Like?
0
0
Who have voted
Rome - Season 2
There's no denying the second season of 'Rome' is inferior to it's predecessor. So it's hard to judge anything about the ten installment series without sympathizing with its creators. Planned as a five season long retelling of the Roman Empire, 'Rome' was cancelled before its time during the second season. Suddenly, entire eras involving Egypt were wrapped up into one or two episodes. This is most obvious with the sudden and unspecified time jump that lands in the penultimate episode. Yet, knowing there were entire seasons worth of story jotted down to this final batch of episodes adds to the experience. Because even if this season is rushed, the pace translates well to today's television. More importantly, the story never suffers greatly even if it moves swiftly.
But before it's over there are still ten grand-scaled episodes left to enjoy. The first is tasked to follow-up one of the best cliffhangers to ever grace our screens. How does one overcome the death of Ceasar himself? Without missing a beat, it seems. Brutus and his allies still hold the knives when a disoriented and astonished Mark Anthony enters the forum. He manages to escape the clutches of the rebels and seeks refugee at Attia's. The city, an important player if only because of the ever shifting allegiance of the plebs, is in an uproar following the death of the most beloved tyrant in history. What's interesting about Anthony's position in the premiere it that it doesn't even begin to suggest where he's going next. Anthony, now at the center of Roman politics, will endure many battles, backstabbing and ego clashes. His flammable character proves to be crucial to the chronicles of Rome. First, he opposes Brutus, the self-proclaimed savior of the Republic. Later he buds heads with Octavian, who undergoes the most rigorous of changes (a re-casting).
Season 2 would be the tale of Mark Anthony and the many men fighting for the power of Rome with its Ceasar shaped hole, but it's not. This show is the story of Lucius Vorenus and his loyal friend Titus Pullo. "The boy is blameless" Vorenus' wife whispers as she voluntarily plummets to her death. Of course, how can an honorable Roman who discovers his wife mothered a son while he was off fighting a war, not blame the boy? To add to tragedy, Vorenus' other children find him holding their dead mother, naturally assuming he's responsible. If last season was any indication, this year is the delivery of the promise that Lucius Vorenus is one of the most tragic characters ever. Honoring the ancient legacy of tormented souls, Vorenus, in his characteristic fit of powerless rage, curses his children as he mourns over his wife. When a much happier Pullo finds Vorenus, he's a changed man. More interesting than any of Rome's politics, is Pullo's undying loyalty to Vorenus as he tries to pull him back to the land of the living. Even more so because Vorenus is out for blood. Anyone's blood. As the season continues the two friends endure the worst scenarios possible as they navigate important historic events. They start a gang war in their district, they go to war on opposite sides, lose anyone and everyone they love and slaughter their way to their goals. They are singularly responsible for almost everything that goes on in the series and yet their humility towards their superiors, their unconditional brotherly love and ability to kick some major ass, makes them perfect protagonists. Whether they are at odds or fighting side by side, Vorenus and Pullo save the show time and again.
That said, there's still ever so much that differentiates 'Rome' from almost everything. It takes itself far more serious than Spartacus, is smaller in scope than Game of Thrones (but is hardly easier on its fans when it comes to character deaths) and is as beautiful and grand as most epic movies. As said before, the amount of story that the writers had to go through to reach a natural ending makes it less consistent than its first season, which had a clear and distinctly woven story structure. Even so, more than historically accurate, the show feels authentic. When faced with nearly certain death in a political stand-off with two iconic characters, Vorenus remains true to himself. Forced to make a political move Pullo resorts to the only politics he knows: throat cutting. In a show that covers Rome's forum, Macedonian landscapes and the Alexandria bay, these little beats of character are worth more than knowing the amount of legions Cassius actually had is historically correct.
Where the season does fall short is Attia of the Julii. This Julie Cooper of ancient history basically won every scene in the first season. She's as despicable as she's loveable and as fickle and arrogant as she's vulnorable and honorable. This season, however, she and daughter Octavia are more bonus players than anything else. This is the rise of son Octavian as he grows up to be Emperor Augustus (an era we unfortunately never get to see). His mother and sister aren't part of any story , really. Attia's front and center relationship with Mark Anthony is more a story ploy to keep her involved in the politics than anything else and even then she's not in control. Her feud with Servilla naturally goes darker, but it delves in rape and torture, which is not something that should qualify for entertainment. Attia bounces around through out the season and thanks to Polly Walker does have her merits, but it takes her final scene in the finale to return to her character's roots and by then it feels too late.
The second season of 'Rome' doubles down on the tragedy that made it so great. These are characters are put through hell and only few return. This is still an epic telling of an epic time. The show would've been better if it could've lived longer but the way it ends now still feels incredibly powerful. From costumes, sets to performances, this season is worth every second. And by the time the story reaches it end you can't help but feel like you've come closer to this important era in history than ever before. You saw Ceasar fall, Octavian grow and Cleopatra deceive. You saw the forum, the ships and yes, even the orgies. It was a world full of gore and blood, limited understanding of politics and without value of human life. Rome gave an unparalleled look into this place and time and show that two regular soldiers could become friends and shape history, without ever knowing just how much.
Follow RomeBut before it's over there are still ten grand-scaled episodes left to enjoy. The first is tasked to follow-up one of the best cliffhangers to ever grace our screens. How does one overcome the death of Ceasar himself? Without missing a beat, it seems. Brutus and his allies still hold the knives when a disoriented and astonished Mark Anthony enters the forum. He manages to escape the clutches of the rebels and seeks refugee at Attia's. The city, an important player if only because of the ever shifting allegiance of the plebs, is in an uproar following the death of the most beloved tyrant in history. What's interesting about Anthony's position in the premiere it that it doesn't even begin to suggest where he's going next. Anthony, now at the center of Roman politics, will endure many battles, backstabbing and ego clashes. His flammable character proves to be crucial to the chronicles of Rome. First, he opposes Brutus, the self-proclaimed savior of the Republic. Later he buds heads with Octavian, who undergoes the most rigorous of changes (a re-casting).
Season 2 would be the tale of Mark Anthony and the many men fighting for the power of Rome with its Ceasar shaped hole, but it's not. This show is the story of Lucius Vorenus and his loyal friend Titus Pullo. "The boy is blameless" Vorenus' wife whispers as she voluntarily plummets to her death. Of course, how can an honorable Roman who discovers his wife mothered a son while he was off fighting a war, not blame the boy? To add to tragedy, Vorenus' other children find him holding their dead mother, naturally assuming he's responsible. If last season was any indication, this year is the delivery of the promise that Lucius Vorenus is one of the most tragic characters ever. Honoring the ancient legacy of tormented souls, Vorenus, in his characteristic fit of powerless rage, curses his children as he mourns over his wife. When a much happier Pullo finds Vorenus, he's a changed man. More interesting than any of Rome's politics, is Pullo's undying loyalty to Vorenus as he tries to pull him back to the land of the living. Even more so because Vorenus is out for blood. Anyone's blood. As the season continues the two friends endure the worst scenarios possible as they navigate important historic events. They start a gang war in their district, they go to war on opposite sides, lose anyone and everyone they love and slaughter their way to their goals. They are singularly responsible for almost everything that goes on in the series and yet their humility towards their superiors, their unconditional brotherly love and ability to kick some major ass, makes them perfect protagonists. Whether they are at odds or fighting side by side, Vorenus and Pullo save the show time and again.
That said, there's still ever so much that differentiates 'Rome' from almost everything. It takes itself far more serious than Spartacus, is smaller in scope than Game of Thrones (but is hardly easier on its fans when it comes to character deaths) and is as beautiful and grand as most epic movies. As said before, the amount of story that the writers had to go through to reach a natural ending makes it less consistent than its first season, which had a clear and distinctly woven story structure. Even so, more than historically accurate, the show feels authentic. When faced with nearly certain death in a political stand-off with two iconic characters, Vorenus remains true to himself. Forced to make a political move Pullo resorts to the only politics he knows: throat cutting. In a show that covers Rome's forum, Macedonian landscapes and the Alexandria bay, these little beats of character are worth more than knowing the amount of legions Cassius actually had is historically correct.
Where the season does fall short is Attia of the Julii. This Julie Cooper of ancient history basically won every scene in the first season. She's as despicable as she's loveable and as fickle and arrogant as she's vulnorable and honorable. This season, however, she and daughter Octavia are more bonus players than anything else. This is the rise of son Octavian as he grows up to be Emperor Augustus (an era we unfortunately never get to see). His mother and sister aren't part of any story , really. Attia's front and center relationship with Mark Anthony is more a story ploy to keep her involved in the politics than anything else and even then she's not in control. Her feud with Servilla naturally goes darker, but it delves in rape and torture, which is not something that should qualify for entertainment. Attia bounces around through out the season and thanks to Polly Walker does have her merits, but it takes her final scene in the finale to return to her character's roots and by then it feels too late.
The second season of 'Rome' doubles down on the tragedy that made it so great. These are characters are put through hell and only few return. This is still an epic telling of an epic time. The show would've been better if it could've lived longer but the way it ends now still feels incredibly powerful. From costumes, sets to performances, this season is worth every second. And by the time the story reaches it end you can't help but feel like you've come closer to this important era in history than ever before. You saw Ceasar fall, Octavian grow and Cleopatra deceive. You saw the forum, the ships and yes, even the orgies. It was a world full of gore and blood, limited understanding of politics and without value of human life. Rome gave an unparalleled look into this place and time and show that two regular soldiers could become friends and shape history, without ever knowing just how much.
Reacties (0)