Rome 2x02: Son of Hades
Jan. 21st, 2007 11:22 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So I've gone from Supernatural to Rome to Rome today. Sorry for spamming, but I couldn't help posting about this episode.
So compared to my iffy reaction to last week's episode, this week I am full of unbelievable love for the show. I had so much fun watching this episode, to the extent that I kept saying "awesome!" and "so cool!" to my television.
There is only one thing that would have made the episode better, and that would be a scene of Octavian sucking up to Cicero to get him to start attacking Antony. Because he'd do a good job of it, and did, historically, do a good job of it. OK and the reference to "my friend Agrippa" at the end was kind of tacked on. But other than that one great missed opportunity (and I have hope that we will see such a scene in the future), there was so much to love in this episode.
I mean really, Antony was wonderful -- adding his own papers to Caesar's acta! -- and getting called on it by Cicero! And moaning about all the trouble involved in ruling Rome! and refusing to take Octavian seriously! And Cicero pointing out that Antony needs him too much to have him killed today! (Today, alas.)
And I loved his scenes with Cleopatra, because I know what's coming -- not the affair, but Antony's support for Caesarion. And I loved the negotiation between Posca and Cleopatra's woman, and Antony's complete inability to deal with Posca. And Cleopatra bringing the boy to Atia's party, and the doubling of Atia with Servilia and the queen, winning with one set of kisses and losing with the other.
There was just so much delicious foreshadowing in the political scenes. I am just speechless with glee. I even liked that little shit Octavian, making his gamble and sticking to it. "I have decided to enter politics," indeed. Eighteen-year-olds don't enter Roman politics. Unless they're named Pompey, of course. Or Octavian. And that brawl with Antony was crazy and over the top and totally satisfying, at least to me. Little snake -- and Antony nearly setting the house on fire, the thug.
And oh, Vorenus. Oh, Vorenus. Taking to his bed, and being dragged out of it by Antony ("I am your master, by sacred oath under the standards of the 13th." Awesome. And wow, I usually know too much to see the slash but I sure saw it there. Wow.) And then taking over the comitia, so that Antony will have the thugs he needs, because he's crazier than anyone else. I was hoping he'd beat someone to death with the statue of Concord (an odd goddess for a plebeian association, but whatever), but what he does is more than good enough. A son of Hades, and poor Pullo, loyal to the end, even though he knows what's coming. Because he's right -- Vorenus' children are alive, and the gods are going to fuck him up the ass. And Vorenus has no idea of what he's doing, or what's coming for him. No idea at all.
God, poor Pullo. What happens when Antony and Octavian come to blows, and Vorenus does what he must? Because loyalty is Pullo's strength, loyalty and faithfulness, and the gods have already turned their back on Rome, and on him as well.
I am just so full of love for everything about this episode, especially Antony -- Octavian's right about him, but he's fun to watch -- and the way Vorenus and Pullo are about to rip my heart out in the worst possible way. Marvelous, wonderful, I'm so happy.
Eeee! Romans!
So compared to my iffy reaction to last week's episode, this week I am full of unbelievable love for the show. I had so much fun watching this episode, to the extent that I kept saying "awesome!" and "so cool!" to my television.
There is only one thing that would have made the episode better, and that would be a scene of Octavian sucking up to Cicero to get him to start attacking Antony. Because he'd do a good job of it, and did, historically, do a good job of it. OK and the reference to "my friend Agrippa" at the end was kind of tacked on. But other than that one great missed opportunity (and I have hope that we will see such a scene in the future), there was so much to love in this episode.
I mean really, Antony was wonderful -- adding his own papers to Caesar's acta! -- and getting called on it by Cicero! And moaning about all the trouble involved in ruling Rome! and refusing to take Octavian seriously! And Cicero pointing out that Antony needs him too much to have him killed today! (Today, alas.)
And I loved his scenes with Cleopatra, because I know what's coming -- not the affair, but Antony's support for Caesarion. And I loved the negotiation between Posca and Cleopatra's woman, and Antony's complete inability to deal with Posca. And Cleopatra bringing the boy to Atia's party, and the doubling of Atia with Servilia and the queen, winning with one set of kisses and losing with the other.
There was just so much delicious foreshadowing in the political scenes. I am just speechless with glee. I even liked that little shit Octavian, making his gamble and sticking to it. "I have decided to enter politics," indeed. Eighteen-year-olds don't enter Roman politics. Unless they're named Pompey, of course. Or Octavian. And that brawl with Antony was crazy and over the top and totally satisfying, at least to me. Little snake -- and Antony nearly setting the house on fire, the thug.
And oh, Vorenus. Oh, Vorenus. Taking to his bed, and being dragged out of it by Antony ("I am your master, by sacred oath under the standards of the 13th." Awesome. And wow, I usually know too much to see the slash but I sure saw it there. Wow.) And then taking over the comitia, so that Antony will have the thugs he needs, because he's crazier than anyone else. I was hoping he'd beat someone to death with the statue of Concord (an odd goddess for a plebeian association, but whatever), but what he does is more than good enough. A son of Hades, and poor Pullo, loyal to the end, even though he knows what's coming. Because he's right -- Vorenus' children are alive, and the gods are going to fuck him up the ass. And Vorenus has no idea of what he's doing, or what's coming for him. No idea at all.
God, poor Pullo. What happens when Antony and Octavian come to blows, and Vorenus does what he must? Because loyalty is Pullo's strength, loyalty and faithfulness, and the gods have already turned their back on Rome, and on him as well.
I am just so full of love for everything about this episode, especially Antony -- Octavian's right about him, but he's fun to watch -- and the way Vorenus and Pullo are about to rip my heart out in the worst possible way. Marvelous, wonderful, I'm so happy.
Eeee! Romans!
no subject
Date: 2007-01-22 02:05 pm (UTC)Ha! That's a very good way of watching the show, I think.
And as for Pullo and Cleopatra, you should see