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Ciao, Roma
Apr. 7th, 2007 05:48 pmHBO's Rome wrapped up a couple of weeks ago, and I was already missing it, the next day. The series' finale was rushed, as the financial plug had been pulled and there were so many loose ends to sort out before we reached the series' logical/historical conclusion. Still, I have to say that I was immensely pleased with the two years we got of this show, which provided the most compelling dramatic interpretations of Julius Caesar, Mark Antony, and Cleopatra I've seen (yeah, I'm talking about you, Bard of Avon: your Caesar was never so shrewd or passionate; your Antony and Cleopatra never so magnificently dissolute). The meticulous recreation of the details of Roman life always impressed, too: from political intrigues of the Senate chamber to the brutal street life of the Aventine.
A note for others of you who have gotten to or who get to the end of Rome jonesing for more lusty ancient depravity and backstabbing: If you haven't already done so, you absolutely must check out the BBC's '70s adaptation of Robert Graves' I, Claudius. Conveniently, this series begins about a dozen years after Rome's finale. You might find Brian Blessed's older, seemingly more genial Caesar Augustus hard to adjust to compared to Simon Woods' icy, calculating Octavian, but Livia, Agrippa and other characters will seem quite familiar. Plus, you'll get to meet several more generations of power-hungry Julio-Claudians (from Tiberius through Nero), all viewed from the standpoint of Derek Jacobi's frequently-underestimated Claudius--well worth it, trust me on this.
Those of us who've already seen I, Claudius will of course have to be contented with the modern depravity and backstabbing that will be on view in that familiar Sunday-night spot again starting tomorrow, when the final half-season of The Sopranos gets underway.
Speaking of The Sopranos, fans who haven't checked out 7 Years of The Sopranos in 7 Minutes (and who aren't afraid of spoilers) should get clicking, right now; it's a great summary, and excellent preparation for tomorrow night.
A note for others of you who have gotten to or who get to the end of Rome jonesing for more lusty ancient depravity and backstabbing: If you haven't already done so, you absolutely must check out the BBC's '70s adaptation of Robert Graves' I, Claudius. Conveniently, this series begins about a dozen years after Rome's finale. You might find Brian Blessed's older, seemingly more genial Caesar Augustus hard to adjust to compared to Simon Woods' icy, calculating Octavian, but Livia, Agrippa and other characters will seem quite familiar. Plus, you'll get to meet several more generations of power-hungry Julio-Claudians (from Tiberius through Nero), all viewed from the standpoint of Derek Jacobi's frequently-underestimated Claudius--well worth it, trust me on this.
Those of us who've already seen I, Claudius will of course have to be contented with the modern depravity and backstabbing that will be on view in that familiar Sunday-night spot again starting tomorrow, when the final half-season of The Sopranos gets underway.
Speaking of The Sopranos, fans who haven't checked out 7 Years of The Sopranos in 7 Minutes (and who aren't afraid of spoilers) should get clicking, right now; it's a great summary, and excellent preparation for tomorrow night.
