Rome - The Complete Second Season

List Price: $59.99 Discount Price: $35.67

Customer Reviews:

They Came, They Saw, They Conquered... [Posted on 2008-09-14]
Ah,it is with sweet sadness we view this sumptuous last season of Rome, the most lavishly produced and finely detailed series ever presented on TV. So much more story to tell that won't be, with a cast of historical and fictional characters in one of the most exciting and complex societies imaginable, full of intrigue, passion, violence, and humor. Like the Romans themselves the shows were chock-a-block with seeing, coming and conquering, and the delicious acting and witty scripts are to be savored. We could wish for more, but at least we have these.

The final season centers on the aftermath of Julius Caesar's assassination/murder and the struggle between Brutus, Marc Antony and Octavian within the power vacuum thus created. James Purefoy's Antony emerges here in all his marvelous contradictions: beloved and often brilliant soldier, careless and licentious hedonist, and finally debauched yet pitiful lover in doomed alliance with Cleopatra.

We also have the delicious final battle of wills and scheming between Atia and Sevilia, the rise of the precociously brilliant Octavian, adroit and ruthless, prudish and depraved. And we have the pursuit and destruction of Caesar's assassins culminating in the epic battle of Phillipa, and the redemptive and, in the end, nobel and courageous death of the tormented and conflicted Brutus.

All of the above is history as presented, again, from the perspective of the Mutt and Jeff of the Roman world, Vorenus and Pullo, the legionaire everymen that allow us to see the underside of Roman history where the common people lived real lives amidst the gutters and and gangsters, shopkeepers and slaves, brothels and bakeries. Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson are a marvelous duo as the prudish and sternly middle-class Vorenus and the lusty, devil-may-care, yet loyal and true Pullo.

I won't cite all the other actors but suffice it to say they are all splendid. The final season seems a bit rushed and crowded in the final episodes, no doubt because they knew of their cancellation and wanted to wrap up the series as best they could. I noted storylines that were ready for expansion, and it seemed obvious that the great drama of Antony and Cleopatra versus Ocatavian had to be truncated. While possibly a little too neat, at least they were allowed to bring the series to a finality (unlike the great Deadwood series, for example).

Yes, I am sure Rome was an expensive proposition for HBO to continue. And I guess it never found the vast audience needed to justify HBO's budget. But, oh, what a shame! Something this beautifully done deserved a better fate. At any rate, we have these DVD boxed sets, which, by the way, are the most handsomely produced and packaged sets I own. Well worth the purchase and viewing by anyone who loves quality.

Rome - the Second Season [Posted on 2008-10-09]
The DVD appears to be exactly what I ordered,although because it will be a gift, it has not been unwrapped. I didn't receive the DVD until 22 days after I had ordered it, a delay which concerned me to the extent that I had to write a "Where is my order?" note.

Rich's Rome (2) Pruchase [Posted on 2008-11-02]
I received this purchase within 10 days. It is in excellent shape just as was advertised.

Love Rome/History/Drama [Posted on 2008-11-14]
I loved this series and I am disappointed that this series was cancelled. HOW SHOCKING THAT A SERIES LIKE SEX & THE CITY CAN STAY ON TELEVISION BUT NOT ROME.

Rome season 2 [Posted on 2008-11-28]
Beautifully done series, particularly in the depliction of Rome's grubbiness and violence. Wonderful details like the description of the Aventine gangs and the fight for the grain trade. Naturally some inaccuracies, though I disagree with some reviews about series Rome's Cleopatra-I found her intelligent and determined to whatever was necessary to hold on to power, much like the historical Cleo. I do wish they could've given Brutus and Cassius a longer Philippi but here's a Rome series that actually mentioned Hirtius and Pansa...You can't ask for too much. What a shame it wasn't extended, but Mr. Heller...There's always Byzantium waiting to be done right.

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