Rome

[Sheilbh]

Just watching the first season now (NO SPOILERS!) and I remember lots of people here had issues with it.  So far I'm really enjoying it.  I think they get the fundamental unknowability of Caesar perfectly.  Their portrait of Mark Anthony's also pretty much what I imagined.  I like the young Octavian, hints of the later prig, clearly thinking and ambivalent enough towards violence, as is right.  I also think the depiction of the Roman religion and pleb-life is really interesting and fun.

What did everyone else think, or object to?

[Queequeg]

Loved every second of it.  Deadwood without Milch but a more interesting subject. 

The casting was brilliant; Ciarán Hinds and Kevin McKidd were perfect.

[Legbiter]

Loved almost every aspect of it. Kevin McKidd as a hardnosed centurion pulling out the desiccated genitalia of a German Sueboi warrior and placing it on the kitchen table, while casually remarking on their personal bravery was a very nice touch.

[Queequeg]

Loved almost every aspect of it. Kevin McKidd as a hardnosed centurion pulling out the desiccated genitalia of a German Sueboi warrior and placing it on the kitchen table, while casually remarking on their personal bravery was a very nice touch.

I thought that was some kind of iron German religious phallus? It made a distinct "clank" sound on the wooden table, iirc.

[Sheilbh]

Oh the character I'm least happy with (in terms of how they're being played and the acting) is Brutus

[The Nickname Who Was Thursday]

(NO SPOILERS!)

Caesar gets stabbed by Brutus and Cassius.

[Savonarola]

Oh the character I'm least happy with (in terms of how they're being played and the acting) is Brutus

He's better in the second season; but you're right, I was never really happy with the character Brutus.

[Queequeg]

Oh the character I'm least happy with (in terms of how they're being played and the acting) is Brutus

He's better in the second season; but you're right, I was never really happy with the character Brutus.

Actually upon repeated viewing Brutus' character arc is the most interesting in Season 2. 

[Phillip V]

Brutus was well-played and written. You guys are just uncomfortable because you see yourselves in Brutus.

[PRC]

Season 1 is better than season 2 but overall it's fun to watch.  Brutus does improve in season 2. 

Love the gladiator episode / scene with Pullo, Vorenus, and the Jew.

[Syt]

I also think the depiction of the Roman religion and pleb-life is really interesting and fun.

Wiki has a pretty good episode guide going, which also explains the historical/social background of each episode and what they got right or wrong:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Stolen_Eagle

There's also a chronology:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chronology_of_Rome_(TV_series)
(Not sure if those are the "old" Roman dates or "modern" ones, though; their calendar at the time was several months out of wack with the seasons already, I think)

I stopped watching after a couple episodes, not because I didn't like it, but because I borrowed the box to a colleague for copying.

[The Nickname Who Was Thursday]

I stopped watching after a couple episodes, not because I didn't like it, but because I borrowed the box to a colleague for copying.

You mean you loaned it?

[Syt]

I stopped watching after a couple episodes, not because I didn't like it, but because I borrowed the box to a colleague for copying.

You mean you loaned it?

Yes, whatever.

I've received it back since then, but have yet to be back in an Ancient Rome mood.

[Tamas]

Loved every second of it. 

[grumbler]

I enjoyed it as well, understanding it to be a drama based on history, but historical per se.