# Rome (2005)

> A down-to-earth account of illustrious and ordinary Romans living through the final days of the Roman Republic.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/1784

## Facts

- Seasons: 2
- Episodes: 22
- Episode runtime: 52 min
- Status: Canceled
- Genres: drama, history
- Created by: John Milius, Bruno Heller, William J. MacDonald
- Network: HBO
- Cast: Kevin McKidd, Ray Stevenson, Ciarán Hinds, James Purefoy, Polly Walker, Lindsay Duncan, Tobias Menzies, Max Pirkis
- TMDB rating: 8.7/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0384766/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: dense
- Violence: brutal
- Tone: gritty, earthy, sardonic, sensual, dark

## What critics say

Critics and audiences broadly acclaim Rome for its grounded, richly detailed portrayal of the late Roman Republic and its strong character performances.

## Synopsis

Rome (2005-2007) is a British-American prestige historical drama created by John Milius, Bruno Heller, and William J. MacDonald, produced for HBO with BBC involvement. Kevin McKidd plays Lucius Vorenus, a stern legionary, and Ray Stevenson plays his rowdy comrade Titus Pullo, whose lives tangle with the great men of the age. Ciarán Hinds portrays Julius Caesar, James Purefoy plays Mark Antony, and Polly Walker plays the scheming Atia of the Julii, all drawn into the shifting alliances of the collapsing Roman Republic. The engine of the series is the rivalry between ambitious generals and senators, while the soldiers and citizens below them chase wages, loyalty, and survival through street brawls, camp life, and back-room conspiracies. Across two seasons and twenty-two episodes, the show moves between marble senate floors and muddy frontier posts, mixing grand political maneuvering with the coarse, earthy textures of everyday Roman life. The tone is gritty, sardonic, and sensual, with dark betrayals and brutal combat balanced by moments of dry humor. Fans of Spartacus, I, Claudius, and Game of Thrones will find resonance in its blend of lurid adult drama and sweeping historical scale. Its story ends on an open note as the series was cut short.

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