FrontPageMagazine
August 13, 2007
New on DVD – “The Second Season of Rome”
For me, the HBO series “Rome” was a guilty pleasure, like being addicted to daytime drama or the “Jerry Springer Show.” It was sensational, sensual, graphically violent and melodramatic. And I loved every minute of the 22-part series that ran over two years.
I’m a sucker for historical narratives with warriors who weren’t hampered by rules of engagement and power-hungry politicians who settled scores with knives, instead of sniveling about negative campaigning and the politics of personal destruction.
The first season opened in 49 B.C., with Caesar completing his conquest of Gaul, showed his defeat of a puffed-up Pompey Magnus (through sly political maneuvering and superior generalship) and ended with the progenitor of Rome’s first dynasty dead in the Senate.
The second season takes us from the aftermath of Caesar’s assassination to Gaius Octavian’s triumph over Mark Antony and Cleopatra as he marches toward the purple he’ll one day wear as Caesar Augustus.
It’s refreshing to encounter characters with more depth than the actors who portray them. These snarl, scheme, quarrel, lust and demonstrate bravery and loyalty -- as well as cowardice and betrayal -- with verve.
The series’ actors, English for the most part, were splendid – the wonderful Irish actor Ciaran Hinds as Caesar, Polly Walker as the bitchy Atia of The Julii (who could give Joan Collins lessons in double-dealing and vindictiveness) and James Purefoy, who plays Antony as an opportunistic, ego-driven, rake who throws the dice once too often..
There are parallel plots. While the nobles swill, swive and scheme, the series also follows the adventures of two legionnaires – the stalwart Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and bad boy Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson).
Vorenus is all spit and polish – anger, confusion and silent suffering. In the first episode, when Caesar asks Antony if they can count on First Spear Centurion Vorenus, the latter replies: “That one? He’d follow the 13th. (Legion) up Pluto’s arse!”
His mirror image is Pullo, a big, happy-go-lucky brawler (constantly in and out of trouble) whose life revolves around wine, slave girls and spoils.
The two form an unlikely friendship – one man agonizing over his honor and the decline of civic virtue, the other good-naturedly committing mayhem and the most atrocious follies.
In the Second Season, there’s a role-reversal, as Vorenus (devastated by the death of his wife and loss of his children) starts on a downward spiral of grief and nihilistic rage, while Pullo become the sober, responsible member of this mismatched pair.
“Rome” is suspenseful, lustful, colorful and superbly acted. It may not keep you on the edge of your seat, but will hold your attention through 22 powerful episodes.
Finally, HBO did something right. The Valium-popping Tony Soprano clan are no match for the toga-wearing, sword-wielding, barbarian-butchering, plot-hatching prototypes for Italian crime families.
Don Feder is a former Boston Herald writer who is now a political/communications consultant. He also maintains his own website, DonFeder.com.
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