Utica (30 Oct. 2005)

The defeated Cato and Scipio fall back on the African city of Utica after the Battle of Thapsus where they decide to end it all. Caesar, after two years of fighting in Greece and Egypt, ... See full summary »

Director:

Jeremy Podeswa

Writers:

John Milius (creator), William J. MacDonald (creator),

Stars:

Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Polly Walker

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Kevin McKidd	...	Lucius Vorenus
Ray Stevenson	...	Titus Pullo
Polly Walker	...	Atia of the Julii
Lindsay Duncan	...	Servilia of the Junii
Tobias Menzies	...	Marcus Junius Brutus
Kerry Condon	...	Octavia of the Julii
Karl Johnson	...	Porcius Cato
Indira Varma	...	Niobe
Max Pirkis	...	Gaius Octavian
Lee Boardman	...	Timon
Paul Jesson	...	Scipio
Lorcan Cranitch	...	Erastes Fulmen
Chiara Mastalli	...	Eirene
Esther Hall	...	Lyde
Coral Amiga	...	Vorena the Elder

Storyline

The defeated Cato and Scipio fall back on the African city of Utica after the Battle of Thapsus where they decide to end it all. Caesar, after two years of fighting in Greece and Egypt, returns to Rome and receives a hero's welcome. Meanwhile, Servilia's cold rage against the Julii clan makes Brutus's submission to Caesar even more painful. Octavian returns home from military school and Caesar, impressed with his nephew's incisive political acumen, appoints him a pontiff despite his youth. Having opened and operated a profitable butcher shop, Niobe and Lyde get the reluctant Vorenus and Pullo to join the trade, but Vorenus again crosses paths with the thug Erastes, now the crime lord of the Aventine. Learning of Caesar's secret "affliction," Servilia persuades her lover Octavia to cajole her brother into revealing more, but she only learns Niobe's secret instead. Servilia motivates Octavia to try again by other means, with dreadful consequences for both sister and brother. Pullo's ...

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Plot Keywords:

battle of thapsus | julius caesar | kicking in a door | elephant | theatrical play | 

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Genres:

Action | Drama | History | Romance | War

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Certificate:

TV-MA

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

30 October 2005 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Cinecittà Studios, Cinecittà, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

53 min

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Ancient Roman criminals had almost unlimited power because there were in fact no policemen. Since full army units were forbidden in Italy, only a limited number of legionnaires were available to maintain order. Street gangs actually kept the peace, within the boundaries of their respective territories.

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Goofs

Cato is shown stabbing himself once in the heart and dying, which is not historically accurate. According to Plutarch, Cato attempted to kill himself by stabbing himself with his own sword, but failed to do so due to an injured hand. One of Cato's slaves found him on the ground and called for a physician to stitch up and bandage Cato's wounds. Cato waited until they left him and then tore off the bandages and the stitches with his fingers and pulled out his own intestines, and bled to death.

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Quotes

Porcius Cato: Scipio, you have a tolerant spirit. I suggest that, if you can, you should try and make your peace with Caesar.
Scipio: I shall do whatever you do.
Porcius Cato: [chuckles] Oh, I wouldn't do that.
[Cato commits suicide later that evening]

User Reviews

The Second Homecoming

Vorenus and Pullo put down their swords and return to the city once again. Niobe and Lyde run a profitable butcher shop and convince reluctant Vorenus and Pullo to work there. Everything seems to be going well for Vorenus until he makes waves with a local thug, now crime lord. Pullo seemed envious of Vorenus' situation at home and is searching for meaning and happiness. He grows closer to the slave Eirene during this time and seems happier with her.

Octavian returns home from military school and Caesar appoints him a pontiff despite his age.

Servilia takes Atia's role of master manipulator this episode when she persuades Octavia to find out more regarding Caesar's affliction from Octavian. Octavia's method of extracting the truth from Octavian results in dire consequences for both of them, and Servilia.

I have always loved the relationship between Vorenus and Pullo and this episode shows more of that. Pullo is just so loyal Vorenus - I love it. Vorenus being promoted by Caesar may not help Pullo's questionable emotional state and loyalty to his friend.

The scene with the defeated Cato and Sciopio is shot wonderfully and has a gorgeous look to it. The background of the city from the outdoor-ish scene between Octavia and Octavian also had me in awe.