Rome 2.09 No God Can Stop a Hungry Man

[baleanoptera]

To lay all the cards on the table - I’m not sure what I think of this episode. I loved the Pullo, Vorenus and Mark Antony parts - but the Octavian plot…um, well it bored me.

But to take the love part first (and that is the biggest part I swear!):

Comments

[alexandral]

I didn’t realise I was bored until the Octavian/Livia sex scene. Then, amidst all the slapping and panting, I kept thinking: what is the point of this? Not in the "OMG! I’m disturbed! What is the point of showing this!?", but more "Hmm… is there a point to this? Wonder if I can just skip it and make myself a cup of tea."

It could be just me, but I am having far too many "sex with violence" scenes.. I am not that worried because for me "Rome" is great anyways, but when I see one very violent sex scene I feel disturbed, but when I see too many of them it gets to be a bit tiring. :D Oh, bring me back Agrippa and Octavia! And isn't their little girl so pretty? She is definitely Agrippa's..

Oh, I liked the title though - It was refering to so many things, from the obvious famine , to Vorenus's hunger for Niobe , Atia's for Antony, Caesarion's for his father.. And even Gaia's for Pullo..

[baleanoptera]

but when I see too many of them it gets to be a bit tiring. :D

Hee! I think that is it actually - there were just too many violent sex scenes in that episode, so what ever shock value they might have had was lost on me.

Oh, bring me back Agrippa and Octavia! And isn't their little girl so pretty? She is definitely Agrippa's..

Hear, hear! And I agree - the girl is definitely his. Takes after both her parents with lovely blond hair.
And did you see Agrippa's reaction when Octavian told his sister he was sending her to Egypt? His face is pretty blank, but he nearly slams his goblet down on the tray. So someone was upset by the thought of sending Octavia to the dangers of Egypt and to her husband. Which made me grin and be all shippy.

And I like you explanation of the title. It makes a lot of sense to me.

[nutmeg3]

<< Vorenus and Mark Antony share a penance for self destruction, whereas Pullo and Octavian both possess a savage ruthlessness when it comes to killing. Does any one else see this or is this me on the lost track of over-speculation? >>

I hadn't thought about this (because I tend not to analyze the show, just react emotionally), but I think it's a brilliant insight. I can't believe how much I'm going to miss this show once it's gone.

[baleanoptera]

I'm going to miss it like crazy. There is always the possibility of re-watch, but that just isn't the same thing. *sob*

As for the parallels between Pullo, Vorenus, Octavian and Mark Antony queenofthorns had a theory that I LOVED further down in the comments. How there are also parallels between Vorenus and Octavian, and Octavian is a lot like Vorenus expect he doesn't feel the guilt etc.

Not that QOT theory and mine are mutually exclusive or anything. ;) Oh, I love this show!

[baleanoptera]

Vorenus and Marc Antony both would rather not deal with the world the way it actually is.

Yes, and they are not to great with handling attacks of a personal nature. If you offend their person, like calling them Helen of Troy etc, they get a bit annoyed. ;) They also have anger issues - Mark Antony with his (repeated) strangling of Octavian and Vorenus with his made rages against his family.

Except I think I was more articulate the first time.

Hee, perhaps so but I got the point and I think its a very good one. :)

I think that Vorenus is the only conscience Antony will allow near him.

Just yes to this! Which is why it must hurt so bad when Vorenus tells him he has a sickness and that he recognizes the symptoms.

[the_grynne]

self-destruction

Thinking again about this, you're absolutely right. Although my initial reading of that scene was that it refered to their guilt - Antony over his perceived momentary cowardice when he abandoned Caesar as he was dying, and Vorenus over Niobe's death.

[baleanoptera]

I think both readings could be correct. ;) I think guilt over Caesar has been gnawing away at Mark Antony (and Vorenus, but not to the same degree) all season. In many ways it seems to me like Mark Antony has tried to soothe his feeling of guilt by being like Caesar - honouring the legacy of Caesar so to speak. (Where Cleopatra comes into that I'm not even going to speculate. ;D)

And on a completely different note: Hooray for Deadwood icon! I miss my "#¤%&%#¤¤ show. ;p

[baleanoptera]

I almost take this a different way - Pullo and Vorenus are each serving with the OTHER.

Oooo! I like this! Especially the Vorenus and Octavian parallels. With that in mind the Vorenus and Mark Antony scenes in the last episode becomes even more poignant don't they?

I love how Rome makes parallels like this.

I really loved how much SOFTER Octavian is with Pullo -

Oh absolutely. And I loved how Octavian sits next to him on the bench and talks about how they will have an adventure - just like old times. And how that moment manages to be sweet and downright scary all at the same time.

And on a sidenote I loved how it was the mention of Caesarion that made Pullo volunteer for Egypt. Before that he seemed a little hesitant, but the mention of the boy tipped the scales. Oh..I'm so worried for the next episode. It's going to break my heart isn't it.

I'm reading a biography of Augustus, and I have some fabulous Livia stories to share - including some about eggs and birds :P)HEE! I hope you'll share some of them, because I'd love

[baleanoptera]

I saw people writing that they think Pullo was in agreement that Caesarion had to die - I totally did not see this!)

What!? No,no. I'm with you - he is going to try to save him. Otherwise it makes no sense. He is all hesitant and evasive before Caesarion is mentioned, but when he hears the boys name he signs up. So obviously the mention of Caesarion tips the scales somehow, and I doubt very much it's the thought of killing the boy that's the driving force there.

Ahh Poor Pullo. Just because he can decapitate people with a shield he gets accused of all kinds of nasty stuff. Hee. ;)