Thoughts on Ending an Epic: HBO's Rome
Jacob Malewitz
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The last episode of "Rome" is in the books and an epic series comes to an end. It's sad that the Rome series ends, but it was an ending that suited me. It didn't have the touchy-feely happy ending that you would expect from a movie; instead it brought all the interlocking storylines to a happy or tr 
agic ending.
The last episode began with Antony and Lucius at sea after being defeated by Augustus Caesar.
"All my life" Antony said, "I have been fearful of defeat. The sun still shines. Water still tastes good. Glory is all well and good; life is enough."
Antony's Egyptian fleet had been defeated and Lucius, who had stayed loyal to Antony just like he had for Julius Caesar, ended up fighting against the republic that he had served for so long.
Was it surprising that Titus Pullo ended up being on the victor's side? Pullo had sided with Augustus in the battle and, while never crossing blows with Lucius, had ended up with more power than the intelligent Lucius.
After the loss, Augustus demanded complete surrender from Antony. And Antony, who had been going mad ever since arriving in Egypt, knew his time was up.
Antony decides to challenge Augustus to single combat, an offer that is declined by Augustus.
Instead of calling together what power he had left, Antony succumbed to liquor and the lure of Cleopatra, who was also in dire straits. Cleopatra knew that Augustus would immediately murder her child with Caesar (who was actually a son of Titus Pullo) since he was a threat to his power.
So the chain of events went for the final episode of "Rome.". The moments that had been building up for two seasons came to a head, the main question not being if Antony would be victorious, but more on how he would ever survive defeat.
The two main characters, Titus and Lucius, end up with enough defining moments in the final episode. There are enough twists of the continuous action and drama that the story is memorable.
Bear in mind, these men aren't heroes. When Lucius is asked by Cleopatra whether Titus is a good man or not, Lucius says: "Define good."
The last episode began with Antony and Lucius at sea after being defeated by Augustus Caesar.
"All my life" Antony said, "I have been fearful of defeat. The sun still shines. Water still tastes good. Glory is all well and good; life is enough."
Antony's Egyptian fleet had been defeated and Lucius, who had stayed loyal to Antony just like he had for Julius Caesar, ended up fighting against the republic that he had served for so long.
Was it surprising that Titus Pullo ended up being on the victor's side? Pullo had sided with Augustus in the battle and, while never crossing blows with Lucius, had ended up with more power than the intelligent Lucius.
After the loss, Augustus demanded complete surrender from Antony. And Antony, who had been going mad ever since arriving in Egypt, knew his time was up.
Antony decides to challenge Augustus to single combat, an offer that is declined by Augustus.
Instead of calling together what power he had left, Antony succumbed to liquor and the lure of Cleopatra, who was also in dire straits. Cleopatra knew that Augustus would immediately murder her child with Caesar (who was actually a son of Titus Pullo) since he was a threat to his power.
So the chain of events went for the final episode of "Rome.". The moments that had been building up for two seasons came to a head, the main question not being if Antony would be victorious, but more on how he would ever survive defeat.
The two main characters, Titus and Lucius, end up with enough defining moments in the final episode. There are enough twists of the continuous action and drama that the story is memorable.
Bear in mind, these men aren't heroes. When Lucius is asked by Cleopatra whether Titus is a good man or not, Lucius says: "Define good."
- Antony was a complete wreck in the final episodes, drunk and with makeup on his face.
- This series deserves consideration for TV awards.