I finished watching the joint HBO and BBC TV series Rome a few weeks ago. I enjoyed it tremendously, and I suspect that those (few) readers (I have left) who frequent this (largely inactive) blog will do so as well. In fact, it tops my list of favourite TV series, now followed by LOST and Heroes.
The show traces the collapse of the Roman Republic in the face of the ambitions of Julius Caesar and Gauis Octavius and their rivals--prominent are Pompey Magnus, Marcus Brutus, and Mark Antony. Much of the story is told from the eyes of the two real heroes of the series, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, whose fates are intertwined with those of the big characters on the historical scene.
The production is fantastic, the story is brilliant, and the acting is impeccable (with but few exceptions). Historically, the series aims at "authenticity" rather than strict historical accuracy, which is probably a good thing, given the limitations of the genre and the medium. Time lines are shrunken, important characters are omitted, and other characters are portrayed contrary to the historical evidence (I think of Attia of the Julii, mother of Octavius and niece of Caesar, portrayed as a licentious and conniving woman). However, the broad historical outlines and the spirit of the age--its religion, morality, institutions, and the struggles for power and domination--are well portrayed, both from the perspectives of the elite and those at the very bottom of Roman society.
Despite its historical limitations as a depiction of the period, with a little added effort, the series can still serve an effective (and fun) educational role. One can find historical notes and criticisms on each episode at Wikipedia. I read several of these. One can also chose to supplement the show with readings in one or more of the ancient historians on the period. I choose to read Suetonius' biographies of Caesar and Augustus as I watched the show. While adding lots in the way of detail, this also clarified elements of the series, and showed up others as being highly interpretive or simply ill-founded historically.
While I followed along in the notes on Wikipedia and Suetonius, however, I noticed one creative way that the series seeks to remain faithful, in a sense, to the historical sources. Several sequences, while unnattested in themselves, seem designed to recall events recorded in history. The two soldiers, Vorenus and Pullo, for instance, are known from a brief note in the diaries of Julius Caesar. He records an incident in which their rivalry led to attempts to outdo each other in the midst of a battle. When one was outnumbered or in danger, however, the other would step in to help. This went on for one or two rounds, and they left battle field with the applause of their comrades. This is not depicted in the series. However, we do met them in battle, and the superior, Vorenus, has to discipline Pullo. The rest of the TV series follows the relationship of the two characters, showing them overcoming their quarrels often through events in which one saves the other's life or serves the other at personal cost.
I detected the same type of transformation in the events depicted where Attia sends her son Octavian on a perilous journey to meet his uncle, Caesar, in Gaul. Octavian is kidnapped and rescued by two of Caesar's soldiers. His fortitude impresses Caesar. Suetonius reports an event in which due to a shipwreck the young Octavius with only a few to escort him had to travel through hostile parts of Spain to meet up with his uncle. Caesar took it as an act of great bravery, and by it Octavius "won the love of his uncle." I can think of several scenes in which historical events are echoed in similar ways.
There is also a very sensitive portrayal of Jews (or Judeans) in the Roman empire. One of the recurring characters is a Jew who wrestles with his ethnic identity and the demands of making a living in Rome. Herod is prominent in an edisode (or two). A synagogue service is depicted. And the fateful events of the two Jewish revolts against Rome are foreshadowed in a tragic conflict between two Jewish brothers.
The last thing I want to say is that on the level of pure entertainment and story telling, the show also delivers. I cannot think of two characters as movingly portrayed as Vorenus and Pullo in any other series.
The show is raw. Edited versions have aired on several networks. These are perhaps best for those whose tolerance is maxed out by the fairly persistent violence, nudity, and sex. But the show really must be watched consistently, without missing episodes. The two (and only) seasons are a tightly knit story. To appreciate it, episodes must be watched as you would read a novel. It's best to rent the DVDs.
The show traces the collapse of the Roman Republic in the face of the ambitions of Julius Caesar and Gauis Octavius and their rivals--prominent are Pompey Magnus, Marcus Brutus, and Mark Antony. Much of the story is told from the eyes of the two real heroes of the series, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, whose fates are intertwined with those of the big characters on the historical scene.
The production is fantastic, the story is brilliant, and the acting is impeccable (with but few exceptions). Historically, the series aims at "authenticity" rather than strict historical accuracy, which is probably a good thing, given the limitations of the genre and the medium. Time lines are shrunken, important characters are omitted, and other characters are portrayed contrary to the historical evidence (I think of Attia of the Julii, mother of Octavius and niece of Caesar, portrayed as a licentious and conniving woman). However, the broad historical outlines and the spirit of the age--its religion, morality, institutions, and the struggles for power and domination--are well portrayed, both from the perspectives of the elite and those at the very bottom of Roman society.
Despite its historical limitations as a depiction of the period, with a little added effort, the series can still serve an effective (and fun) educational role. One can find historical notes and criticisms on each episode at Wikipedia. I read several of these. One can also chose to supplement the show with readings in one or more of the ancient historians on the period. I choose to read Suetonius' biographies of Caesar and Augustus as I watched the show. While adding lots in the way of detail, this also clarified elements of the series, and showed up others as being highly interpretive or simply ill-founded historically.
While I followed along in the notes on Wikipedia and Suetonius, however, I noticed one creative way that the series seeks to remain faithful, in a sense, to the historical sources. Several sequences, while unnattested in themselves, seem designed to recall events recorded in history. The two soldiers, Vorenus and Pullo, for instance, are known from a brief note in the diaries of Julius Caesar. He records an incident in which their rivalry led to attempts to outdo each other in the midst of a battle. When one was outnumbered or in danger, however, the other would step in to help. This went on for one or two rounds, and they left battle field with the applause of their comrades. This is not depicted in the series. However, we do met them in battle, and the superior, Vorenus, has to discipline Pullo. The rest of the TV series follows the relationship of the two characters, showing them overcoming their quarrels often through events in which one saves the other's life or serves the other at personal cost.
I detected the same type of transformation in the events depicted where Attia sends her son Octavian on a perilous journey to meet his uncle, Caesar, in Gaul. Octavian is kidnapped and rescued by two of Caesar's soldiers. His fortitude impresses Caesar. Suetonius reports an event in which due to a shipwreck the young Octavius with only a few to escort him had to travel through hostile parts of Spain to meet up with his uncle. Caesar took it as an act of great bravery, and by it Octavius "won the love of his uncle." I can think of several scenes in which historical events are echoed in similar ways.
There is also a very sensitive portrayal of Jews (or Judeans) in the Roman empire. One of the recurring characters is a Jew who wrestles with his ethnic identity and the demands of making a living in Rome. Herod is prominent in an edisode (or two). A synagogue service is depicted. And the fateful events of the two Jewish revolts against Rome are foreshadowed in a tragic conflict between two Jewish brothers.
The last thing I want to say is that on the level of pure entertainment and story telling, the show also delivers. I cannot think of two characters as movingly portrayed as Vorenus and Pullo in any other series.
The show is raw. Edited versions have aired on several networks. These are perhaps best for those whose tolerance is maxed out by the fairly persistent violence, nudity, and sex. But the show really must be watched consistently, without missing episodes. The two (and only) seasons are a tightly knit story. To appreciate it, episodes must be watched as you would read a novel. It's best to rent the DVDs.
