[smoothaise]

This show will premiere August 28 on HBO.

Summary:

The year is 52 B.C. Four hundred years after the founding of the Republic, Rome is the wealthiest city in the world, a cosmopolitan metropolis of one million people, epicenter of a sprawling empire. The Republic was founded on principles of shared power and fierce personal competition, never allowing one man to seize absolute control. But now, those foundations are crumbling, eaten away by corruption and excess. The ruling class has become extravagantly wealthy, with a precipitous decline in the old values of Spartan discipline and social unity. There is now a great chasm between the classes. Legal and political systems have weakened, and power has increasingly shifted to the military. After eight years of war, Gaius Julius Caesar has completed his masterful conquest of Gaul, and is returning to Rome. He brings with him legions of battle-hardened, loyal men, unimaginable riches in slaves, gold and plunder, and a populist agenda for radical social change. The aristocracy is terrified, and threatens to prosecute him for war crimes if he enters Rome. The delicate balance of power lies in the Senate with Caesar's old friend, partner and mentor, Pompey Magnus. Such is the situation when two soldiers of Caesar's 13th Legion, Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo, are ordered into the wilds of Gaul to retrieve their legion's stolen standard, the unifying symbol of Caesar's legion, setting off a chain of circumstances that will entwine them in pivotal events of ancient Rome. An intimate drama of love and betrayal, masters and slaves, and husbands and wives, ROME chronicles epic times that saw the fall of a Republic and the creation of an empire when it debuts SUNDAY, AUG. 28 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. A co-production between HBO and the BBC, ROME is one of the largest co-production deals ever by the BBC for an American series, and marks the first series co-production of the two networks. HBO and the BBC previously partnered on the 2001 miniseries "Band of Brothers," which won six Emmy® Awards, including Outstanding Miniseries. "You rarely see onscreen the complexity and color that was ancient Rome," says co-creator, executive producer and writer Bruno Heller. "It has more in common with places like Mexico City and Calcutta than quiet white marble. Rome was brightly colored, a place of vibrant cruelty, full of energy, dynamism and chaotic filth. It was a merciless existence, dog-eat-dog, with a very small elite, and masses of poverty. We see the same problems today - crime, unemployment, disease, and pressure to preserve your place in a precarious society. There's the potential for social mobility, if you're smart. "Human nature never changes," continues Heller, "and the great thing about the Romans, from a dramatic perspective, is that they're a people with the fetters taken completely off. They had no prosaic God telling them right from wrong and how to behave. It was a strictly personal morality, and whether or not an action is wrong would depend on whether people more powerful than you would approve. You were allowed to murder your neighbor or covet his wife if it didn't piss off the wrong person. Mercy was a weakness, cruelty a virtue, and all that mattered was personal honor, loyalty to yourself and your family." ROME was shot throughout Italy, with Michael Apted ("Coal Miner's Daughter," "The World Is Not Enough") directing the first three episodes. Additional directors include Allen Coulter (HBO's "The Sopranos"), Julian Farino (HBO's "Entourage"), Jeremy Podeswa (HBO's "Carnivale"), Alan Poul (HBO's "Six Feet Under"), Mikael Salomon (HBO's "Band of Brothers"), Steve Shill (HBO's "The Wire"), Alan Taylor (HBO's "Deadwood") and Timothy Van Patten (HBO's "Sex and the City"). Among the actors starring in the first season are Kevin McKidd ("Kingdom of Heaven") as Lucius Vorenus, Ray Stevenson ("King Arthur") as Titus Pullo, Ciaran Hinds ("Road to Perdition") as Gaius Julius Caesar, Kenneth Cranham ("Gangster No. 1") as Pompey Magnus, Polly Walker ("Patriot Games") as Atia of the Julii, James Purefoy ("Vanity Fair") as Mark Antony, Tobias Menzies ("Foyle's War") as Marcus Junius Brutus, Lindsay Duncan ("Under the Tuscan Sun") as Servilia of the Junii, Indira Varma ("Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love") as Niobe, Max Pirkis ("Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World") as Gaius Octavian and Kerry Condon ("Angela's Ashes") as Octavia of the Julii. Rome was Created by John Milius and William Macdonald and Bruno Heller. Written by Bruno Heller, John Milius, David Frankel, William Macdonald, Alexandra Cunningham and Adrian Hodges.

-HBO.com

[Gambit221]

I already hate this show, and its hasn't even aired yet, I blame it for the demise of Carnivale.

That said, I'm still going to check it out

[smoothaise]

Yeah, I have DH to watch on Sundays ...

[Gambit221]

DH clashes with FG. But I'll figure out.

I'm not sure why though, I really hated that they killed off one of my fave characters.

[smoothaise]

I wasn't a fan of them killing off Rex, too. But, he wasn't the reason I was watching the show ... so it's not something I'm going to boycott or stop watching.

As for Rome, um ... I'll probably catch the additional airings after DH premieres.

I watch FG on [adult swim], nothing else.

[Fortyseven]

Am I the only one who thinks this sounds baaaaad? I mean, who's gonna watch a show about ancient Romans when we have so many entertaining shows with characters we can more relate to?

[onionroach]

I'm looking forward to this show. I like the Greek/Roman stuff so I'm hoping it will be good. I'm watching Empire on ABC and it's okay. I hope Rome is better.

[smoothaise]

Originally Posted by The Dreamer Am I the only one who thinks this sounds baaaaad? I mean, who's gonna watch a show about ancient Romans when we have so many entertaining shows with characters we can more relate to?

It's a high concept show ... and look at Deadwood. Did anyone honestly think that would be as big as it is now? I didn't ... then again, I don't watch it.

[Fortyseven]

Originally Posted by Mr. Brightside It's a high concept show ... and look at Deadwood. Did anyone honestly think that would be as big as it is now? I didn't ... then again, I don't watch it.

I don't watch it either. Yeah, I guess Rome will be popular among history fans.

[Gambit221]

If its any good it'll probably be amazing. But so far the previews have been extremely discouraging - for me anyway.

I wasn't a fan of them killing off Rex, too. But, he wasn't the reason I was watching the show ... so it's not something I'm going to boycott or stop watching.

He wasn't the reason why I started watching either, but I was so upset at the obvious choice. IMHO he is one of the stronger male actors, I would have preferred it had it been Mike.

[TheMovieGrrl]

Oh-kay, it's been a while since there's been activity on this thread. But man oh man, I've strangely become drawn to the show

I guess I'm a sucker for angsty relationships because I love the whole development in the Lucius & Niobe.

Overall, I enjoy the series, and find it interesting. has anyone else watched this show yet?

onionroach I think that what makes Rome better than empire is CABLE & Network. I think HBO has a tradition of taking on challenges and coming with something amazing


You know, i wrote off the this show at first...looking at the failed series Empire. But think about it, it's about war, raping/pilaging, empires, and a sever chaste system...all the things that come along with the ancient world. I think it's really difficult to illustrate that on a public network. Also, I believe the quality of writing and actors are better.

Plus, the best part is that the series revolves around the city, it's system and the people in it. ALso, it's not just this lovey-dovey stuff.

As much as I miss Carnivale, and thought Sundays would never be the same again, Rome has given me some hope that things will be okay. lol.

[Enigma]

Season 2 starts tonight? Anyone watching?

[Subject]

I'd thought I would bring this thread back up. I know some people who have been watching season 2. I hope that it is good. I have to wait until it comes out to dvd though.

[JRon]

I also am waiting for the next season to come out on DVD. I don't have HBO, so I have to get it on DVD.

[Enigma]

I guess no one is watching. I've been dieing to discuss this season, but no one is around.