

http://www.hbo.com/rome/episode/

It takes the entire first two episodes to get into it Bubba. The first episode has way too much to introduce so you don't get a feel for the personalities of the main characters.

I've been highly entertained by Rome. I'm willing to give the show some liberties in realism as the two main characters, Lucius and Titus, seem to find themselves involved in almost everything of major historical significance. The conflicting morals/personalities of Lucius and Titus work well.[/spoiler]

Ennia · Post by **Ennia** » November 12, 2005, 6:13 pm

Great series but damn we have to wait till 2007 for second season? that sucks

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » November 12, 2005, 6:34 pm

I was hoping to see more fights. Other than a little bit in the first episode they just tease us with the hope of fighting. Caesar defeating Pompei? Pfft, not important. We'll just brush it off and give a little explanation afterwards.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » November 13, 2005, 1:38 am

yeah, the war scenes have been a dissappointment, but in the scope of the show i understand it and can live with it. throwing a huge war scene into a 1 hour show not to mention the budgeting required to do so, i could deal with it. though i was looking forward to a bloody ass battle

overall i enjoy this show greatly.

my predictions:

[Show]: ceasar dies at the end of this season, you can see the plotting going down now. i am guessing (if they go historically) octavian will be ruler in season 2. btw, octavian is probably the coolest character in the show.

Zaelath · Post by **Zaelath** » November 13, 2005, 5:07 am

[Show]: Was a bit of a tossup between Titus and Octavian until this week's episode.. Titus losing it completely over that slave girl dropped him a couple of notches in my estimation

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » November 13, 2005, 2:09 pm

Season 2 will most likely focus on the conflicts immediately following Julius' death, as Octavian's rule (as Caesar Augustus) was relatively boring and drama free. Most of the action will probably revolve around Octavius raising the armies and support needed to wrest control from Brutus and Cassius, his purge of the senate and nobility of those involved in Julius' assasination, his defeat of Brutus and Cassius and then his struggles with and eventual defeat of Anthony. This all takes many years to play out, and provides a lot of fodder for the show. After that it's all political reform and building projects.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » November 14, 2005, 2:52 am

holy fucking god last nights episode was intense.

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » November 14, 2005, 11:45 am

Zamtuk wrote:holy fucking god last nights episode was intense.

Very. My wife and I were watching on the edge of our seats toward the end.

[Show]: Pullo is a beast! I knew those gladiators were going to push his buttons enough to get themselves dead. That scene where he uses the shield to decapitate one of them...followed by the arm lopping and leg lopping...intense. My wife was saying, "Verinus HAS to come and save him!!" That was an intense moment as well. Next week's season finale looks to be just as intense...I can't wait!

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » November 21, 2005, 1:31 pm

Great ending to the season last night.

[Show]: Was a bit surprised by the part with Verenus' wife. Her character was kinda fluff, but damn.. she was pleasing to look at. I was hoping Octavian would just whip out a knife and stab Sevilia in the throat mid-sentence, kids shown a bit of a cold hearted streak in the past.

Moonwynd · Post by **Moonwynd** » November 21, 2005, 2:15 pm

Dregor Thule wrote:Great ending to the season last night.

[Show]
Was a bit surprised by the part with Verenus' wife. Her character was kinda fluff, but damn.. she was pleasing to look at. I was hoping Octavian would just whip out a knife and stab Sevilia in the throat mid-sentence, kids shown a bit of a cold hearted streak in the past.

[Show]: I knew it had to happen...but I hate to see Ciaran Hinds leave the show. I thought it was a very good death scene as far as the looks on the faces of the people involved. The first guy to grab Caesar...was a great shot...the look on Caesar's face...he could not believe someone would touch him like that.

I didn't expect Niobe to take a header over the railing either. It actually made my wife gasp. Verinus is such a good character. His life has been nothing but turmoil...and it appears as though things will be very interesting next season.

I didn't go to HBO.com yet...wonder when the next season starts. Hopefully they don't pull a Sopranos and make us wait until 2007

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » November 21, 2005, 2:33 pm

i could see them making us wait until march 07, that wouldnt be too bad given the time frame.

great show though. will be interesting to see what they do with octavian and mark anthony next season.

Xatrei · Post by **Xatrei** » November 21, 2005, 6:07 pm

I read a few weeks ago that it's going to be 2007 before we see season 2. I'll see if I can fish up a link when I have a minute. It was a great finale last night with some unexpected twists. I'm going to miss this series until it returns.

Edit to add:

http://www.canmag.com/news/4/21/1963
Mentions that production will start in March '06, and that the next season will air in '07. It also mentions the $100M that HBO and the BBC paid for the 1st series.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » November 28, 2005, 6:15 am

I have a dirty secret. I TIVO'd the final four episodes of ROME and just watched them for the first time in one sitting tonight. I didn't want the series to end knowing it would be 16 months before the second season airs.

That was an outstanding four hours of TV! The thing I like most about the series is how you are able to see the political/wealthy side of things but also see how the common romans lived via Pullo and Vorenus.

[Show]: Pullo, even with his complete breakdown, is still my favorite character with Octavian and Vorenus close seconds. The entire cast gave excellent performances throughout season one.

I was surprised that Niobe took her life at the end of episode 12. I guess it shows how well the actors played their parts as I felt she had made up for her mistakes and was worthy of being Vorenus' wife. I'm curious as to what direction Vorenus' character till take now in the second series.

As for Pullo, he's been through the most hell...having his skull drilled, love broken...although that was one sided...the slave girl never showed excessive affection for him so he sort of brought that on himself...now that they appear to be a couple, I am curious as to how they'll bring him back into the next season in an interesting capacity. They can do it easy enough just by having Vorenus appoint him to something.

Octavia of the Julii sure was a tramp this season but most of that was due to being manipulated.

It will be a bummer not to have Ciarán Hinds in season two as he did a fine job playing Caesar. Gaius Octavian should do well filling the emperor's sandals. Mark Antony should have a bigger role next season as well. Cicero needs to die!

Can't wait for next season but I guess I'll have to!

Voronwë · Post by **Voronwë** » November 28, 2005, 1:51 pm

i was shocked when Caesar was stabbed to death by Brutus!!!!

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » November 28, 2005, 2:25 pm

Et tu Voro? Et tu!?

Dregor Thule · Post by **Dregor Thule** » November 28, 2005, 3:03 pm

Voronwë wrote:i was shocked when Caesar was stabbed to death by Brutus!!!!

Totally. I was expecting Caesar to enter bullet time and dodge all the knife thrusts and then stick his fist in Cicero's chest and make his head a-splode. 100 million dollar budget my ASS!

miir · Post by **miir** » November 28, 2005, 3:35 pm

Voronwë wrote:i was shocked when Caesar was stabbed to death by Brutus!!!!

WTF??!?!?!? Caesar dies????@#?!$

Use the fucking spoiler tag next time!
Asshole.

Fairweather Pure · Post by **Fairweather Pure** » November 29, 2005, 1:58 am

I guess 100 million dosen't buy what it used to. I would've guessed this entire series cost less than 30 million to make. There were no major battle scenes and no special effects to speak of. That's where a large portion of most film's budget go, so all that's left is actors, costumes, writers/producers, and scenery/props. For 100 million, I'm not overly impressed with any of those.

Zamtuk · Post by **Zamtuk** » November 29, 2005, 2:05 am

most of it was on the city.

Winnow · Post by **Winnow** » November 29, 2005, 6:09 am

Yeah, you go rebuild Rome and get back to me on how much it cost you!

Rome was better in my eyes for using less CGI and more real sets on the side streets and main interior sets. When they did use CGI, like the scenes on the patio of the Julii house overlooking the city, it looked great as well.

Next season will be much cheaper with the sets already in place.

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » November 29, 2005, 10:00 am

Yeah you can't build Rome in a day....so they say.

[Show]: I am kind of upset that Niobi (sp?) dies. She was pretty hot.

Post by **Xouqoa** » November 29, 2005, 2:10 pm

I just watched episodes 5-12 the past few days, and enjoyed it immensely. It got a lot better once you knew who everybody was and what they were doing.

Video On Demand!

Ennia · Post by **Ennia** » November 29, 2005, 4:08 pm

Bubba Grizz wrote:
Niobi (sp?) .... She was pretty hot

Rent Kama Sutra A Tale of Love if you think she's hot (which she is)
she's even hotter in that movie, she plays a courtesan to Naveen Andrews' king (the hot guy from Lost)

Bubba Grizz · Post by **Bubba Grizz** » November 29, 2005, 5:52 pm

After watching this series I have a compelling desire to re play Total War: Rome.