HBO’s Rome, Episode 11

Oh yeah, that’s what I’m talking about! Blood and guts and veins in my teeth! Go 13th! Wow, the arena stuff was simply brutal even for HBO, but you notice how the sex and nudity has just about disappeared. Very strange.

Only one episode left and things are coming to a head. The Ides of March are right around the corner, but I’m having lots of trouble figuring out where we’re going after that. Octavian tries to help Pullo out, which at least demonstrates that he has some sense of loyalty, but it’s Vorenus that rescues Pullo, despite the fact that Pullo is an admitted murderer several times over. I got a kick out of Timon’s antics in this show. Here’s hoping he plays a bigger role in future shows (assuming there are any future shows).

So, Brutus has decided to play hero of the Republic (duh, surprise, surprise), Antony is back shacking up with Atia and Cleopatra is still lost to the world. I’m wondering if the interchange with Caesar’s veterans isn’t an indication that Vorenus may still have a key role to play with the army, not to mention the antics in the arena where Pullo and Vorenus uphold the honor of the 13th Legion. You’ll notice none of the legionaries guarding the arena tried to stop them from leaving. The final scene with Posca and Erastes makes it plain that Caesar is in fact a tyrant hiring murderers in the night, but Vorenus owes allegiance to Antony and Pullo to Octavian.

Hmmm, the best ending would find Brutus and Cassius fleeing Rome after the assassination of Caesar and Antony, Vorenus, Pullo and Octavian joining forces to avenge Caesar’s death. Antony would be accepting Octavian just to keep Atia happy not considering him to be much help or any threat, but happy to have his name. Perhaps Antony could even assign Vorenus and Pullo as Octavian’s personal guards. Then we can watch Octavian develop into Augustus next season.

But, the critical question is, will Niobe develop some fashion sense? Tsk, tsk, apparently the dress she wore to Caesar’s party wasn’t at the cutting edge of fashion at all.

I’m sure I’ll be disappointed in the finale next week and if they have another season, by the time it comes around, I’ll have forgotten this one but it’s been fun. I wonder when the DVDs will be available?