Created by John Milius, William J. MacDonald, and Bruno Heller
2005 - 2007
HBO had a brief lapse and good judgment during the mid 2000s where they prematurely cancelled several of what are now considered some of the best shows they've ever produced. One, the western drama Deadwood. Two, the supernatural dust bowl fantasy Carnivale. And three, this historical drama about politics and life in ancient Rome.
A sort of predecessor to Game of Thrones, Rome balances action and dialogue, surprise character deaths, and multiple storylines covering lives of people in varying social and political statures. In fact, I would say this handles these aspects just as well as Game of Thrones if not better, but without all the commercial success. But let's try to continue on this review without feeling the need to compare the two any further. While I'd never call myself a historian in any capacity, I do find this kind of historical storytelling intriguing, and from what I can tell this show is pretty accurate in most of the ways that count. To nitpick, you'll find problems, but they amount to very little within the story.
HBO never shies away from guts and grit, and this show is no different. Plenty of nudity, blood, sex, and violence are to be found here, but rarely ever to the extent of feeling exploitative about it. Because of the nature of the show, the explicit content succeeds in upping the dramatic stakes and revealing aspects to the show's characters through both their actions and inactions. Violent characters are very violent, sexual characters are very sexual, and conservative personalities behave accordingly. It's a simple and primal way to develop characters, but a very effective one nonetheless.
I love the way this show looks. Drenched in Roman sets, costuming, and Delight, this show has the feel of something very lived-in and real. Unlike the sword and sandal apics of past decades, the way characters dress, sweat, and bleed never comes across as phony or polished. It was a rough and violent time, which is reflected through every aspect of the show. As the camera rarely pulls back to showcase the setting, you feel up close and personal to the characters and the way they see the world they live in, making it all the more authentic.
One aspect I find particularly jarring and flawed, though, is in how the passage of time is conveyed. Some episodes will take place over mere hours, While others extend over years, and generally without much indication of this passage. In one instant, characters could be in Africa, and the next they're back in Rome. This can get very confusing, but if you pay very close attention you can usually tell what is going on and whether or not those events are happening concurrently with others. This still can be a problem when juggling multiple storylines, which is perhaps the show's greatest defect.
The acting is great, with pretty much the entire cast delivering top-notch performances as these very fleshed-out characters. If you know your history, certain events won't be terribly surprising to you, but thanks to the great acting and how well their stories are handled, even famous historical events are given a new life. I would generally single out a favorite at this point, but the cast as a whole are so good, and the characters so well-defined, I can't really focus on just one that I feel stands out above the rest.
This was a massive production with loads of detail and rich, believable atmosphere. Sadly, it was shut down in its prime, and this whole story had to be left to the history books. It's a shame HBO went through its skittish phase, because I can't help but to feel this very same production would have thrived only a decade later. Oh well, the 22 episodes we did get, while slow to start, were enough to make for some compelling television and didn't end on a note that leaves you feeling cheated.
A sort of predecessor to Game of Thrones, Rome balances action and dialogue, surprise character deaths, and multiple storylines covering lives of people in varying social and political statures. In fact, I would say this handles these aspects just as well as Game of Thrones if not better, but without all the commercial success. But let's try to continue on this review without feeling the need to compare the two any further. While I'd never call myself a historian in any capacity, I do find this kind of historical storytelling intriguing, and from what I can tell this show is pretty accurate in most of the ways that count. To nitpick, you'll find problems, but they amount to very little within the story.
HBO never shies away from guts and grit, and this show is no different. Plenty of nudity, blood, sex, and violence are to be found here, but rarely ever to the extent of feeling exploitative about it. Because of the nature of the show, the explicit content succeeds in upping the dramatic stakes and revealing aspects to the show's characters through both their actions and inactions. Violent characters are very violent, sexual characters are very sexual, and conservative personalities behave accordingly. It's a simple and primal way to develop characters, but a very effective one nonetheless.
I love the way this show looks. Drenched in Roman sets, costuming, and Delight, this show has the feel of something very lived-in and real. Unlike the sword and sandal apics of past decades, the way characters dress, sweat, and bleed never comes across as phony or polished. It was a rough and violent time, which is reflected through every aspect of the show. As the camera rarely pulls back to showcase the setting, you feel up close and personal to the characters and the way they see the world they live in, making it all the more authentic.
One aspect I find particularly jarring and flawed, though, is in how the passage of time is conveyed. Some episodes will take place over mere hours, While others extend over years, and generally without much indication of this passage. In one instant, characters could be in Africa, and the next they're back in Rome. This can get very confusing, but if you pay very close attention you can usually tell what is going on and whether or not those events are happening concurrently with others. This still can be a problem when juggling multiple storylines, which is perhaps the show's greatest defect.
The acting is great, with pretty much the entire cast delivering top-notch performances as these very fleshed-out characters. If you know your history, certain events won't be terribly surprising to you, but thanks to the great acting and how well their stories are handled, even famous historical events are given a new life. I would generally single out a favorite at this point, but the cast as a whole are so good, and the characters so well-defined, I can't really focus on just one that I feel stands out above the rest.
This was a massive production with loads of detail and rich, believable atmosphere. Sadly, it was shut down in its prime, and this whole story had to be left to the history books. It's a shame HBO went through its skittish phase, because I can't help but to feel this very same production would have thrived only a decade later. Oh well, the 22 episodes we did get, while slow to start, were enough to make for some compelling television and didn't end on a note that leaves you feeling cheated.
My grade: B+
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