Rome

[Choo Choo]

Anyone else into this?

The titles say HBO so I assume it's aired both sides of The Pond.

I have to confess, I missed the entire 1st series out of intellectual snobbishness - after I saw the phrase "based on the Histories of Suetonius" and thought "Yeah right."

However.  I caught the 1st episode of the 2nd series by accident, and now am totally hooked.  OK - that whirring sound I can hear is Suetonius spinning in his grave - but where else can you get regular doses of this sort of high-toned filth at public expense?  I love it.

[Solitary Wanderer]

I'm keen to see this series.

Waiting for the DVD boxsets to appear down under

Note: Just finished the excellent 3rd season to Deadwood.

[Novi]

I have to confess, I missed the entire 1st series out of intellectual snobbishness - after I saw the phrase "based on the Histories of Suetonius" and thought "Yeah right."

I haven't seen the series, but Suetonius is great, all that stuff about Tiberius's sexual proclivities, the old gossip. Much better reading than Polybius's political theories, way back in high school, that is ... then again, maybe school kids are easily excited . 

[PSmith08]

I haven't seen the series, but Suetonius is great, all that stuff about Tiberius's sexual proclivities, the old gossip. Much better reading than Polybius's political theories, way back in high school, that is ... then again, maybe school kids are easily excited . 

Heck, Suetonius almost starts his Divus Claudius with a smarmy joke about children obviously conceived out-of-wedlock ("Three-month children are born to the lucky.") Still, if you want to talk about fun Classics, you can read Cyriac's travelogue or Constantine Porphyrogenitus' De administrando Imperio. Let us not speak of Tacitus or Livy. 

[Hector]

Very much so.

The first series was brilliant.

So typical of HBO, these days, high production values married to a tight script and direction and a bunch of fine actors(mostly Brits).

The second series lacks Ciaran Hinds' towering Caesar but James Purefoy as the thick and devious Mark Antony ably fills the void.

In fact, at times it feels like the James Purefoy/Polly Walker show.

Historically dubious but the bloody violence, the dirt and the feeling of actually living in pre-Imperial Rome makes up for it.

Unmissable.

[aquablob]

Very much so.

The first series was brilliant.

So typical of HBO, these days, high production values married to a tight script and direction and a bunch of fine actors(mostly Brits).

The second series lacks Ciaran Hinds' towering Caesar but James Purefoy as the thick and devious Mark Antony ably fills the void.

In fact, at times it feels like the James Purefoy/Polly Walker show.

Historically dubious but the bloody violence, the dirt and the feeling of actually living in pre-Imperial Rome makes up for it.

Unmissable.

I agree completely, having seen both seasons. The first season is IMO superior -- one of (if not) the most engaging, intelligent, and well-made seasons of a TV series I have encountered.

The second (and final  ) season is likewise excellent, but not generally as captivating as the first.

Unmissable indeed!