HBO’s Rome, Episode Two

Not terribly impressive. First of all the plot was ridiculous. Pullo catches some guy in a bar cheating at dice so he runs a knife through his throat. A whole bunch of folks jump Pullo for that, but not the dead guy’s partner, who just sort of stares at Pullo. Switch to later scene of 50 legionnaires escorting Marc Antony to the senate. Now Pompey’s thugs have been instructed NOT to harm Antony. So what happens? The dead gambler’s partner just happens to be in the area and decides to attack Pullo even though he’s with 50 armed types. Of course Pullo makes short work of the guy and then all hell breaks loose. I mean, it makes perfect sense to disobey orders because some stranger starts a ruckus and gets himself killed right? WRONG! The whole idea was just idiotic.

Second, let’s talk, again, about the amount of sex in the show. I’m not hung up on this but it is a little ridiculous. I counted five scenes of sexual intercourse, including what I assume was a rape scene between Marc Antony and a shepardess, plus a sound effects based instant replay by Octavia. Ok, I got the point that Vorenus’ wife done him wrong and the baby is really hers and not her daughters. At least that’s what I assume was the point of showing her nursing the baby at the end of the show, but did I really need a close-up of the lady’s right nipple?

This is another example of just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. If HBO is itching for cable censorship rules like the networks have, this is a good way to get them.