De Patre Vostro (About Your Father)

I loved the show. I watched it because I was fascinated with Roman history, knew very little, and had heard this was accurate.

What stuck out to me most is that Augustus "Octavian" Caesar is a straight sociopath. It's interesting that one of the most successful leaders in the history of the world, was someone who willingly sacrificed the well-being of family and friends for the good of the Republic. He had no emotion and it was crazy to see.

I ended up loving Octavia and Atia, as well as Vorenus and Pullo obviously. Such a well done show. Glad they didn't prolong it, history was repeated perfectly, with maybe a tiny bit of fiction thrown in. Great show.

Watching the both seasons where the whole story starts with Caesar backing home after be successful battle at Gaul's ground, each fact were extremely expose in small details until the three final episodes on second season, they were told almost disconnected each other as previous ones, sadly maybe didn't planning enough wisely, according my thoughts they needs at least 4 or 5 episodes to telling properly the final battle at Egypt and try put a best ending, they had to compress, causing irreparable damages, stay a lot of gaps to fill, the final scene at Rome is too short, some questions didn't have a proper answers unfortunately, a third season should be regarded, had much more to reveal over such priceless empire, then remained to us see it all over again!!

Resume:

First watch: 2019 / How many: 1 / Source: Blu-Ray / Rating: 8.5

I doubt anyone will read this, as it's the end of the series, but just for fun I'm going to do a High School Yearbook style farewell to ROME. Vote HELPFUL if you will miss these things about HBO's greatest show.

Things I will miss about ROME . . .

Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus . . . best friends forever!!!!

Pullo's instant altar to Mars on the field of battle.

Vorenus wondering exactly how Titus Pullo knows so much about his wife's genital region.

Atia of the Julii . . . channeling Scarlett in GONE WITH THE WIND . . . channeling Erica Kane on ALL MY CHILDREN . . . channeling Rhoda Henry on THE WINDS OF WAR . . . channeling every myth ever made about dangerous, powerful, hungry, irresistible women of a certain age!

Julius Caesar pimp-slapping Servilia . . . just to let her know that it's over.

Servilia breaking out the Ouija boards and the voodoo dolls, vowing to get even . . . but in a fun way.

Octavia of the Julii . . . the Wet Blanket, the Pouting Princess, cute as a button even when she's stoned out of her mind!

Watching Timon the Jew kill his brother accidentally on purpose . . . "so now I'm a schmedrick? Or am I really a schlemiel?"

Watching the newsreader at the Forum wrap up every story with that cool, funky, ZZ Top style hand wave.

The bearded king from the eastern provinces asking Brutus the tough questions about his "hero of Rome" status. (He was already dead? Helpless? And you stabbed him again? In Rome this makes you a hero?)

Young Octavian in the sewers . . . watch how he quickly morphs from Anthony Michael Hall in THE BREAKFAST CLUB to Michael Madsen in RESERVOIR DOGS. Not your average geek!

Watching Mark Antony put on his NFL style running back moves to get past the low-rent hoodlums clustering outside the Senate. Go OJ!!!

Lucius Vorenus . . . father of the year.

Watching Vorenus' daughter give him the evil eye at the dinner table.

Watching Vorenus explain to the collegia what he does to Concord.

Octavia's best friend Jocasta. Being a "bad influence" was never this much fun!

Titus Pullo offering the gods a cockroach.

"Thirteen! Thirteen! Thirteen!"

Agrippa watching Octavia play the harp with stars in his eyes, knowing she's out of reach. The Great Gatsby lives!

Mark Antony ordering Vorenus to get his act together.

Erastes Fulmen analyzing Vorenus' anger in a thoughtful way.

Servilia taking time out from being a crazed and vindictive old bag to seduce gentle, vulnerable young Octavia.

Cleopatra's son Caesarion vowing to get even with Octavian . . . and the way the series ends with important news about his father.

Gentle, timid Octavia not quite hiding a smile as her mother Atia puts Livia back in her place.

Not all war & politic series need to have epic ending. Sometimes we just need a "just that" ending to make it good.

Good that knowing all characters fulfilling their own arc.

Octavian prove himself to be a great visionary leader to people of Rome. Anthony finally know the taste of being defeated and really blinded to a woman.

Vorenus fulfilling his finding about purpose of life. And Pullo become a good settled down guy with responsibilities to the community, Vorenus family and Caesarion.

All are cliffhanging here, but it is good to let people imagine, what if... the series continues. Not all epic series need an epic ending.

The noblewomen preparing the walk out in procession for Octavian's triumph, Livia (little shrew that she is), makes a bunch of snide comments to Octavia about Atia not being there, as we know Atia is mourning (SPOILER ALERT) Antony's death and obviously doesn't want to sit and watch his dead body be paraded down the avenue in front of her as part of Octavian's Mr. Fancy Pants Parade. But at the last minute she shows up, and she steps to the head of the line of ladies. Livia tries to stop her, saying that TECHNICALLY she should go before Atia, as she is Octavian's wife. Atia, in one of the greatest speeches of the whole season, replies,

"I don't give a f*** what the priests say. I'm not letting a vicious little trollop like you walk ahead of me! I go first."

Livia claims that Atia has not been herself, being as condescending as she possibly can.

And then, Atia puts the little slut it her place, showing us why we love Atia:

"I know who you are. I can see you. You are swearing now that some day... some day you will destroy me... Remember, far better women than you have sworn to do the same. Go and look for them now."