Rome: "De Patre Vostro".

[alexandral]

I loved it with the great love and as of this moment "Rome" is my favourite TV show ever made and shares this title with HBO "The Wire". YAY to HBO for making these series and many other great ones too. I loved everything about this episode, and I loved the ending. It was not something depressing for me at all, but rather something very uplifting.



The ending: I was thinking all this week that even though I would love the ending to be a happy "Vorenus and Pullo living together for the rest of their lifes" one, I could not see it. The way Vorenus loved Niobe was so intense, consuming and obsessive that I could not see him in happy ever after. And this is one of things that really define Vorenus for me and make him my favourite character of this show, his incredible love for Niobe and his intensity.

So, even though I am sighing and upset, the ending where my favourite character dies holding his daughter's hand from the wound he received whilst heroically saving his brother's child is a good one for me. Vorenus was dead inside after Niobe's death and nothing ever could have changed it. And in a way this makes me love him even more because he was this type of person who loves only once and can't live without his love.

Many, many great things :

1. Vorenus and Mark Antony after his defeat in Actium. " All my life I've been fearful of defeat. But now that it has come it's not near as terrible as I'd expected. The sun still shines, water still tastes good...glory is all well and good but life is enough, nay?". Mark Antony looks so god-forsaken, so broken. "God forsakes Antony"..And I was so glad Vorenus is there for Mark Antony and also I was wondering if Vorenus felt that Mark Antony is going to be defeated from the very beginning, when he left Rome.



2. Announcer Man – "A victory over queen Cleopatra and her slave Mark Antony.." So great and he is wearing this amazing blue coloured robe:



3. Vorena was sad to hear the news, but I was HAPPY! She loves her father and is worrying for his safety!!



4. When Octavian suggest that Vorenus lifts the gates of Alexandria Pullo is adamant that
"You can tell him that but it won't do any good" . I was thinking here and in the other scenes where Ocatvian was saying that Vorenus is a good man: it was Octavian's indiscretion that broke Vorenus' life, and in this universe, Caesar's life also. Because I have no doubt that Vorenus would have made his way through any number of murderous Senators.. Anyways, Pullo looks great in leather:



5. Vorenus rising his brow at Mark Antony. This is how I am going to remember this man



6. Vorenus' face at the thought of Mar Antony's sigle combat with Octavian. Oh, so priceless:



7. Pullo's response to Vorenus' answer that he is not going to lift the gates of Alexandria was "I knew it!!". Oh, these two men have this almost telepathic connection after all the years they were apart. So more Pullo in leather.



8. Mark Antony and Vorenus are drinking "before the last day" and here comes my favourite Vorenus phrase of all times: " Greeks talk a whole pile of nonsense. F**k 'em " EEEEEE!



9. Scene of Mark Antony's death was quite magnificent, and Vorenus was there for him till the end and James Purefoy broke my heart to pieces.. "I died Roman"



10. And what was even more wonderful: The scene where Vorenus washes eyeliner of Mark Antony's face and dresses him up in Roman clothes. And this reminded me of the scene where Pullo was shaving Vorenus' beard and of another scene where Mark Antony came to make Vorenus to get up from his mourning bed. And it is amazing that Vorenus remained faithful to Mark Antony till the end because Antony was a man of ideals and feelings, even though he had all his shortcomings. I thought it was interesting to compare relationship between Vorenus and Antony and Pullo and Octavian. Pullo was not faithful to Octavian till the end, not till the end where he would have to murder his own son.





11. Cleopatra walking upon her lover's blood:



12. Vorenus fighting with Cleopatra over little Caesarion. "I was there at his conception". EEEEEE! Plus another priceless face from Vorenus and some of "I take no orders from you.. Kiss my ass". EEEEEEEEE!



13. Cleopatra and Ocatvian. Oh, this was such a chilling scene. Cleopatra was looking sunning and Octavian was VERY scary and blood-churning



14. The eyes of a monster:



15. Cleopatra's death and "You have a rotten soul". Ye, I love you Cleopatra for this!



16. Vorenus and little Caesarion: "I wonder how my father tolerated such pessimist around him". And when Vorenus said that Pullo is "defining good". Of, made me so happy!



17.Pullo and Vorenus are camping again!! EEEEEE!



18. And Pullo says that Caesarion is "handsome, isn't he" and that little Vorena is "a little tiger". And Vorenus smiles with that smile that we haven't seem yet in this season, his happy smile. Only there is some sadness in it too..





19. Pullo nad Vorenus on the road again defending young Caesarion..And Pullo saying that Vorenus is "grumpy and cautious as ever. As old sheep dog.." EEE! When the blow for Vorenus came I knew he would not live, his soul had died long time ago with Niobe and he has no strength to fight the wound:





20. But of course Pullo carries Vorenus back to Rome and I loved loved loved the scene of Vorena's forgiveness of her father, it was so true. We saw at the beginning of this episode how worried she was about him, and then when Vorenus was dying she was hiding behind the door watching. Because she still loved him, he is her father and she forgiven him inside her heart. And then she and the other children came in and she held her father's hand and I died as happy as Vorenus did. It was a wonderful scene. I loved how just before his death Vorenus accepted that may be his children could never forgive him, he has changed so much!!! And because of it his death didn't make me sad. He changed, he reconciled with his children, he finished everything that is worthy to live for but himself he wanted to be with Niobe.









21. Atia vs Livia. YAY! Way to go Atia! "Far better women then you have sworn to do the same". She is a fighter!! She looks amazing in this



22. The triumph. To give him credit, Octavian had his triumph, did't he? But the sight of Octavian all in white looking like some kind of God made me think about all the blood that was spilled. Brutus, Cicero, Mark Antony.. Even the blood of Caesar. I know this part was un-historical, but what if Octavian never told Vorenus' secret to anyone? What if Caesar survived?



23. But here is the good ending: Pullo receives his reward and tells his son who his father is. And also manages to outwit Octavian. Live long and happy life, Pullo!!



24. And another happy ending, though may be in my shippy mind only: Agrippa and Octavia (who looked absolutely beautiful) share a glance. I am going to think that they are going to be together soon and nothing will persuade me out of it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And war-worn Agrippa looks so good!





PS: A post by queenofthorns's about this episode made me think twice if Vorenus is dead or not. Pullo was too happy at the end for someone whose only friend just died.. And we never saw Vorenus' funeral as well. I think I am going to allow myself to hope that he is still alive!!! YAY!!!! Thank you queenofthorns!!!

** THE END ** ** sniff **

Comments

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

I'm just going to say a big YES! to all of this. i just finished watching the episode so I'm still an emotional wreck - but like you I felt Vorenus's death to be a good one. I love him for upholding his ideals to the bitter end, and I LOVED that he was finally reconciled with his family.

In a way I had expected Vorenus to die. Not just because he was, as you say, dead inside after Niobe - but also because he was a symbol for the Republic and all its ideals. So his death in way symbolised the final death of the republic as well. Now there is nothing left except Octavian and his rule.

And yay for Pullo and his little son! I was so glad they both survived.

I am going to think that they are going to be together soon and nothing will persuade me out of it!!!!

HEE! This is what I thought as well. Hooray!

But I'm SO SAD the show is over. *sob* What will I do next Monday?

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

In a way I had expected Vorenus to die. Not just because he was, as you say, dead inside after Niobe - but also because he was a symbol for the Republic and all its ideals.

This is so awesome beyond words and I can't say enough how happy I am with your idea. You know, nice neat ideas make me so so happy. And I absolutely agree!!!.

And Octavian turned out to be so unbelievably scary? The one I feel for is Simon Woods, I am afraid he is not going to get any Mr.Bingley roles anymore.. But I thought he was incredibly good..

But I'm SO SAD the show is over. *sob* What will I do next Monday?

I seriously need to find something else. Oh, I just remembered I have season 3 of "The Wire" to watch, this should make me feel better!!!!!!!!

[soniag.livejournal.com]

Vorenus was there for him till the end and James Purefoy broke my heart to pieces.. "I died Roman"

Oh, this makes me weep again!

Lovely post -- the pictures and commentary were much appreciated!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, this makes me weep again!

I am still thinking which was my favourite scene in this episode – Mark Antony's death Vorenus' death. May be Mark Antony's.. Their bond was incredible..

I am glad you enjoyed this post!!

[angelofmymusic.livejournal.com]

Great series and episode too. I watched it since the beginning, and i was completely involved by each episode.
I was very sad about Mark Antony at the end (of course!), but i found all well written and directed. I love the part when he died, facing the death without fear and he didn't want to as egyptian but roman.
Also the confrontation between Cleopatra and Octavian was amazing (honestly, despite what i think about her, she was perfect to be strong with him). And, because all things in life comes to a end, my favourite part ever was when Atia had a verbal fight with Livia (she was absolutely amazing!) while Octavia watching her mother and supported her with a smile for what she said (fantastic!). I miss all of them already, but i'm happy too because i can watch my favourities alive (despite Mark Antony, Vorenus and Brutus) and i changed my mind about this Octavian (the worst character, because i always find better Max Pirkis's Octavian). Anyway, i'm glad you liked this series as i do. :) (i have a question: tell me Vorenus isn't dead, isn't he?

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Great series and episode too. I watched it since the beginning, and i was completely involved by each episode.

I was very sad about Mark Antony at the end (of course!), but i found all well written and directed. I love the part when he died, facing the death without fear and he didn't want to as egyptian but roman.

Oh, I was thinking about you there!!! But it was a beautiful death and James Purefoy was AMAZING!!

Also the confrontation between Cleopatra and Octavian was amazing (honestly, despite what i think about her, she was perfect to be strong with him).

I can see why she expected some mercy from him, she was expecting Octavian to give her some mercy as a woman, but she didn't get it. I am so inetersted to read how it all was in reality now..

And, because all things in life comes to a end, my favourite part ever was when Atia had a verbal fight with Livia (she was absolutely amazing!) while Octavia watching her mother and supported her with a smile for what she said

Oh, Octavia and Atia definitely ended up as my favourite female characters..

i changed my mind about this Octavian (the worst character, because i always find better Max Pirkis's Octavian). Anyway, i'm glad you liked this series as i do. :) (

I am glad too! And House will be back this week! :D I did like Simon Wood's portrayal of Octavian. He reminded me a little of Stalin, but though more efficient..

i have a question: tell me Vorenus isn't dead, isn't he?

I think it is not clear. I was happy to see him to go because his death was beautiful. But I started to think after queenofthorns's post and now I think that Vorenus is not dead. I think that Pullo was too happy in the last scene; he would have not been so happy if Vorenus was dead.

*I will NOT cry at work. . .*

[mitejen.livejournal.com]

What a great post!

I am SO SAD this show is over. I keep hanging on to crazy hopes they'll suddenly change their minds and keep on with it, but alas. I think if they'd put it on inthe same rotation as the Sopranos it would have gotten a bigger audience. I dunno, I think that hurt it a lot.

Seriously, I am so bummed that these characters have no more adventures together. I was satisfied with the various closures offered to each one, but I wish they could have kept it on another season. I really liked Octavian's portrayal, and I think if they'd gotten through that next season where he's Augustus and we could see the good he did he wouldn't seem as reptilian.

Also it took me a second viewing to catch the part where Vorenus is talking to Caesarion about his father and that he was talking about Pullo, not Caesar. I decided it wasn't just my interpretation when he said 'bad gambler,' as the headwound Pullo received in the very beginning of everything was sort of how they would up friends. Maybe not directly related but I chose to see it that way.

Anyway, great post!

Re: *I will NOT cry at work. . .*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I posted the wrong comment!!

I am SO SAD this show is over. I keep hanging on to crazy hopes they'll suddenly change their minds and keep on with it, but alas.

I think they are saying that this show is too expensive. I am very sad it has ended, but I loved the ending even more then the beginning!!!

I really liked Octavian's portrayal, and I think if they'd gotten through that next season where he's Augustus and we could see the good he did he wouldn't seem as reptilian. ,

I really liked Ocavian's character too, with all his scariness he was a focal point for everyone. Huge props for Simon Woods. And yes, it could be very nice if we could see some of his good deeds. (And if we could get to see Vorenus hiding away in somewhere in Brittany :D)

Also it took me a second viewing to catch the part where Vorenus is talking to Caesarion about his father and that he was talking about Pullo, not Caesar.

Oh, definitely. Vorenus was definitely talking about Pulllo. I loved the way this was played. We never saw Pullo saying to Vorenus "Caesarion is my son", but they just always knew it. These two had some incredible connection together. In the same way when Vorenus asked about Gaia Pullo said "this didn't end well" and no more words were needed.

And thank you!!!!!!!!

[kelpie667.livejournal.com]

I just finished to watch the episode and dried my tears but your post, the pictures and everything you said about Vorenus and Antony and Vorenus and Pullo made me almost cry again.
I still can't believe this series (that captured my heart lik no other TV show ever did) is over, my life will be so empty next monday *sighs*

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I just finished to watch the episode and dried my tears but your post, the pictures and everything you said about Vorenus and Antony and Vorenus and Pullo made me almost cry again.

Wasn't it just so beautiful and symbolic and everything?

I still can't believe this series (that captured my heart lik no other TV show ever did) is over, my life will be so empty next monday *sighs*

Oh, I don't know what I am going to do next Monday. I need to finish "The Wire" season 3 though.. :D

[jenlev.livejournal.com]

gods, i can't wait to see this.


:::dashes off:::

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Can't wait to hear what you think. I decided to allow myself to hope that Vorenus is alive and living somewhere on a farm in Brittany. :D

[ghada-bell.livejournal.com]

I am sooooo going to miss that, Alexandral ! I am so depressed right now ! I will keep on visting this journal anyway.
The episode was great. Rome is the best thing that Tv throw at my face for a long time now ! Loved the first scene and Antony's tirade abot defeat: Beautiful ! Antony's death was great too. But, I feel some kind of disappontment regarding, first, the abscence of Posca and Jocasta, second, the way Octavian turned out finally to be the vilian ! GOD, why ? That's so cliché ! Why make Octavian a "monster", a "liar" with a "rotten soul" and other ridiculous qualifications I heard this morning. I thought HBO would be brave enough to show us the true Octavian. Of course, it is so easier thi way. A tyrant can't be good, isn't ? He has to be evil, hated and rejected by his own family. Our modern minds couldn't imagine it in another way.
Of course, I saw that coming for some time now, but I hoped that at least they would mention Octavian's accomplishements when he became princeps. The way Rome her best period, the peace he relized ! But, no, not a single word. The last image that we will have of him is him being fooled by Pullo.
Let me tell you about the true Octavian. He was loved by his people. When he died. The Romas cried and mourned like they never did. He was absolutely charismatic and he knew excactly how to please his friends. And what about all that hatred from Octavia and Atia. I don't get it. All I was wondring was: Why ? The writers wanted to inject morality in history ? What do they think they're doing ? Even Plutarch wasn't that radical ! Sorry, but that's stupid ! All that fans will think about Octavian is that he was an evil bastard and that achens me !

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I am sooooo going to miss that, Alexandral ! I am so depressed right now ! I will keep on visting this journal anyway.

Oh, I am sure we will find other things in common!!!

But, I feel some kind of disappontment regarding, first, the abscence of Posca and Jocasta

Oh gosh, I second this!! I didn't notice the absence of Posca because I was so heart-broken over Vorenus and Mark Antony, but indeed- WHERE was Posca???

GOD, why ? That's so cliché ! Why make Octavian a "monster", a "liar" with a "rotten soul" and other ridiculous qualifications I heard this morning.

I thought the Simon Wood's take on Octavian was very very strong, scary but strong. I thought that his portrayal of Octavian was one of the strongest in this season. In the last season everything was centered around Caesar, but this season everything was centered around Octavian. Without him as a centre figure nothing would have been the same and all other characters' motivations could have lost their meaning.

I like the phrase Cleopatra said ("rotten soul") because from her POV Octavian was just this, she read him quite well and saw no mercy in his eyes. No mercy even for a woman. I compared Octavian's approach with that of Caesar in the season 1. Caesar forgiven Brutus and murdered the killer of Pompey. He was more of "let's show them mercy" where Octavian is more of "let's be efficient"

I hoped that at least they would mention Octavian's accomplishements when he became princeps. The way Rome her best period, the peace he relized ! But, no, not a single word. The last image that we will have of him is him being fooled by Pullo.
Let me tell you about the true Octavian. He was loved by his people. When he died. The Romas cried and mourned like they never did. He was absolutely charismatic and he knew excactly how to please his friends. And what about all that hatred from Octavia and Atia. I don't get it.

I thought they were showing Octavian to be human with Pullo and they were showing how much he was loved by the people of Rome during the Triumph... I am going to read more about the subject (and I received a GREAT book from my friend, "Rubicon, the triumph and tragedy of the roman republic" by Tom Holland) because I am very interested to know more about the subject.
I agree, it seemed like they were showing Octavian to be some version of Stalin. But Stalin was actually EXTREMELY beloved by his people and friends (the ones that didn't live in GULAG), even though he had a very dysfunctional family. I know my parents still think that Stalin was the best thing for Russia EVER.

PS: I know how much you liked Octavian!! Let's hope for a renewing of this show in a future where we can see more!! (By more I mean Vorenus living on a farm with kids and Octavian having a long peaceful rule).

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lady_narcissa_/]

As always you do the nicest job with the episode summary and pictures. I don't get HBO and it's been thanks to your weekly posts that I have been able to survive by getting a glimpse of the show. Thanks so much for helping me survive until the DVD comes out. I'll miss your commentaries.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much!! I am going to miss thins show, but it was probably one of the strongest endings I have ever seen!

[hollycole1.livejournal.com]

wonderful caps and recap. Do you mind if I snag a couple of the screen caps you did for the files at my Rome yahoogroup?

[wildtiger7.livejournal.com]

I loved the stuff with Vorena the Elder, how she was clearly upset at her father being on the losing side and then going to his bed after Pullo brought him home. *sniff*

I also loved everything between Pullo and Vorenus as well as Vorenus and Marc Antony. I also thought it was great that when Octavian said he was charming toward Cleopatra, Maecenas was all that's when you're most chilling.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I loved the stuff with Vorena the Elder, how she was clearly upset at her father being on the losing side and then going to his bed after Pullo brought him home. *sniff*

Oh, the fact that Vorenus made peace with his daughter made me extremely happy. (And I am glad that the ending is ambiguous and may be they are alive and well :D)

I also thought it was great that when Octavian said he was charming toward Cleopatra, Maecenas was all that's when you're most chilling.

She read him well. Looking back all Octavian's scenes with women are somewhat very awkward .

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

It's so funny that I convinced you that Vorenus might not be dead - when I am 100% certain that he did die.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It's so funny that I convinced you that Vorenus might not be dead - when I am 100% certain that he did die.

It didn't even cross my mind that Vorenus can be alive before I read your post. (Nowdays I try to write my thoughts very quickly before I read everyone else's posts because I have discovered that otherwise I lose what I want to say..) I thought American/British show = linear ending (it is not that anything is wrong with American/British shows, but unusual endings are rare).

But you made me think, so I MUST give you credit. Considering all possibilities I actually love the ending, may be because they often do these things in Russian shows and films. They leave a possibility or a question opened.. And then it is up to viewers to decide which ending is "theirs" and this adds to the viewing pleasure IMHO that people can discuss afterwards and have totally different opinions. I am going to stick with my optimistic one that his children's forgiveness made Vorenus fight the wound and that they live happily in Brittany somewhere.

[trufflehog.livejournal.com]

i cannot believe it is over! just can. not. believe!
i'm going to miss your posts too D:

i think i'm in the minority and i don't want to be a downer or anything but i was kind of disappointed with the final episode.
because they rushed the antony/cleo relationship, it felt like they were trying to play it up through their last days together, and i was unconvinced. there was. sooooo. much of them in this episode.
a lot of the episode felt like...well...fanservice. at least to me. wrapping things up between characters (*cough*vorenus and pullo*cough*) instead of the plot. does that make any sense? i sound like i'm blabbering...i know we want closure between characters but this felt like overkill. and i think it was because there just wasn't enough time. antony's downfall could have been played out beautifully in maybe two or three episodes but it was too much for one episode alone. i found myself getting annoyed more than once with his moody-ness. understandable as it was.

and uh...i kind of wanted to see pullo and vorenus live happily...or go down fighting. not in some cheesy, romanticized they'll be together forever! (goddamn fangirls...i'm sorry but....goddamn fangirls) kind of way, either. something gritty and intense. i know this show is more about the back room politics (as it should be!!) but the whole getting randomly poked by a soldier and dying for a MONTH was pushing it a bit. yay time constraints :/

i agree with ghada_bell about octavian being the villain. i LOVE this creepy, monstrous octavian the show gave us, and the trouble he caused for the people around him, but there was no alternative view given- the octavian the people saw and the things he did for them. it would have been a fantastic contrast to play with. but in the end it felt like, oh, the bad guy won but here are some tiny rays of hope, isn't this such deep and intriguing storytelling?
however, he did manage to get all the good lines tonight with 'peevish' and 'my boat' and even though he was a stinky bastard, he was the only person i really enjoyed watching. his scene with cleopatra was FANTASTIC!

(side note- okay. so my fangirlishness DID finally come through when octavia and agrippa glanced at each other. damn. still so cute in that g-rated, everybody-shits-rainbows, disneyish way. sadly, there were no juliicest moments :[)

i didn't like atia in this episode much. except for her one line to livia which, by itself, was brilient, but felt like it really came out of nowhere. octavia got nothing at all. why does she keep getting the kids? probably to play with that whole lol irony thing since she's become so callous and sarcastic and uncaring. but still...that girl should not be handling children XD

and it was in this episode that i really felt the loss of all of the the characters i had come to love over time- CICERO, brutus, servilia (in the love-hate way), niobe, pompey, eirene...though, most of these couldn't be helped. it was a good kind of bitterness i guess. it showed us who the true survivors were. i liked that.

oh, and there was a SEVERE lack of jocasta and posca. come on hbo! at least give us jocasta and posca outtakes on the dvd!
(they never really said what became of lepidus either! i mean, most of us already know, but dammit i liked him and i wish they would have at least mentioned him. you know. for plot closure..)

[trufflehog.livejournal.com]

AHGODLONGREPLYAGAIN D8
i'm sorry!!

[evilgmbethy.livejournal.com]

Sigh. I wish I could show as much love for this ending, but I felt it was too vague and ambiguous. Vorenus deserved a better, more conclusive death scene. Antony got a great death scene - it was amazing and intimate and gave me chills. Cleopatra got a great death scene - she got to have the dignity of standing up and hissing an insult at Octavian. Even Eirene had a better death scene than Vorenus, when we saw the light leave her eyes. We didn't actually SEE Vorenus die, and considering he's the main character of the show, I feel horribly cheated. When Pullo left Octavian's place at the end, I was expecting to find out what happened to Vorenus, like, yes? Instead, nothing, and I felt it was a terrible cheat to a character who was the heart and soul of the show.

It's too bad, because I really really loved the entire rest of the episode, but this cheap, vague ending left me completely unsatisfied. I needed closure and I didn't get it.

[queenofthorns.livejournal.com]

Well, I don’t know that Vorenus is the heart and soul of the show – I think he and Pullo together probably have that title, considering that they alternated pretty strictly between having Ray Stevenson and Kevin McKidd's names first in the title sequence.

Plus, Bruno Heller said the ending was deliberately ambiguous so that we might imagine that Vorenus did, indeed, recover from his wounds after all. It’s not like Pullo would want to draw too much attention to that, though, by having Vorenus waiting outside Octavian’s house for him because that could lead to a lot of unwanted questions.

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

One of these days I must watch Rome :) I don't have cable while it's not shown on local TV. While I was on a holiday at my sister's I watched a couple of eps at HBO, and it certainly looked intriguing ^^

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope you will be able to see it one day. It is very emotionally charged and beautifully filmed show, like no other American show..

[meles-kuila.livejournal.com]

Your posts are always so fab...Mind if I add you??

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, of course!! Thank you very much!

[tacitanumeria.livejournal.com]

I'm gonna miss our little chats and your pretty pretty pictures.
-tear tear-

Looks like I'm gonna have to find something else to obsess over....

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, you have got the icon!!! I am going to miss "Rome" like crazy.. Even Gaia..

[aerynsunx.livejournal.com]

The ending: I was thinking all this week that even though I would love the ending to be a happy "Vorenus and Pullo living together for the rest of their lifes" one, I could not see it. The way Vorenus loved Niobe was so intense, consuming and obsessive that I could not see him in happy ever after. And this is one of things that really define Vorenus for me and make him my favourite character of this show, his incredible love for Niobe and his intensity.

So, even though I am sighing and upset, the ending where my favourite character dies holding his daughter's hand from the wound he received whilst heroically saving his brother's child is a good one for me. Vorenus was dead inside after Niobe's death and nothing ever could have changed it. And in a way this makes me love him even more because he was this type of person who loves only once and can't live without his love.

So well said there's nothing more of value to add.

"All my life I've been fearful of defeat. But now that it has come it's not near as terrible as I'd expected. The sun still shines, water still tastes good...glory is all well and good but life is enough, nay?".

I love this quote. The show could've ended right there for me. But maybe not. :)

9. Scene of Mark Antony's death was quite magnificent, and Vorenus was there for him till the end and James Purefoy broke my heart to pieces.. "I died Roman"

I loved that whole series of scenes. So powerful.


Octavian was scary right to the end. *Loves him*

I'm glad you had something positive to say about Cleopatra. I've seen a lot of "I hate Cleo" posts, and I don't get it. I really didn't like her in the finale until her death scene. But I know why she did what she did. I've always liked the character otherwise. I never really "got" the Cleopatra-haters, tho.

"handsome, isn't he"

LOL

I loved how just before his death Vorenus accepted that may be his children could never forgive him, he has changed so much!!! And because of it his death didn't make me sad. He changed, he reconciled with his children, he finished everything that is worthy to live for but himself he wanted to be with Niobe.

A strong part of me wants to believe he lived. My more rational part says he lived only to see his children again and then died. All he really wanted left from life was to see his children again, maybe have their forgiveness, and be reunited with Niobe in the afterlife. Eventhough they didn't show it, I think the real ending is, he got what he wanted. Forget that. He's alive! Ha.

I have to say, on rewatching the finale, Pullo was actually saddened and solemn when reporting Lucius's death to Octavian. Yeah, he smiled at the reward and all. But you know Pullo's a happy-go-lucky guy. He won't frown in the face of good fortune. Earned or not.

21. Atia vs Livia. YAY! Way to go Atia! "Far better women then you have sworn to do the same". She is a fighter!! She looks amazing in this

She was awesome at the end, wasn't she? Powerful and strong. And yet, so heartbroken.

And so, Pullo has his son. And perhaps, Octavia has her Agrippa back. Even if it's on the down low. Life in "Rome" goes on.

What a wonderful show it was.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Oh, I am so missing "Rome" already!!!

I'm glad you had something positive to say about Cleopatra. I've seen a lot of "I hate Cleo" posts, and I don't get it. I really didn't like her in the finale until her death scene. But I know why she did what she did. I've always liked the character otherwise. I never really "got" the Cleopatra-haters, tho.

Her relationship with Mark Antony "clicked" for me in the last episode. I wish this character could receive more of the character development because I didn't warm up to her as much as to the others, but I liked her enough. And her last conversation with Octavian and her death scene was very powerful for me. And I liked that she wavered and didn't kill herself with Mrk Antony. It was more like I would imagine this to be in RL. Rather then "Let's die together as Romeo and Juliet".

A strong part of me wants to believe he lived. My more rational part says he lived only to see his children again and then died.

Same with me. I think that festered wound in that day and age meant definite death. But at the same time it is proven that the will to live is absolutely crucial in these circumstances. Vorenus already lasted long enough and the forgiveness of his children could have been just something that made him choose life.

Eventhough they didn't show it, I think the real ending is, he got what he wanted. Forget that. He's alive! Ha.

YAY!! I am all for it!!

I have to say, on re-watching the finale, Pullo was actually saddened and solemn when reporting Lucius's death to Octavian. Yeah, he smiled at the reward and all.

What made me think that he was solemn with Octavian and much happier with Caesarion afterwards. But I am just saying.. :D I know Pullo is a happy personality, but he was quite glum after Eirene's death and I think Vorenus is even more important for him. Also I remembered one little conversation Pullo and Vorenus had when Vorenus was lying on his sick bed. Puloo said something along the lines "you are going to die most likely". It is just not something that a friend says to his friend when he REALLY thinks that his friend is dying. But again, I am just improvising here. :D