Rome (TV Series) Passover (2007) User Reviews

Lucius Vorenus Is Back and Is He P**SED!!!

[cchase · 9/10 · 18 January 2007]

The return of ROME to HBO is almost more of an event for me than the eventual comeback of a certain mob family. It would've been cruel and unusually punishment for the series to simply have been cut down before we could find out about what happened to some of our (MY) favorite characters.

I love the way that "Passover" juxtaposes both the funerals of Gaius Julius Caesar and Niobe. And especially touching is how the strong bond between Vorenus and Pullo is renewed, as Lucius temporarily loses his mind with the suicide of his beloved, if adulterous wife.

A lot of people will read Pullo's reaction to the horrific events as being out of character, but if you recall from last year, Pullo did everything in his power to help keep the truth from Vorenus, including murder most foul. I read his response as being a kind of fatalistic realism: the deed is done, now his greatest concern is seeing to the welfare of his friend. As always, Pullo's still not the sharpest dagger in the sheath, but his friendship and loyalty remain unwavering - his character's most noble and endearing trait, which almost allows you to overlook his more heinous impulses and actions. ALMOST.

As for Vorenus, well, the less I say about what happens between him and the odious Erastes Fulman, the better. Just brace yourself - you'll be shocked, if not surprised.

It will be interesting to see how historical events play out and effect all the main characters still in play here: Mark Antony, as full of himself as ever; doomed Brutus and his equally-fated cohorts; Octavian, (who's shot up like a weed!) who is gradually coming into his own at last, and most especially Servilia and Atia, whose delightfully noxious interactions are some of the miniseries' best and most memorable moments.

Thanks, HBO, for allowing us another chance to watch ROME majestically fall apart. I'm more than ready for the next episode!

Spectacular Premiere Episode For Season Two!

[Dan1863Sickles · 10/10 · 9 August 2016]

ROME wasn't around for long, but for the two seasons it ran it was one of the best shows HBO ever turned out. And for my money the second season was often better than the first!

This episode has a lot of explosive action, yet the title "Aftermath" would have been better than "Passover." In the upper world, it's the aftermath of Caesar's assassination. In the lower world, it's the aftermath of Vorenus' fatal argument with his wife Niobe. Watching characters high and low cope with life-or-death consequences, grief and danger makes for electrifying viewing!

Although I love Pullo and Vorenus very much, the reason this episode is my favorite is because you really see Marc Antony at his very best. James Purefoy just can't be beat and this episode really belongs to him. Betrayed, caught off guard, his father-figure and patron dead, Antony really rises to the occasion! He outruns the bad guys outside the senate, out-thinks Brutus and the well-born elite, carefully uses his playboy persona to keep everyone off-guard, and at the end literally changes history with the most explosive funeral oration ever!

At the same time, Max Perkis as the young Octavian (and future Emperor Augustus) is equally compelling and watchable. The frail and soft-spoken boy is so easy to overlook, until he opens his mouth and reveals an almost uncanny sense of purpose and a strength of character that equals or surpasses that of Mark Antony. The two of them are allies in this episode yet their fatal rivalry is already obvious. It's so amazing to see these historical icons come to life in a drama that's as much about family loyalty and grief as it is about historical events!

Last but not least, I have to mention that the actor who plays Cicero (David Bamber?) is sensational. On one level he's pure comic relief, a coward and hypocrite who switches sides at the drop of a hat. On the other hand the actor never lets you lose sight of the man's brilliance, his eloquence, or his sincere loyalty to the old republic. I can't think of a single bad performance in ROME, from the noble ladies to the lowest slaves. But this was truly special!

Favorite show ever...

[whitakeroh · 8/10 · 14 January 2007]

I love Rome-the richness of the characters, the layers of the scenery and the depth of emotion that these virtually unknown actors are able top pull off is brilliant. I am shocked that for years no one has made palatable shows about Rome--particularly during the Roman timespan that the HBO series captures. HBO is great b/c it reveals Rome to us in all its visceral feeling and truth--none of the camp and debased crap produced by American television companies which whinnies about terrorism all day w/ 70 year old actors who are devoid of any depth at all. All should watch Rome, it is by far, one of the best shows you will ever watch.

Two Burning on fire!!

[elo-equipamentos · 8/10 · 4 July 2017]

According some sources and what l had read about this classic story in that period, all showing in this prime episode really happened after Julius Caesar's death, but something bothered me, a total lack of voices of Romans citizens, a crowd of angry people stays quiet about Caesar's death, the emperor whose they loved, nothing about this important facts from those time, so the episode is accurate and fine, all agreements between both sides of power is correct, but the producers could spends some money to show this disturbance that happened in those days!!!

Resume:

First watch: 2017 / How many: 1 / Source: Blu-ray / Rating: 8.5

What happened next

[Tweekums · 9/10 · 7 July 2017]

The second season of Rome starts immediately after the first ended. Caesar is lying dead on the floor of the senate and Mark Antony is fleeing for his life. Atia and her family prepare to leave the city although Octavian cautions that they should stay. When Mark Antony arrives at their house he tells them that he plans to head north to raise an army but before they leave Octavian insists that Caesar's will is read… it declares that Octavian is to be considered his son and heir. Mark Antony points out that it is meaningless as those who killed Caesar will have him declared a tyrant and his will and all his proclamations will be declared illegal. Octavian sees an opportunity; if all Caesar's proclamations are void so are the appointments he gave the plotters. He suggests a truce which they have little choice but to accept… it will be an uneasy truce though.

Meanwhile Lucius Vorenus is overcome with grief over the death of his wife; so much so that he curses his family. While he is out Erastes Fulmen comes and takes his family. When Titus Pullo learns of Caesar's death he returns to Rome and the house of his friend Vorenus. He supports his friend through his wife's funeral then helps his search for his family… with some inevitably bloody results.

This was a really impressive season opener; no time was wasted on showing us what happened before. It isn't necessary the story is easy to pick up even if it has been some time since you watched the first season. Things are immediately tense as Mark Antony is chased through the streets, it is no less tense at Atia's household as they prepare to flee the city. The real fun of the episode was seeing just how fast the political tide changed after Octavian convinced Mark Antony they in law they have the upper hand… and if the plotters want to be seen to have been protecting the law they will have to agree or face an election they might lose. The scenes with Vorenus and Pullo weren't quite as interesting but served to show what these two protagonists were up to. The cast did a fine job; Max Pirkis impressed as Octavian and David Bamber was a lot of fun as Cicero, providing some laughs as he twisted and turned to try to keep in with whoever he was talking to at the time. However James Purefoy dominated just about every scene he was in as Mark Antony; a man despised by the elite but feared because of his common touch that makes him popular with the mob. Overall this was a great opener that left me keen to see what happens during the rest of the season.

A Good Take On Roman History

[saxon_princess · 10/10 · 15 January 2007]

This is one of the best Roman based shows I've ever seen. I'm a History geek and now a lot on the Roman Empire. The characters and all round story of the show is amazing. They excellent, not well know actors and actresses to portray the characters. The visually stunning scenery was beautiful.

This is a brilliant show and you'll like this if you enjoy shows like this. Though... not all the parts are true to history, it's still worth watching. I recommended seeing if you like shows such as; Xena, Hercules, or Into The West. Hope this helps with your choice to watch it or not, I do recommended though that no children watch this...

Great 1st show

[jorgensen-jason · 9/10 · 17 January 2007]

This was a great opening episode. Being a history teacher I'm always skeptical about historical period dramas, however, I find Rome to be a fantastic historically based drama while not being totally correct. I enjoyed the momentary madness by Vorenus and the complete reversal of roles between he and Pullo. Vorenus being the madman and Pullo being sort of the voice of reason in the situation. I do believe they did try to cover too much material too quickly but overall it was a great start to the season and I look forward to more greatness this season. Max Pirkis being recast this season brings sadness for me because I do love what he brings to Octavian and I also look to see what the new season will bring for Pullo and Vorenus.

Big Disappointment

[yelenatmark · 4/10 · 15 January 2007]

Although we all wanted to witness another great episode, the Jan 14th 2007 episode of ROME, was for me, lacking in focus, and trying to say too much too quickly. For all that occurred (politically speaking) ROME 2007 felt stuck dramatically, reminding me of some of my experiences when digesting an endless Wagnarian aria..., I know there is a leitmotif somewhere if only I can find it!! Only Gaius Octavian's key political analysis, and occasionally Mark Antony captured the sense of dramatic movement and urgency required for these people to survive after their protectors demise.

Tracking Vorenus' slump into momentary madness made him into a caricature (crazed victim able to exact revenge killing 10 men with superhuman abilities); much like the character ploys Mel Gibson often likes to portray (Braveheart, Ransom, Lethal Weapon, Payback,etc). Perhaps Vorenus' state of mind is a metaphor for the chaos in the immediate aftermath of the murder of Ceaser, but it did not work for me. Also, Titus Pullo's detached, matter of fact reaction to the tragic turn of events facing his dear friend Vorenus made no emotional sense, given our understanding of Pullo and his relationship with Vorenus, from ROME 2006.

I did however enjoy certain scenarios, such as Mark Antony's negotiation with Brutus and Servilia. We can hope the best is yet to come, right?