HBO's ROME

[MaxKaladin]

I loved it. MUCH better than Empire (ABC's recent Roman show).

I've read that a reviewer who has seen more of it said that the first episode seems slow because they're introducing the characters and establishing them a bit, but the next two are quicker paced and you'll be hooked by the end of episode 3. Folks might want to give it until then to decide for sure.

 

[MaxKaladin]

Something else I noticed: John Milius of Conan fame is a writer and producer for the series.

 

[LogicsFate]

The first ten minutes seemed really slow... then I fell asleep

I recorded it so I'll watch it later

 

[Tarrasque Wrangler]

That was way bitchin'. The interplay between Vorenus and Pullo was well done, the bit with Marc Antony and the gold was straight outta "Sopranos", and every drama on TV needs that Octavian kid to show up and explain every twist and turn. Just run a little bubble at the bottom of the screen with that kid giving you the roadmap.

but the characters aren't sympathetic at all

You must have a lot of trouble with Deadwood. It's a different era. There's some real fiends on this show, but the good guys (I'm gonna say Pullo and Vorenus at this point) are just acting in keeping with the dominant paradigm of the age.

and the nudity seemed gratuitous and unnecessary (and also added obvious anachronisms, unless the Romans were big on bikini waxing and implants).

Yeah well...real Romans had huge schnozzes too and spoke Latin rather than the Queen's English. It's not reality, it's HBO

 

[LightPhoenix]

Honestly, I found it rather boring. Perhaps it will get a little more interesting in the next couple of episodes, and I'll keep watching in the hopes it will. It's certainly no Deadwood though.

 

[DreadPirateMurphy]

You must have a lot of trouble with Deadwood. It's a different era. There's some real fiends on this show, but the good guys (I'm gonna say Pullo and Vorenus at this point) are just acting in keeping with the dominant paradigm of the age.

I've never seen Deadwood. I did actually like Pullo and Vorenus, though, now that you mention it.

Yeah well...real Romans had huge schnozzes too and spoke Latin rather than the Queen's English. It's not reality, it's HBO

After unfortunately catching some of the silly premier party with folks gushing about the show's realism, it struck me as funny to see bouncing gobs of silicone 10 minutes in. HBO is unique in its ability to make quality television that also appeals to the lowest common denominator.

My better half is going to watch the 2nd show, so maybe I'll tune in. I may have just had an alergic reaction to the hype.

 

[Mark CMG]

I did actually like Pullo and Vorenus, though, now that you mention it.

Boiled down, originally, this series was meant to be a 12 part pseudo buddy cop series centered around those two characters and set in Roman times. I believe, from what I read in passing last spring, they stuck with that idea. Highborn and lowborn, thown together in troubled times, begrudging respect for one another, in a world about to be turned upside-down, etc.

After unfortunately catching some of the silly premier party with folks gushing about the show's realism, it struck me as funny to see bouncing gobs of silicone 10 minutes in.

I tend to let things like that and vacination scars go but I draw the line at wristwatches.

 

[The Grumpy Celt]

Yeah well...real Romans had huge schnozzes too and spoke Latin rather than the Queen's English. It's not reality, it's HBO

That's horribly bigoted of you.... everyone knows everyone in the entire omniverse speaks Queen's English with a Brittish or American accent, unless they are evil and then they have a German accent. Don't you watch Dr. Who?

And it's a well known fact the Roman's had implants. They just used - like their plumbing - lead. Which is where the term crazy boobies comes from.

Really, how bloody is this show? This was a very blood-mad part of history, so there should be ample blood-baths for it to be accurate.

 

[Old One]

Really, how bloody is this show? This was a very blood-mad part of history, so there should be ample blood-baths for it to be accurate.

Fairly bloody...one of the female leads (the scheming Atia, mother of Octavian) has a bull sacrificed above her and is drenched in the animal's blood as part of an augury. The combat scenes are in keeping with the Gladiator mould.

~ OO

 

[DreadPirateMurphy]

Fairly bloody...one of the female leads (the scheming Atia, mother of Octavian) has a bull sacrificed above her and is drenched in the animal's blood as part of an augury. The combat scenes are in keeping with the Gladiator mould.

One point -- unlike some of the nudity, the violence all seemed to have a point in advancing the plot or background story.

That's horribly bigoted of you.... everyone knows everyone in the entire omniverse speaks Queen's English with a Brittish or American accent, unless they are evil and then they have a German accent. Don't you watch Dr. Who?

Funny, I have British friends who always gripe that all the villians in American films have English accents.