Upcoming: The Return of the Legio XIII
The promo for season 2 of HBO's ROME is up here. For those of you not aware - and if you're not I am shocked, shocked! - of this show here's your chance to catch up. Season 1 is out on DVD and there's plenty of time to catch up before the second season begins in January. ROME stands out amongst other depictions of Ancient Rome in that it is the most realistic to ever hit the screen. Not only has the crew worked painstakingly towards historical accuracy, they have worked towards a level of humanity and naturalness not before seen. The Rome of HBO is not some lofty, idealized white city but something gritty and human and real that absorbs the viewer like no other. The visual elements of the show are what catch your attention but the reality of these characters' everyday lives is what truly draws in the audience and glues us to our seats.
Do no be confused. This Rome isn't a direct parallel of our own culture. It is made very clear throughout the series that while we have a great deal of similarities in our cultures, these Romans are most certainly a different kind of people. Thus, events that seem quite sensational in our time are clearly seen as the everyday occurrences that they were for the Romans (such as slaves sitting in the room while the mistress has sex) and the truly outrageous events are shown to be outrageous through the reactions of all the surrounding characters. ROME doesn't just follow the aristocracy. The key players in the series are mostly some upper crust Romans and two legionnaries (one a middle class citizen with a family, the other a non-citizen). Yet, the show does not limit itself by sticking to their viewpoints. We also get insight into the events of the series from assorted characters of other stations in life including Julius Caesar's personal assistant slave, Posca, and Timon the horse trader. There's even a city herald who acts as the regular newsbroadcast in town.
Quite as exciting as Rome itself are the performances given by the actors in this series. Kevin McKidd (Lucius Vorenus), Ray Stevenson (Titus Pullo), Ciaran Hinds (Julius Caesar), Polly Walker (Atia of the Julii), and James Purefoy (Marc Antony) are just a few of the actors in this series that manage to so thoroughly embody their characters that it is hard to imagine them as anyone else. The standout of season 1, however, is young Max Pirkis who plays Octavian, Atia's son and the future Augustus Caesar. The amount of presence this young boy exudes and the subtlety he brings to his performance is pleasantly surprising and only improves with each episode. He manages mildly charming and bone-chillingly serious both so well that you can't help but hang on his every word. Though he is in several episodes, Octavian has not had a chance to be hugely influential in politics yet but with the coming of season 2 comes the triumvirate and it is quite clear that while the political side of season 1 clearly belonged to Ciaran Hinds, season 2 will be dominated by Pirkis. Look forward to plenty of good drama from him and Marc Antony as well as the return of everyone's favorite legionnaries and the eyes of the people, Vorenus and Pullo.
ROME gives us a great combination of the ins and outs of everyday life as well as the politics, battle, and intrigue that formed the empire. Give it a look, and see what all the fuss is about.
~April B.
Do no be confused. This Rome isn't a direct parallel of our own culture. It is made very clear throughout the series that while we have a great deal of similarities in our cultures, these Romans are most certainly a different kind of people. Thus, events that seem quite sensational in our time are clearly seen as the everyday occurrences that they were for the Romans (such as slaves sitting in the room while the mistress has sex) and the truly outrageous events are shown to be outrageous through the reactions of all the surrounding characters. ROME doesn't just follow the aristocracy. The key players in the series are mostly some upper crust Romans and two legionnaries (one a middle class citizen with a family, the other a non-citizen). Yet, the show does not limit itself by sticking to their viewpoints. We also get insight into the events of the series from assorted characters of other stations in life including Julius Caesar's personal assistant slave, Posca, and Timon the horse trader. There's even a city herald who acts as the regular newsbroadcast in town.
Quite as exciting as Rome itself are the performances given by the actors in this series. Kevin McKidd (Lucius Vorenus), Ray Stevenson (Titus Pullo), Ciaran Hinds (Julius Caesar), Polly Walker (Atia of the Julii), and James Purefoy (Marc Antony) are just a few of the actors in this series that manage to so thoroughly embody their characters that it is hard to imagine them as anyone else. The standout of season 1, however, is young Max Pirkis who plays Octavian, Atia's son and the future Augustus Caesar. The amount of presence this young boy exudes and the subtlety he brings to his performance is pleasantly surprising and only improves with each episode. He manages mildly charming and bone-chillingly serious both so well that you can't help but hang on his every word. Though he is in several episodes, Octavian has not had a chance to be hugely influential in politics yet but with the coming of season 2 comes the triumvirate and it is quite clear that while the political side of season 1 clearly belonged to Ciaran Hinds, season 2 will be dominated by Pirkis. Look forward to plenty of good drama from him and Marc Antony as well as the return of everyone's favorite legionnaries and the eyes of the people, Vorenus and Pullo.
ROME gives us a great combination of the ins and outs of everyday life as well as the politics, battle, and intrigue that formed the empire. Give it a look, and see what all the fuss is about.
~April B.
posted by April B. @ 10:37 AM
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