User reviews

Britannia is a fantasy historical show that takes place in A. D. 43 and follows the Roman Imperial Army who are determined to take over Britannia, who are ruled by some warrior women and the creepy Druids who can channel the forces of the underworld. I'm a fan of history and fantasy shows so I thought I'd give Britannia a chance. Im glad I did because it's a pretty decent show. Most of the negative reviews are saying that it's not historically accurate...who cares? It's not a documentary. Is it one of the best shows ever? No. But it's absolutely worth watching if your a fan of shows that have fantasy, history, action, drama, etc.

I enjoyed Britannia quite a bit more than I thought I would. I don't understand some of the bad reviews. It's not a documentary and doesn't claim to be a true story. It's just a fun fantasy type show that keeps your attention throughout the series. Again, I like it and looking forward to more seasons!

Just the right mixture of historical fiction, action adventure, and irreverent dark humor. Don't worry about historical accuracy. Just sit back and enjoy a creative and unique show!

My goodness what a lot of negative reviews this show has generated though I can't understand why. Seldom have I seen such a fun programme. Yes, fun. This was funny, sexy, violent, bonkers and emotionally truthful in a way that other series fail to achieve.

To think that this was aiming for any kind of historical accuracy is mad. It was made as an entertainment riffing on possible historical events. The use of modern language, initially jarring, ends up working to its advantage. There's no more reason to dislike modern usage than there is to dislike cod medieval or cod turn of the millennia language. Any language choice is going to be inauthentic so you might as well go for modern vernacular which has the side effect of milking the dialogue for humour. Using Donovan's Hurdy Gurdy Man for the theme tune is as inspired as using Nick Cave for the theme tune of Peaky Blinders.

You might also like to note the satirical reference to other well-known franchises and the use of Shakespearian minor characters. The two centurions sampling the "stash" of the witch doctor was comedy gold.

Yes, how we all hunger for the certainty of the old days when you knew where you were. When Loved It or Hated It reviews could be searched on and all TV programmes followed the same rules and were as bland as each other. Now all we have left is "helpful" so please regard this review as a provocative Loved It review. No, seriously, I really loved this series and can't wait for the next and I hope I've been really unhelpful in my review.

There's plenty of people on here that are taking the series and its historical accuracy too seriously, even to the point that someone seems to figure themselves as more well informed than the Roman historian Mary beard (looking at you Allen). I'm currently undergoing my Masters in Roman History, and just a little newsflash mate, ancient Britain was famous for its warrior queens (esp. Cartimandua and Boudicca) which are mentioned in Tacitus - do your homework and stop thinking you're an expert because you've read Herodotus lol. Also Rome pooled auxiliaries from all over the empire including its North African provinces, and due to the migratory nature of the peoples from Sub-Saharan Africa, and the plethora of reports about peoples below the desert its not unlikely that these people wanted to live in the prosperous North African provinces of the Roman Empire and took up military service with its lucrative benefits. Either way, its not the point; the show captures the perceived mysticism and magical Roman conceptions of Britain well. It was seen by Roman and Greek writers as the land at the end of the world where magic and human sacrifice among other abominations occured. Yes the show deviates away from certain historical events, but the invasion of Claudius was not all that well documented, and it still captures the internal strife and rivalry well, as well as the mysterious prominence of the druids in celtic culture. It's quite sad really how many people are trying to be historians while watching a sky drama: the cast is good, some of the characters are endearing, and for the shows early days, it looks promising. Stop trying to step into academic fields that you're clearly not all that well acquainted and just enjoy the drama. Jheeeeezus.

Well, I was very pleasantly surprised when I started watching this TV series and I liked it from the very beginning.

And then, what has been happening lately with TV series has started to happen here as well, and that is that the production, after the initial success, thinks how it found a milking cow and then instead of finishing the series in a normal and meaningful way, procrastination and dilution starts, in order to film as many seasons as possible and earn as much money as possible.

This, of course, resulted in the fact that each following season is weaker than the previous one, and that the action stretches unnecessarily indefinitely, and in essence, nothing important happens in the complete third season.

This is a classic example of how to ruin a good and interesting idea, as happened with the TV series Money Heist, for example.

So my rating of this TV series dropped from a strong 9 to a modest 7.

This show is about the Romans invasion of Britain with some sorcery, gods, and devils mixed in. The first time I watched it which was over 2 and a half year ago I remembered liking it well enough, but I watched again and I feel like I actually liked it more this time around. The first episode is slow and you're kind of like wtf by the end, but if you continue it explains and things make sense. Most of these actors and actresses I'm not familiar with except for Kelly Reilly, and David Morrissey who are great as always, but The Outcast and Cait are the two that makes this show really shine. Now when these two are on the screen together is when it's really unforgettable. They play off each other and the banter is really great stuff that at times I'm feeling sorry for how The Outcast talks to her and the next I'm laughing at her being over his crap and then snapping on him. The acting is very good, the story is wild, and really everything that went into making this is well done. It feels and looks like a big budget production. This isn't GoT or The Last Kingdom so don't expect that at all, but it is a good show for fans of that type of genre. I'm excited for season two.

Love the series, love kelly reilly, love the concept... BUT... the main theme tunes and graphics are bloody awful and out of place... the idiot that made that decision needs a kick in the bracket

This had so much potential and good bones of an interesting historical fiction, fantasy drama. But oh boy did it ever go south and fast. Season 3 was absolutely a travesty and a bore. It had great bones from the start but they wasted so much talent and turned the show upside down and made no sense by the end. Hemple is absolutely unbearable and unbelievable and such a bore to watch. It was like nails on a chalkboard with her. And poor Cait was given the worst script and plot line when she should have been the star of the show but you honestly barely get to understand or know her or see her truly. So much wasted scenes and time on nonsense and jokes with Phelan. He was the comic relief I guess but really should have been killed off long ago. He was pointless.

All the men are basically turned into weakling jokesters by the end. The women are propped up as the saviors of the day at every turn but then given no substance at all. Hella seemed like she'd be interesting but nope they bombed her character. Aulus was this strong mighty Roman General and then a "whipped" dude at the end who couldn't stand up to Hemple. Now she's the star? She was ridiculous.

Let us not even forget the HORRID music!!!! The intro/outtro music and all the stuff in the show. It was like watching a 1970s acid trip basically with the music they paired with it all. It ruined whatever mediocrity it had to spare and sent it down the looking glass with Alice and the White Rabbit. Surprised they didn't actually use that song by Jefferson Airplane LOL. That's essentially what all the music sounded like. It honestly may have even been an improvement on the music! I always had to mute it or FF past the musical parts it was so bad and so ill fitting. You want the music to transform you to a place in time and set the tone/mood etc. This had to be the worst show ever to use such out of place music throughout.

I guess I'm just frustrated. This show basically takes you on an endless loop of nonsense you'll never get answers to basically the show LOST in 70AD on Acid. We don't even know if there will be a 4th season and yet they write a show with no ending and endless loops and loose ends. So a waste of time with possibly no conclusion. Or a very disturbing one if that's what we're left with at end of season 3.

Don't know why this has so many negative reviews - it's a fantasy show on television, it isn't supposed to be a word for word history lesson. Granted the first two episodes are a little slow and a little bit cheesy at first but once you get to know the characters and the story starts to blossom I was hooked.

I am a huge Game of Thrones fan and I admit I was drawn here as so many had described it as the GOT filler until the next season/book us eventually upon us - but - THIS IS NOTHING LIKE GOT! It is a story and world in its own right and incredibly entertaining.

The young girl actress - Eleanor Worthington Cox, is brilliant. Her rapport Nikolaj is incredible and they both were my favourite characters from early on.

All the complainers need to simmer down. It was ace.

It's not supposed to be historically accurate !! I must admit I wasn't sure about it at first. I loved Rome, and Spartacus but keep with it and Brittania does grow on you. See it for what it is and just enjoy it.

I don't know a lot about this time and place in history so it doesn't bother me that it's, apparently, not historically accurate.

I didn't expect to like this so much! It's got huge production value, fantastic actors, a great story that is very well paced, it can be quite humorous at times, and quite gory! I love it! Eagerly awaiting the second season!

Makes me wonder if I need to take a look at other shows that are on EPIX, if this is the quality they're offering!

I am quite enjoying this so far, in spite of the rather glaring errors. Yes, I too enjoyed the rabbit - particularly the way its skin fell off. The language also annoys me, the Romans and Britons seemingly have no language barrier at all - amazing. The locations also grate, looking about as little like Kent as possible, the Welsh Slate quarry doesn't look much like Canterbury, I agree. The Cantii apparently don't bother with woad, leaving that to the Atrebates, for the convenience of colour definition. The second legion augustus fighting in Kent?Oh, and whoever styled the Britons clearly didn't read Ceasar's descriptions, not a soup strainer moustache in sight!

But some of the criticism here is nonsense. The Britons did have female warriors (Boudicca anyone?), as did other ancient peoples, the Romans most certainly had black soldiers in their ranks, and it has been conclusively proven by DNA that they were in Britain. Numidians, Nubians, Moors, there were many Africans in the Roman Army. At least one became Emperor later on.

In spite of its many issues, it's quite enjoyable though.

Wasn't sure quite what to make of this.

A lot of the very negative reviews are from people who gave up after the first episode and to be fair, I wasn't entirely convinced for quite a way in.

Anyway it gets to very dark places by the end. I'm watching the last episode now and I'm completely invested. Its great and I do hope it gets a second outing.

Great cinematography, great actingthrills a minute. I'm not sure why others were disappointed because I loved this entire series. Great concept to blend historical fiction with fantasy. There is so little known about the druids that this blend seems otherworldly enough to give thrill while enough realism to allow viewers to suspend disbelief providing a basis for true entertainment. Sorry about some losses in the ending, and I hope Season 2 is released soon.

I love anything sword/shield....even better if it has a mythological/folklore aspect to it. Favs are anything King Arthur/Robin Hood and Greek/Roman mythology. Didn't know much about the show going in....thought it was going to be more historic fiction and less fantasy.

The show accomplished its goal....entertaining and definitely different. Actually kind of enjoyed the comic relief aspect..... Could've been a much darker show. Also, season 2 could be confusing at times. However, no major complaints....more people should give the show a chance.

I'll admit I love watching anything to do with Ancient Rome. As a teenager, I studied Lingua Latina and translated, for example, the writings of Julius Caesar and all the exploits throughout his career.

The Roman Army around 43AD was the most dangerous and skilled in the World; and Ancient Rome ruled most of what was the known World, they may lose a battle here and there, but rarely lost a war.

After every battle a Legions Commander would write about both his and the enemies tactics, and send a dispatch to the Sergeant Major Of The Army, back in Rome - who would copy same, and send it to every other Roman Legion General. This way every Commander had full knowledge of the enemy. And it worked.

Britannia shows just how ruthless the Roman Army and their Generals were. Kind of like, take no prisoners. Even the children were killed. Why? Because the Generals learned that when the kids grew up, they would want revenge.

There's a lot of action in Britannia and the Roman General in Britain is especially cruel. And smart.

For anyone who likes this time period, don't dwell too much on any perceived 'historical inaccuracies', just sit back and enjoy the ride. The opening music by Donnavan sets the mood. In part to me Britannia was both great and slightly crazy. Well worth your time.

Most of the negative reviews seem to be so on the basis of poor historical accuracy, and while I totally understand this I consider it to be unfair at the same time. Britannia was never claiming to present a historically authentic depiction so don't go in expecting a "Rome" or anything close to it. It's clearly using the historical setting to drive the supernatural elements and I'm ok with that. Shows that are ostensibly supposed to be historical such as "Vikings" that still get things terribly wrong do provoke my ire for it, but not this because it was never in the same category to begin with.

It does feel a little confused at times and certainly has its faults (among which are the weird costume choices people seem to make for tv these days, although I suspect half of that is a budget issue). But after the first episode I can say I enjoyed the characters and the setting and I'm willing to see what happens.

Miscast makes this too ridiculous simply absurd and unreal series full of obvious and ridiculous historical inconsistencies, horrible miscast cast, poor anachronistic writing and it all makes this show poor and unwatchable.

Saw bad ratings, accusations of being a GOT rip off, hard to get info the story. Say What?? It has everything a good show needs: a prophecy, a quest, some Magic, deep characters and just the right amount of violence. I studied Roman language and culture and couldn't care less if it is not historical correct, it is not important to the story. I would love to see more of this. Where GOT was difficult to get into the story keeping all the houses apart and a bit too violent for me and the last season was just ashaming, this show has a lot of potential for more seasons. Give it a try, unless you have really bad taste you will not regret it.

I really expected something much better, maybe more in the tone of Vikings or Rome. But I found a series that could have been produced by The CW...

I understand that the series does not try to be historically faithful, but sometimes it seems like a joke from the Roman legions.

Everyone knows how to speak Latin (English) perfectly, it's like in Stargate, it does not matter if you come from another planet, here everyone understands you perfectly.

In short, entertaining, but little else.

If you want to see a documentary when you watch a television series, then by all means listen to the people who complain about the lack of historical accuracy.

If you on the other hand just want to have a good time with a fictional series based loosely on history, then by all means watch it! It is weird and violent, with many interesting characters and some good ol' action too.