Rome Series Finale: De Patre Vostro (About Your Father)
I know I'm not going to get anything else done until I've had my say about the Rome series finale. While I would have loved even just a couple more episodes to slow down the pace my overall feeling is that I was taken on an amazing journey with fascinating characters that are not easy to pin down and surprisingly I loved them more for it. This last episode especially lets you take what you need from it and go from there. I take a lot of comfort in the fact that Empires rise and fall and yet their citizens somehow manage to go on no matter the violence and upheaval they have to endure. Without a doubt Pullo and Vorenus and their people will go on.
Thanks, in part I'm sure, to Vorenus's steady presence, defeat is not the end of the world Antony thought it would be.
The more power Octavian obtains the more he's filmed in shadow. His eyes no longer have that pale blue glow and are starting to look reptilian. And yet, he's still pretty.
Vorenus is not an effusive person on even his best day but it's still great to see him light up (just a bit) at the mention of Titus Pullo from Octavian's messenger.
Before:
After:
But when he and Antony share a drink he does get a little more verbose, disparaging both a soldier with an eye injury and a nice singing voice and, for some reason, Greece. Fuck 'em.
I love how Antony, in almost one gesture, can toss away a knife that he's meant to kill himself with by saying, This won't do, and then wipe away a tear.
The connection between Antony and Vorenus comes full circle with Vorenus bearing the terrible weight of Antony's death.
I personally loved the eyeliner and the henna tattoos but Vorenus wiping it all away and putting rings on his fingers really got to me.
As Cleopatra found out, if you do something really despicable Vorenus will stare at you like this.
A drawing of Niobe provides proof of life of Vorenus. From here on out Pullo is all about saving his son and Vorenus.
When Caesarion cries over the death of his mother Pullo observes him while Vorenus is ever so slightly appalled.
I've said it before and I'll say it again: These two are so It for each other I don't know where to begin.
Without a word between them Pullo returns the drawing of Niobe to Vorenus. None are needed.
I love this awkward little moment between Pullo and Vorenus after Vorenus asks after Gaia and all Pullo can say is that it didn't end well. Pullo especially becomes almost shy and fidgety as if he likes Vorenus too much and is trying not to show it.
So. Married.
From fighting fiercely to fiercely tender in a blink of an eye.
Hoo-kay. This is the single image that proves to me that Vorenus survived. After a month you've either been dead for the past 3 and half weeks or you're well on to your way to healing. He lives!
I love Lyde. Her tears landing on Vorenus's belly killed me.
As soon as Lyde vacates the spot Pullo is right there. I admire how quiet they can be with each other.
Only Pullo could make Vorenus's hands look small.
No goodbye - just connection.
One of the very few times that Vorenus looks afraid is when Vorena the Elder might give or refuse forgiveness.
Receiving an affectionate kiss from his daughter is not Vorenus's cue to let go but instead his cue to hold on. And he does. About that I have no doubt.
Be careful what you wish for. One of the many amazing things about this series is that it created very few actual villains despite some truly horrendous acts. Atia is a great example of that. Here she is in all her glory and in all her misery. Polly Walker should be praised to high heaven.
With a bag full of money and a good man waiting for him in the country Pullo finally tells Caesarion about his father.
OK. Vorenus waiting for them in the country wasn't in the show but I know I'm not the only one who thinks it works. Nothing big. Just some sheep in the meadows and a few peach trees for Pullo. And each other.