Rome

I am satisfied, more or less.

Ten years ago, I would have watched any epic on Rome, no matter how bad. Now, I like to think of myself as being a touch more sensible, especially given the travesties of Gladiator, Empire, and the recent Julius Caesar miniseries on TNT.

It is possible to make fine televised entertainment about the Roman Empire. I, Claudius must be ranked high among the great miniseries that have appeared on TV. I, Claudius not only boasted great actors, excellent pacing, and good dialogue, it also hewed close to the historical record.

Normally, I can understand and tolerate diversion from the record in an historical epic. Not so for Rome. There is no compelling reason for any significant diversion from the history of the fall of the Republic and the founding of the Empire. The period between 55 BC and 27 BC has it all. The record, as we know it, features two brutal civil wars, the first between Caesar and Pompey and the second between Antony and Octavian, the most famous patricide/regicide ever committed, several compelling and politically consequential love affairs, the rise of an inconsequential and pathetic young man to the seat of empire, and a cranky, disgrutled narrator who eventually loses his head (Cicero). All this against the glorious, decadent backdrop of pagan, late Republican Rome.

It’s hard to go wrong, and it’s mildly surprising that so many have.

The acting is, unsurprisingly, solid. The dialogue could use some work, and I get the sense that the writers are a bit too intimidated by their material. The historical record is being respected. There is an appropriate level of brutality and sex. Pompey is well-cast and respectfully treated. It is hard to say yet about Caesar, Cicero, or Antony, but I was pleased with young Octavian. Atia seems to be a live wire. I like the subplot with the solder and the centurion.