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Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus
(Ray Stevenson and Kevin McKidd)
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One of my favorite series, ever, is Rome, which came out on HBO, in the US, and BBC2, in the UK. With twenty-two episodes overall, the series began in 2005 and ended after the second season in 2007. I understand there was to be a third season but the cost of the thing was just too high to get anyone to sign off on that. Pity, considering the garbage which comes out of Hollywood these days.
An outstanding cast, a well-told story, and very high production values, I daresay, they just don't make them like this anymore. More's the pity.
If you haven't watched it, you should. It's entertaining and doesn't stray all that far from the historical record.
Caesar commands it!
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The superb Irish actor, Ciarán Hinds, as ...
Gaius Julius Caesar
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Really, you should make the time to watch this. I've watched all 22 episodes three times and am about to embark upon a fourth viewing. It is really good.
Trust me.
Ciarán Hinds did a fine turn as Captain Wentworth in a BBC version of Jane Austen's Persuasion. It's on youtube: recommended. The chap who played Admiral Something-or-other was also good.
ReplyDeleteI will have to have a look at that. While not normally what I'd watch, Ciarán Hinds is a favorite.
DeleteI've enjoyed all of the Austen book dramatizations (even "Clueless"). I even own the original DVDs of "Persuasion" and "Pride and Prejudice."
DeleteAusten didn't just write "chick lit." Her characters and plots reflected what she saw (with a very keen eye) everyday in her time and English culture. ...she did, however, include and promote strong female personalities who took center-stage in a society that did not then highly value forwardness and forthrightness in the female of the species.
That little insight makes me want to watch it.
DeleteSounds like a good show. I think I've seen some clips of it online.
ReplyDeleteSettle back with a bowl of cicer seasoned with liquamen and a pitcher of posca.
Definitely make the time for this one.
DeleteCan remember that series from a few years back, John Milius was involved with it also Sarge, it deserved more screen time.
ReplyDeleteA lot more!
DeleteTitus Pullo, the eternal squaddie. The scene with the shields reminded me of public order training. The use of the Gladius was discouraged when dealing with the public however.
DeleteRetired
Can't imagine why ... 🤔
DeleteIt was an outstanding show indeed, and I wish it hadn't been cancelled but had continued. Thanks for the reminder for me to rewatch it soon.
ReplyDeleteYes, I need to rewatch it myself.
DeleteI now own both seasons for $2.00 courtesy of library sales and must watch it. Back when i was commuting to Korea for the wargames it was all my peers talked about for 2 years.
ReplyDeleteThat's two bucks well spent!
DeleteJulius Caesar with brown eyes. Ooookay, then.
ReplyDelete--Tennessee Budd
My research indicates that Caesar had dark eyes. Besides which, the actor is very believable as Caesar, he has a presence, a gravitas.
DeleteSounds like a great series, I may have to find a copy.
ReplyDeleteOne of the amazing things about the Roman army was their engineering skills. Building roads to speed along the Legions, (some so well built that Patton used them I heard) building bridges to cross what locals thought an impassable barrier, and most of all marching, maybe fighting all day then building a fortified camp for the night (preventing surprise attacks) and then destroying it as they continued on their march into enemy territory.
Goodness just getting modern troops off the truck to pitch tents and dig rain trenches was often a pain in the ass.
That really was the key to Roman military prowess, their skill at engineering.
DeleteMy eldest son lives in SW England in a town where the plan of the old Roman walls remain, There's also a Roman villa that was excavated and you can still see the old mosaics and remains of the hypocaust. The most impressive bit to me is the aqueduct that followed the contours of the hills to channel fresh water to the town. I'll use metric but excavations showed it was 19.7k long and fell about 7m in that time. The channel was dug into chalk and was 2-3m wide and 1-2m deep. I'm amazed how the Romans achieved this with simple instruments.
DeleteRetired
Amazing skill.
DeleteTitus Pullo was great in RRR. Recommend Bollywood, it's1950's virtues with better music numbers.
ReplyDeleteI've seen some Bollywood, the music is typically pretty good.
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