Days of Being LJ

My Rome marathon this week ended late last night after witnessing the spectacular downfall of Mark Antony. So after 22 wonderful episodes what have I learnt about Rome, but more importantly about television?

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ROME

Rome was indeed motherfuckingly awesome. Sure you didn’t live long, but as long as you lived life was pretty darn interesting. Food, sex, wine, mindless violence and the rampant pillaging and burning of other kingdoms. Oh and don’t forge the tolerance (and acceptance) of homosexuality, divorce and adultery. Sure life was awesome as long as you were not a woman bearing children or a slave, but hey someone has to lose out.

I’m thinking perhaps the introduction of Christianity into Europe really was the killer of all fun. When you think about it, the middle ages probably set back western civilisation at least 700 years. Technically we all should be living in a world where enlightened humans engage in telepathic relations or something, yet we still live in a society where our government tries to censor adults’ access to certain websites because they’re afraid that society will fall into the dark pit of depravity. (I’m looking at you Stephen Conroy/ACMA Blacklist) Because obviously men haven’t been committing coitus with animals since the dawn of time or something.

My knowledge of Roman history is sketchy at best so I was amazed at the level of machinations and monuevaring taking place; The military strategy, the depth of political alliances and triumeverats etc. Now I’m tempted to actually read more historical texts rather than relying on Shakespeare and my less than stellar stage debut as Mark Antony in Rinse the Blood off My Toga in year 7.

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TV

How much do I love HBO? A Lot is the answer. I only wish that other

networks around the world have as much gall as HBO does in commissioning new TV Series. Although I came to Rome almost 4 years since it was first broadcast I think it’s one of the most sumptuous and lush pieces of TV I’ve ever witnessed. The attention to cinematic detail is extraordinary, coupled with high quality actors and incredible scripts, it’s just an absolute joy to watch. 100 million was used for the 1st season alone, and it’s not surprising that it wasn’t renewed for a 3rd season (I mean other than the fact that the fun pretty much ends with Octavian becoming Emperor) but that kind of money could also make around 3-4 13-episode seasons of a normal TV Show.

Also I’m very in love with the notion of “Binge TV”. This is the way most Chinese I guess other diaspora consume television. Procure entire seasons/series and watch without many breaks. Of course you don’t get the weekly fandom connection but you also don’t have to go through the pain of waiting a year in between seasons and the mental anguish of waiting for the news of whether your show got renewed or god forbid axed. The brilliant thing about coming into something after it’s finished is that the events on the periphery  of the program don’t pollute your view.

It is also heartening to see that the producers/creators were given enough editorial freedom to explore Rome through showing the necessary gore or covering controversial topics. Although HBO was never the network to shy away from squeamish images, what it did with Rome is still to be applauded.

I only wished that in Australia our networks would have the funds and dare to commission similar projects but alas it would be highly unlikely so we will forever be subjected to 10 more seasons of Underbelly and All Saints instead. Our history is just too damn uninteresting I’m afraid.

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On a few shallow notes:

James Purefoy, where have you been all my life and how come it took me THIS long to discover you? Please don’t fall by the wayside like Jeremy Northam.

Kevin McKidd = the next Clive Owen/Daniel Craig? Could it be that this ex-scrawny chap from Trainspotting, who didn’t even make it on the poster of that film, be the next hottest British thing in Hollywood? He has a chance but he needs to find more range. And if he doesn’t get out of the Grey’s Anatomy circle of death and find some good solid films he’s going to be stuck doing mid-range TV Shows which keep getting canceled like Journeyman.

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Rumor has it that there may be a feature film in the making. I can’t wait for the further adventures of Lucius Vorenus & Titus Pullo. I’m thinking of naming my first born son Marcus Lucius Cicero…Latin names are awesome.

LJK television opinion, rome, tv