big life; small space

I am impressed with this portrayl of Brutus. Mostly, he seemed in constant surprise by the turn of events. He lacks cynicism but all his uncertainty is in his chin and mouth. I thought his death, in the end, mirrored Cesear's.

Cicero was an opportunist; he finally ran out of lives. I, for one, was not sorry to see him go, although he seemed more frail at the end. He deserved pity.

The new Octavian. His inexperience makes it easy to like him. His brutality is not yet natural. I find it fascinating to watch a lion discover its strength in the shadow of the alpha male. I love watching his eyes--

And where is Cleo, when does she make her return

ALl in all, I am happy with this show. I look forwatd to SUnday nights.

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I would argue Octavian's brutality is not yet natural with an audience. After all, he did all right when he helped Pullo kill the guy ho was having an affari with Niobe. The actor's eyes and stillness are amazing.

I have nothing else useful to add abotu brutus, just that I've been so terribly attached to him and really adore this actor.

I think Cleo will probably reappear in teh next episode, because it's time for her to try to throw her weight around.

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I would argue Octavian's brutality is not yet natural with an audience.
I think you have a point there, maybe that's it. ACtually, I forgot about his ease with the prior incident.

brutus, just that I've been so terribly attached to him and really adore this actor.
Oh, I agree. He did an excellent job. Perhaps it his vulnerability. It is hard to pinpoint, except that he gives the character so much dimension. Frankly, I have liked much of the acting.

Oh, one more thing about Cicero. I was just thinking---in so many prior scenes he did that head shake thing, I wasn't sure if it was his own personal tic, affectation, or what. It was slightly arrogant and nervousness all at the same time. But I noticed in this last scene that it disappeared. He seemed rather resigned to it all.

Cleo and Antony. I saw a clip on one of the behind the scene shows where he was in full eye makeup and blush with her, romping in bed. He was a man of appetite. I hope it is as fun as the clip suggested.

BTW, thanks for posting about this every Sunday, I haven't frequented any Rome sites, so it is nice to stop by and pick up someone else's take on it all.

Too bad this is only for two seasons. A lot of effort.

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Tobias Menzies, teh guy who plays Brutus, sort of always comes at things with an odd vulnerability. His characterizations could easily be effiminate, and yet that's not where the vulnerability, and I'd even say fragility, goes. I think I admire him so much as an actor, because I watch him and feel like he understands exactly why his appearance conveys and acquiesces to it in what he delivers. That's fucking hard. He did Hamlet on stage in Lond, and I'm not big fan of the play, but oh, I am curious and wish I had seen it.

And James Purefoy. he is doing _amazing_ shit with Antony. to play a crass genius (and Antony is a genius) is hard enough, but to reduce even the most complex politics to sex or food -- it's all desire and to show complex behavior driven by simple impulses so clearly.... amazing. Amazing amazing.

I think the acting this season is even better than last season.

Oh, also, back to brutus -- his death -- I lvoed it because he seemed both terrified of it and eager for it. He was so clearly asking soldiers he didn't know to help him to it in no kind way. fucking brilliant direction.

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Cleo probably will be along not next week but after. The second triumverate, which is Octavian, Antony and Lepidus, has to be established first and that involves some rather interesting plot developments. Suffice it to say that Atia's in for a nasty surprise soon.

I love love LOVE this show.

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Can I just say that Lepidus is amazingly well cat? I know he hasn't had to do anything yet, but could they find a more clasically Roman patrician face? And that voice. He seems the man everyone kept assuming Brutus to be.

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I love love LOVE this show
I am already starting to be disappointed that this is the last season. I agree with your comment--it makes Sunday nite a treat.

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Is it the last season? Is that confirmed?

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No. But I originally heard that it was only for two seasons. I would be thrilled if this is wrong.

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I did further research, and sadly, it does seem to be confirmed.

Still, two seasons of great historical drama is nothing to sneeze at.

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When you asked me I was hoping that I was wrong, to tell the truth. You are right, though. Two good seasons of something great is worth it and better than five seasons of mediocre.

Have you watched any of the "Behind the Scene" series on Rome? If not, I recommend it, they are rather interesting and show the level of effort that was put into this production.

Oh BTW, I popped over to your page and enjoyed your writing on all of this. I need to leave a comment or two.

I have truly enjoyed the writers' interpretation of the characters and the actors' portrayls. IF only half the stuff on television was the good, we would be in trouble as a productive society.

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wow, looks like they made that decision a while ago. Not surprising in the least. It's got to be bloody expensive to produce.

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I'll go check on this somewhere but it does look rather expensive, doesn't it?

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Brutus' naivete is an interesting contrast to Octavian's almost clockwork mind. Octavian plans things to the nth degree and leaves as little to chance as possible. Brutus, on the other hand, simply doesn't see the strings that are at work. He is largely dependent on Cicero who obviously needed better messengers. I was surprised to find myself mourning the passing of Brutus, and of Cicero. I almost died when Pullo politely asked if he could pick peaches.

Also interesting is Octavian's reluctance to enter into battle. It's easy to say it's cowardice or inexperience, but I suspect it was different:

1. He knew that the battle was not necessarily a slam dunk, as Julius Ceasar was outnumbered 2 to 1 by Popmpey's army at Pharsalus, yet managed to clobber them. Granted Brutus and Cassius were no where near as great military generals as Ceasar, but still.

2. Octavian and Marc Antony still hate each other's guts, regardless of reconciling, and Marc Antony would probably have no problem killing Octavian if he thought he could get away with it. That'd be easy to do in the heat of battle. If, on the other hand, Antony dies in battle, Octavian's problems are largely over.

3. Octavian is more of a tactician than a hand to hand fighter. He knows this. He is still not used to seeing plans he set down on paper executed. Certainly not on a scale like this. Antony had rode side by side with Ceasar himself and fought in battles that were the stuff of legend. Octavian lacked such experience.

Overall a wonderful episode.

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