Domina

Being a huge fan of ancient Rome, I was starved of shows set in the Roman era, so when I heard of Domina I was ecstatic but also wary of the fact that this could be a potential let down. After the departure HBO/BBC co-production Rome (2005) which was superb, I was afraid to get my hopes up.

However, this series has proven to be quite entertaining although it's not the same as the show Rome (2005).

The story centers around our main character Livia Drusilla and those in her inner circle. Sometimes it gets a bit too soapy.

The adult version of Augustus is depicted as a man who seems oblivious to the schemes of his wife which often results in him being a mere puppet in the scene because of it. I find this portrayal quite strange as he is known to be one of history's most clever politicians, surely he knew well how to handle the politics within his very own household.

I must say I am very impressed with the second season which is far better than the first, it has redeeming qualities as the characters are better written and I found myself even getting upset when they died.

Moreover, I applaud the costume department and the set designers for transporting us back to ancient Rome. These small, intricate details give us a glimpse into the daily life and habits of a Roman citizen.

Season 2 is better than season 1, until the final episode which ends up being the weakest episode.

Summary: If you're bored or just curious, give it a watch.

Just finished watching the final episode of the first series of Domina, a very smart new show from Sky, based on the life of Liva Drusilla - wife of Augustus Caesar. I really liked it, mainly because it continued the theme of complexity and double-dealing initiated in the character by Sian Phillips, who played Livia in the series I, Claudius. I saw that when it originally broadcast in 1976, and have seen it a couple of times since.. This version of her story presents a much younger version of Livia, but I found many similarities and links which enhanced both series. You do need to concentrate to keep up with her, but its a worthwhile effort . . . Give her a watch!

Each episode is better than the next. As an Ancient Roman (amateur) historian, this uses actual events to create a gripping narrative of the lives of the characters surrounding Livia Drusilla of the Claudii. Thie writing is as phenomenal as the acting. This cast is AMAZING! Edge-of-your-seat, non-stop intensity. This is officially my favorite show right now. Because of the plethora of instrumental characters with similar sounding names and appearances, sometimes it's difficult to keep track of who's who. This is the only reason I'm not giving this 10 stars. But each character is so engaging, and historically accurate.

This is a fantastic series. Don't get put off by the reviewers who are upset that it isn't like Spartacus (TV show, not movie). Of course it isn't. Spartacus is a TV show isn't history. Domina is history. Livia lived in the public eye. There were witnesses. The writers did their research.

The series is historically accurate, more so than most historical dramas. It relies on contemporaneous sources, as well as writers within one-hundred years of when Livia ruled. And rule she did.

Rome was a dysfunctional mess in Augustus' time. They had just come out of civil war, and they had more slaves in Rome than they had citizens. They were living on a house of proverbial cards, and this show is about the end of the empire that was inevitable at the beginning of it.

For Augustus' to maintain power, he needed two things, an enforcer and a brain. Agrippa was the enforcer, and the actor who plays him absolutely nails the role. Bravo. Livia was the brain. Agrippa's quote: "Your wife is the smartest man in Rome" is from history. Augustus, who stayed in his tent during battles, and left it up to Livia to do his dirty work, was a great leader because he had the two people closest to him who made him great. And Livia, who was as brilliant in history as she was ruthless, made both of them possible.

The way Augustus is described in the first episode, BTW, as a gangster, a criminal, is not far from the truth. It was when he got Livia's connection with her patrician family, again, with her ruthlessness, with her understanding of Rome and how to rule, that he became a dictator. She created him, and she kept him in power until he turned on her. More on that later, because we haven't gotten to that episode yet.

Everyone should watch this, especially a scene midway in Season Two when the family is at dinner, all of them with reasons to kill each other, and, in some cases, where they have killed family members.

The moment when Augustus' sister, Octavia, another fantastic performance, greets and welcomes Livia -- who she despises -- back from exile is a study in every dysfunctional family, business, corporation that has ever existed and will exist.

It's why wars happen, why people screw each other over, and it goes on every day with various stakes. Maybe not the rule of Rome or just simply surviving murder as in Augustus' time, but, if you lose your job because of it, it can be just as bad.

Everyone should watch this.

A few responses to some of the unhelpful reviews:

For those who hate the costumes, well, welcome to 1st Century CE Rome. That's what they wore.

For those who don't like that there are black characters, well, black people lived in Rome, and some were slaves who became free. Some because heads of businesses. They had power. Deal with it.

Those actors, btw, nearly steal the show. Deal with that, too, because the posts here complaining about people of color or strong women say more about the reviewer than the show.

Germans, BTW, were brought to Rome in three ways, as slaves, as prisoners to be murdered in a Triumph, or to serve in the Pretorian Guard were white. You see what happens to them. That's accurate, too.

For those who don't like that the lead has a European accent, really? BTW, she's Polish-Italian. Her accent has hints of both. You have a problem with Italian in Rome? Come on. She's a fantastic actress and she chews the scenery (that's an acting compliment) as Livia.

Oh, one last thing. Romans were infamous for swearing. If you don't like the swear words in English, you should try the Latin equivalents. Wow. And, yes, they had the F word. The original Latin is where it comes from. And that's one of the milder words.

If you're going to review a program based on history, look up the history before you write your review. This one is as accurate as F :)

Deals with the tough time Livia and her son Tiberias had before her rise. And believable.

Not always accurate. Freed slaves were Freemen or Free-women and Roman citizenship was not lightly given. Also Dictator was a respectable office held for a limited period to overcome great dangers. It ended after Julius Caesar made himself Dictator for Life.

Octavius was probably more dependent on Agrippa than is shown, but is a convincing character.

It needlessly skips over the complex politics that had Cicero sponsoring Octavian against Marcus Antonius, before they became allies.

But it's the most accurate drama I've seen. Much more so than the earlier series Rome.