Rome

The first season offers a great overview of Caesar’s government, building up to an incredible finale. Precise acting, great casting. The story sprints through the most important events, while taking the time to present the everyday face of Rome: shady assholes on every street corner, misleading advertising, spongers and liars everywhere you look. It’s a shame that they avoid large battle scenes, but the fight in the arena in the penultimate episode is pretty hardcore. Season 2 is darker and far more generous overall. The rise of Octavian, who grows from being a clever and rather shy boy into a heartless, calculating bastard, is built up very nicely. Antonius (the fantastic Purefoy) and the finale in Egypt which, squeezing out a more realistic take on the end of those eternally drugged up wrecks from the classic tragedy, leaves you speechless. The production design is amazing and we are even treated to one big battle. This is a good imitation of Game of Thrones, but there is only one original. Have his head salted, so that it survives the journey to Rome. (05/06/2020)

The spectacular battle is the icing on the cake. A lot of storylines reach their conclusion and Marcus Antonius has some fantastic lines. Pullo’s visit to Cicero’s is one of the most bizarre killings of them all. The climax awaits behind the door. "Cut off his hands and nail them to the Senate door. I told the old fool I'd do it … Nobody can possibly say that I don't keep my word." (11/06/2020)

The Women of Rome... A humorous intro, Octavianus as an über-asshole, and a final battle full of blood. The second season clearly surpasses the first. (14/06/2020)