"Rome" episode 6 "Philippi"

[alexandral]

Notes on "Rome" episode 6 "Philippi". I liked it very much because I do like "Rome" and it can't do anything wrong for me at the moment, but I had some uneasy and confused feelings about involvement of Pullo and Vorenus into the murder of Cicero and other murders. Historical inaccuracies don’t matter much for me, and even the fact that Vorenus and Pullo are the weapons of the execution of hundreds of innocent citizens do not worry me that much too. This is their job. Though I was expecting Pullo to disagree with the assignment to murder Cicero, especially in the bit where he was nailing Cicero’s hands to the door.

The main thing I am not sure about is the “peaches” scene when Pullo murders Cicero. I don’t know, but Pullo seemed to look quite uncaring what Cicero’s feelings were at that moment and hesitating unnecessarily. And what worries me even more that asking to pick the peaches for his wife from the guy whom you are about to murder is somehow a silly (and quite a cruel) thing to do. And I do not like to see Pullo cruel or silly. ;(

I liked Cicero in this scene, though. He was full of dignity. I thought that may be Cicero's death is in parallel with the death of Brutus in Philippi and the "Philippi" in the title refers to the both of them. A cruel death as an acceptance of their fate.



But a very good thing is that Pullo is totally impervious to Gaia’s charms and sees her through!! I knew this!!!!!!!!!YAY!!! And I have made my mind about Gaia – I DO NOT LIKE HER! She is very bad news and a great stirrer of trouble. And she is trying to cause trouble between everyone.



Even the latest rift between Vorenus and his daughter about the make-up is all Gaia’s doing. Though Vorenus keeps being clueless in how to behave himself with his daughter, smack his head!!!! And the older Vorena’s suitor seems to be very very creepy. And obviously he is working for Memmio.

But I still believe that the differences between Vorenus and his daughter will be resolved, and it was so wonderful to see the younger kids happy at the countryside picnic. And the way Vorenus goes around carrying little Lucius and being very protective of him is so heart-warming! And how little Lucius carries the elephant that Vorenus mended everywhere around with him!

The picnic:




And how sad it was to hear Pullo saying that he doesn’t know where his is coming or going and that the only thing he knows and likes is violence. Very poignant scene, very difficult one because at the same time it is a scene where we see Vorenus and Pullo talking to each other, being that great unit of friends. And among all this, if I understood Pullo correctly, he wants to go and do his own thing. He is not satisfied with being “the second man in Aventive” anymore. I absolutely don’t blame him, but this doesn't mean that I am happy that the boys will go their separate ways.

As a side point, I am not sure what to think about Vorenus’ attempt to make the collegia an honest place. How will it all go? With the enemies like Memmio? From the blood money?

But all this said, it is fabulous to see Pullo and Vorenus together and Vorenus “full of purpose” as Pullo said:








Two picspams of the day

Agrippa and Octavia My little shippy heart is so happy!! This is where I use up my daily allowance of exclamation marks! And I am so warmed up to Maecenas too because though he knows everything about Agrippa and Octavia, he is not saying anything to Octavian. But Agrippa!!! Agrippa is definitely my favourite historucal figure. His gandfather was a slave (is this true?) and his name is written upon the Pantheone for the many generations to see. And I don't want to think about the consequences of Agrippa's and Octavia's love, at all.






































Brutus breaks Alexandra’s heart. It is not a spoiler as this episode is named Philippi I guess











EEE! I have blurted this all out! Now I can go and read everyone's posts! And also I should go home and catch up on some sleep!!

Comments

[herself_nyc]

Pullo asking for peaches made me laugh. I too thought about it--there was something very civilized in how he gave Cicero time to compose himself, and displayed respect, I thought, in asking for the peaches rather than just taking them afterwards. And didn't he give Cicero some time to sort of pull himself together while he was picking the peaches?

He could've just burst in, run the major domo through, and lopped Cicero's head off. As an assassination, I thought Pullo did it with kindness and sensitivity.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I too thought about it--there was something very civilized in how he gave Cicero time to compose himself, and displayed respect, I thought, in asking for the peaches rather than just taking them afterwards. And didn't he give Cicero some time to sort of pull himself together while he was picking the peaches?

Oh, I am so sorry – more I think about this, more it sits wrong with me. Saying “Can I have some peaches for my wife” is like saying “Me and my wife will be alive and eating your fruit after you are dead”. It could have been a cruel mock, but it more comes out like something unintentional (but silly). I also believe shows Pullo’s complete disregard for Cicero’s wife. It is on of the most important moments in Cicero’s life but Pullo can only think of the fruit.

As an assassination, I thought Pullo did it with kindness and sensitivity.

And then he nailed his hands to the door as Cicero's arch-enemy wanted, dishonoring him IMHO.

[herself_nyc]

Well, it's ancient Rome, not a tea party, of course.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

EEEEE! I know! But I saw Pullo in a different light when in the recent episodes (for example when seeing the battlefield made him quite sick), but it seems he hasn't changed. Not really. And I most upset that he looks quite silly in the “peaches” scene. And this makes me sad. But I hope for the best :D

[herself_nyc]

These sort of contradictions make him interesting--he's a basically kind-hearted man who also has absolutely no trouble committing violence, but neither does he seem to get a sadistic pleasure out of violence. The scene with Cicero was surprising and good because of how, in the midst of this very solemn and final and political thing Pullo was doing, he was also thinking about bringing a nice gift to his wife--and let's not forget that he also turned the whole occasion of having to go commit a political assassination into an opportunity for a picnic in the country.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

The scene with Cicero was surprising and good because of how, in the midst of this very solemn and final and political thing Pullo was doing, he was also thinking about bringing a nice gift to his wife

Doesn't this make him not a little daft? Having not a clue how important, political and etc. it is? Apart from being the second most important moment in the other man's life? He comes out as a child-like person here. This is quite an intersting type in fiction, I agree! But you see, I confess I just don't feel attraction for child-like men, it is not my thing. This is why I lament. :D

[herself_nyc]

Well, yeah, but Pullo has been shown to be rather simple (not stupid) often before, so it didn't feel out of character to me. I don't think he particularly cares about the big political aspect of what he's involved in. He has a relationship with Octavian, and that's what it's about for him.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, but Pullo has been shown to be rather simple (not stupid) often before

I think I was half-hoping in this season that the depth of his character will be opened, but in vain. It is not that anything is wrong with him, but I think in fiction (the same like in RL) sometimes I see what I want to see in the character.