. . . the new season (the last) of ROME appeared on HBO Sunday night, and I thought it opened very well - all of the actors seem to be back, even a couple who apparently got another Roman holiday just so they could hang around and be dead until their bodies were burned . . . lovely sets, sex, violence, politics, a touch of FELLINI SATYRICON (1968) here and there, and to think I was ready to give this one up after the initial three or four chapters of the first season when the writers appeared to be going nowhere . . . well, around mid-season, the folks behind the camera (as well as in front) found a direction, pulled it all together, and turned in a nice piece of work that ended with great power; this second season starts just (and I mean JUST) where the first one ended as these citizens of Rome continue to be no better than slaves to their lust for power - this is must see television . . .

I liked the first episode of the new season very much. However, I'm a bit troubled by the Sex and the Ancient City featurette currently avalable on HBO On Demand. Apparently Octavian will replaced by a different actor when the character ages and the clips shown here don't impress. Max Perkis really nails the future Augustus's intelligence and makes him likeable even while showing his cold and calculating side. The new guy just seems like a stereotypical decadent young (future) emperor.

I really liked Perkis in the role. One of my favorite things about the series. I have to wait for the DVDs, so I look forward to watching season 2 some time in 2008, consarnit!

Far and away my favorite thing about ROME so far is a review I read about the final episode of season 1 that began with MAJOR SPOILER ALERT!!! lest people find out that Julius Caesar gets murdered.

I'm sorry to see it go. We watched the final episode on Wednesday. On the one hand, I'm glad the series came to a proper ending; on the other, having only two seasons in which to tell a story that could (and should) have taken years to unravel forced the writers to condense and telescope much of the action--no one ever seemed to age, except Octavian. And the Jewish subplot introduced in the second season never quite went anywhere; I suspect an open-ended timeframe would have allowed for greater development. There was, however, finally, a battle scene; just one, enough to satisfy that requirement of the genre.

Ah, well. But I imagine we'll be seeing Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, James Purefoy, and Kerry Condon in other high-profile ventures (McKidd could step right into James Bond once Daniel Craig tires of it). Zuleikha Robinson has a good part in THE NAMESAKE. Polly Walker has a nice career ahead as the new Joan Collins if she chooses to go that route; if the TV soap comes back in its traditional form she's at the top of the casting list. And Lindsay Duncan's second season "arc" confirmed her as one of the best actresses around, period.

Or McKidd can segue back into playing a Gilbert and Sullivanian, which he did so well in Topsy Turvy, eh, Bob?

Was McKidd in that? Is he another musical talent that needs more exercising?

The NYT reported last week that McKidd has been cast in a US time-travel pilot, JOURNEYMAN, and Stevenson as a Long Island cop (!) in another potential program. As I thought, ROME was the darling of casting directors, who were just waiting to pounce on its talent...and, as friends agreed at Easter, TV's finest show for babe and boy watching. There are other reasons to watch but the Season 1 DVDs are worth renting just for that reason...

I thought it came to a faorly satisfactory conclusion. I liked that they treated Lepidus as the historical loser and odd man out that he was, they never even bothered to resolve his story. I also enjoyed the Mark Antony storyline - sure, Purefoy was chewing the scenery, but it was fun.

That said, Vorenus's storyline just kind of ... fizzled. At least Pullo stayed the course - I thought his scene with Cicero was fantastic.

If you're jonesing for ROME, I suggest switching alliances to Showtime and giving THE TUDORS a try. SHO shows are cursed with second-ratedness, but after two episodes this is their best attempt I've seen to level the playing field with HBO. I'm a sucker for these historical, SOPRANOS-inflected dramas (DEADWOOD being at the top of the heap) and THE TUDORS sticks to the format: good actors (if not as good), intrigue, bursts of violence, and bare skin to rival the fallen Roman Empire. And a little learning, so you don't feel bad for enjoying it afterwards. :) SHO has already committed to a second season; the program is spearheaded by Michael Hirst, who wrote the equally forward-drive ELIZABETH with Cate Blanchett.

I disagree. I would take WEEDS, BROTHERHOOD and DEXTER over any of the current HBO offerings other than THE WIRE. I'm not counting DEADWOOD and ROME, since ROME has concluded, and I doubt DEADWOOD will ever return.

The overall perception--and my reality :) --is that SHO shows come up short. SHO honchos admit as much in interviews, and so has SHO host Ira Glass, who had some caustic comments about the network prior to the (successful) launch of THIS AMERICAN LIFE. I tuned out on the strained WEEDS and the casually, brutally amoral DEXTER pretty quick, and never bothered with BROTHERHOOD. Someone there should spend time on quality control at MASTERS OF HORROR if it's to return, but on the whole that registers as another flubbed opportunity, good episodes aside. Again, it's a matter of taste.

On the other hand, I've never gotten the hang of THE WIRE, either, and I spend some time each year in Baltimore, which should have picqued my interest. And BIG LOVE turned me off. HBO's comedy-heavy upcoming offerings aren't really ringing my bell, and I'm annoyed that HBO dropped a final season of DEADWOOD in favor of Milch's iffy surfer program, so maybe the ground is shifting toward SHO. Best case scenario is that both channels turn out high-quality programming.

. . . I agree regarding THE TUDORS, it is certainly a show worth catching . . . I also agree regarding most of the other shows that have taken up time on SHOWTIME over the years, but I do believe BROTHERHOOD was the first of their programs to set them on the right course - I hope people will take a chance and watch a couple of chapters now that it is on DVD - I am sorry that it does not appear to be back on the schedule for a second season . . .

I think I had read on Variety that BROTHERHOOD was coming back, but I may be mistaken.