Politics by Mark Anthony

A scene from the HBO show Rome, Season 1, Episode 6

[@danielkelly5151]

God, he was such a great Marc Antony.

[@carolinelynch2823]

Why's James purefoy cast as a womaniser half the time?

[@danielkelly5151]

@@carolinelynch2823 he's good at it?

[@carolinelynch2823]

@@danielkelly5151 All the worse for me because I love him so much.

[@brucetucker4847]

@@carolinelynch2823 Women like you are 100% of why men like him (the character, not the actor) get away with being men like him.

[@carolinelynch2823]

@@brucetucker4847 what do you mean by that?

[@histman3133]

The guy who played Mark Antony was masterful. His vulgarity and brutish attitude. Hahaha very wonderfully done.

[@carolinelynch2823]

I am not like those women in it. Half of them are bad women

[@v44n7]

you should check him on netflix show alternated carbon, he is as good as in Rome

[@mowtow90]

@@v44n7 He is perfect in every show i've ever saw him. Some people are just born to be actors and they make it look like they are not playing at all.

[@linazlatin1285]

This immensely talented actor would be James Purefoy.

[@DarkpowderUK]

James Purefoy: Now watch him in "Solomon Kane", "Ironclad", or even a rather good rendition of "Blackbeard".

[@rafaelreyes9100]

"Or if it kills anyone else for that matter" Best line

[@cocainelsdxtc]

that is not the best line you wretched woman

[@KobaLenk]

So priceless😂😂

[@cinema6r845]

I love it! 😂😂

[@brucetucker4847]

One thing to love about Antony in this series: he never for one moment pretends to be anything other than what he is.

[@cautarepvp2079]

​@@brucetucker4847 Authenticity at its finest

[@brucetucker4847]

Purefoy didn't just steal this show, he stole it, then drove it like he stole it. An absolute master even among the other fantastic actors in the series.

[@daviddedominici1705]

"This is not your master - - I am your master."

[@MaevaStardust]

@David DeDominici *Dis - as in the god of the underworld to the Romans.

[@costco_pizza]

He did a great job! He also did an awesome Ser Arthur Dayne in Game of Thrones!!!

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

@@daviddedominici1705 By sacred standards of the 13th...

[@nocturnalrecluse1216]

@@costco_pizza that wasn't Purefoy

[@cowboybeboop9420]

For those wondering about the economic/historical nature of the time. In the decades prior to the evens of the show Rome the roman army was made of conscripts who were small landowners in Italy. Before Rome expanded outside of Italy they would fight for land and cattle on the Italian peninsula and then return to their homes and work their fields. As Rome became an empire those conscripts had to do military service for decades in far away lands. If they survived and got to return home they would find the Senators had stolen their land and tossed their families to live in poverty in the ghettos. Unemployment was also high since the Senators would use the people captured from the new lands as slaves. Land reforms had been attempted before but all reformists were eventually murdered. Meanwhile Caesar passed land reform when he was consul and later basically conquered Gaul and murdered 1/3 of the population. He stole their land and gave it to the Roman poor. He also managed to pass a series of land reforms that gave land and work to the poor. Ironically the Senators brought themselves and the Republic down with their greedy thefts since only landowners could serve in the army. Since they stole all the lands there weren`t enough men so they started accepting the landless poor into the army. The conscripts were loyal to the Republic since they were fighting for their land and their home. The landless poor who joined the army were loyal to their general since they didn`t have land and it was the general who provided for them.

[@marcuskif]

That clear things up thx

[@codyvandal2860]

Ceasar's enormous popularity with the people and his troops, his tactical brilliance, his noble birth, and frankly a good deal of luck also created the perfect storm that enabled him to overthrow the Senate. Most historians are in agreement that by the time of Augustus the dictatorship was far better for the average Roman citizen than the late republic

[@manband20]

And also the Roman myth that "good soldiers make good farmers" is the dumbest idea ever and while I get the idea of giving property to veterans after they retire, giving them a plot of farmland and telling them to feed the empire was ridiculous and explained why Rome constantly needed to rely on Egypt for grain imports. Local famines were so common due to inexperienced farmers, I'm shocked Rome could keep itself afloat sometimes.

[@xhagast]

@@manband20 It worked at first when the foes were Italians or barbarians. Then professional armies where needed. Even so land was VERY valued. Even if the soldiers who got it couldn't handle it and ended so full of debts they had to reenlist.

[@xhagast]

And that included getting them land after their term of service was over. The disaster you have just described is why Machiavelli said governments should keep their people rich and their citizens poor. The moment some citizens got rich they made the people poor.

[@paulhudson5587]

james purefoy as marc anthony......genius.

[@carolinelynch2823]

Wasn't merciful to women

[@carolinelynch2823]

@soulhill 28 James is always paired with bad women all the time. Never a nice one.

[@RenegadeShepTheSpacer]

@@carolinelynch2823 Who cares?

[@RenegadeShepTheSpacer]

@@carolinelynch2823 Rome wasn't about being sweet and cuddly. No one survived by being so weak.

[@centurion8446]

Would have been excellent as Euron Greyjoy too. The guy they did use would have been better as Victarion Greyjoy

[@robertroth3930]

Mark Anthony's threats are a masterful blend of terror and wit. A superb anti-hero. So much fun to watch.

[@CommissarKane]

Even back then employment was a hot topic.

[@Mitaka.Kotsuka]

Jobs... the problem of mankind

[@lewistaylor2858]

Tierius and Gaius Gracchus who were both Tribune of the Plebs and they were both killed for suggesting a similar law...

[@donrog5035]

@@lewistaylor2858 they hadn’t an army

[@cautarepvp2079]

@National Socialism hitler? Really?

[@lars9925]

The aristocratic historians of that period never wrote about such topics. So, we don't know. However, we know that there were a lot of very poor people around up until modern times, but it's more than likely that nearly everybody did at least something, because there were no social security systems and people who didn't work had nothing to eat. Since late antiquity Roman citizens often got free stuff to make them happy, but apart from some periods in the imperial times that was hardly enough to completely live on.

[@MrBolas33]

James Purefoy was brilliant! They all were!

[@debyoung6542]

Brilliant

[@carolinelynch2823]

Was Mark Antony a merciful man like he says he is in this?

[@trueromancat7978]

uncletigger uncletigger he was certainly better politician, than, as he is depicted in many pop culture representations. Historians know that. But tv and cinema prefer the image of reckless drunkard and cad, which is more "cinematic" than brave, honourable and intelligent tactician.

[@shivnorth3141]

Epic show....one of my favorites....I would love to re watch it, but can't find it anywhere at the moment. Its off Netflix now....but yeah absolutely brilliant!!!

[@rasmusrw8140]

@@shivnorth3141 it's on HBO :)

[@cugamer8862]

Goddamn nobody plays an arrogant badass like James Purefoy.

....arrogant?

[@cugamer8862]

@ www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/arrogant

[@cugamer8862]

@ www.midol.com/home/

[@AlejandroSanchez-pl6jw]

Cia89 I like arrogance. They get the job done and need someone like that in your corner

[@shivnorth3141]

@ jeez.....your a bit harsh.....smh😒😕

[@811chelseafc]

Something that shows the writers commitment to detail: in real life Antony seized Pompey’s mansion after the latter was killed. It was one of the many actions that made him unpopular with Roman people. And that’s why Antony has painters and mention his love of color compared to Pompey. I love that the writers not only include it but don’t shove it in your face, offering instead only one line of offhand dialogue.

[@stefanvalerio490]

Fascinating insight thank you

[@AndresRamirez-fi5uw]

811chelseafc after watching videos from HistoriaCivilis, I noticed that too! Lol Antony also abandoned the city

[@ottskone]

This scene takes place while Pompey is still alive though...

[@trueromancat7978]

In the dialogues, we get plenty of hidden information, that are however decryptable only for those very familiar with historical events. On the other hand, the "rest of the world" just gets some funny sentences and is not forced into history. This far more than just accuracy. This is a masterpiece.

[@trueromancat7978]

@@ottskone Of course, some fabular "misinterpretations" occur quite often, but take into consideration that we do not get nearly any information referring to what happened in Rome in the meantime when Caesar was in Egypt. Such turn of action is more logic, as well as Atia and Antony thread, Octavia nad fictional Glabius and Cleopatra in 2 season.

[@robreke]

"Caesar's creature"

[@reginatang9310]

R bere posca is much more powerful than that puppet co-consul of Rome

[@Ikaros23]

@@reginatang9310 He is the perfect bureaucrat and machiavellian.

[@nagihangot6133]

@@reginatang9310 He'd turn Rome into Babylon.

[@kyletimpany1458]

He learnt from the best

[@Vikingr4Jesus5919]

"I shall be a good politician if it kills me. Or if it kills anyone else, for that matter." That was verbally as honeyed as a Greek poet and as savage as a barbarian berserker.

[@dominictemple]

I'm always reminded of how good Purefoy is at the role of Anthony, he's constantly charming and friendly while reminding you how quickly he could be otherwise, Ceasar and later Octavian who became Augustus were always clever in how they never got rid of the existing administrative and legislative infrastructure but co-opted it as seen with Servillias here. Ceasar isn't a King, he's merely one of the Consuls, etc, etc,

[@herz4217]

Caesar was never a king, his biggest mistake was trying to become emperor too soon - Augustus learned from that and took his very very long time to keep up republican appearances and gradually become emperor, instead of rushing it and ending up dead.

[@petekdemircioglu]

@@herz4217 Yes. He also built a lot of stuff instead of throwing parties. That might have helped him with Roman people’s support too. To stay alive.

[@danyalahmad1053]

Posca is 3rd powerful man in Rome after Ceaser And Anthony.

[@urmo345]

never was an slave so powerful, however there were few freedman who ruled the rome

[@douglasbubbletrousers4763]

@@adfkzaha24 I’m not sure I quite understand this joke

[@YIIMM]

@@adfkzaha24 formerly a chuckman

[@zenilton80]

So true.

[@mr_metal.]

Octavianus lolled on this

[@tomservo5347]

Antony threatens BOTH of them with: "Or if it kills anyone else for that matter." "If your husband should die...come see me!" Purefoy conveys Antony like a coiled snake baring it's fangs dripping with venom behind the jovial exterior. Amazing how shows like this didn't collect enough viewers to stay alive-but the people fortunate enough to have watched this masterpiece when it aired appreciated exactly what it was. It's not everyday a show uses historical advisers to saturate the viewer with Roman culture and heaven forbid people actually raise their intellect watching. (Probably why it wasn't allowed to live.)

[@drewmandan]

Imagine going from this...to Game of Thrones Season 8.

[@BestWayKilla]

@@drewmandan Just imagine: at one time, Rome, Deadwood, and The Wire were all airing on this network. HBO sure ain't what it used to be.

[@SirAdrian87]

@@BestWayKilla Also sopranos

[@killme2675]

@@shanechesnut8889 Ok Nazi...

[@HistoryBuff1973]

This show is what G.O.T wished it could be. Only regret is it didn't last longer.

[@FreshCutFrenchFries]

I man who plays the senator did such a great job! The studder and anxiety in his voice is spot on!

[@hendrixisgod777]

We do not get writing like this anymore. Purefoy’s always good but I find Simon Callow’s reactions in this scene absolutely sublime.

[@perfectibility999]

Simon Callow was also Schickeneder/Papageno in Amadeus.

[@artur19846]

I guess his reaction and the reaction of the actress were genuine because Purefoy got into the role so deep.

[@samg8939]

@@artur19846 he also palmed that ass twice. her old butthole probably puckered up tight enough to crush diamonds with.

[@AK-tf3fc]

They will make mark antony a black gay and Augustus a girl

[@devanman7920]

​@@AK-tf3fc and then debate you that they are right 😂

[@randomuser6175]

"or if it kills anyone else for that matter" such a fucking boss :D writers have a lot to learn from this show

[@vermithrx1744]

"Woe unto Rufus Tranquillus then."

[@kuwabatakesanjuro1453]

I don't know what to say.

[@easternrebel1061]

@@kuwabatakesanjuro1453 say nothing, it's better that way.

[@mspionage1743]

There has never been any movie or show that had Purefoy that he wasn't awesome. He is one of those actors that I always think to myself "how the hell isn't this guy in more movies/shows?" as he is just that good. But this role here, damn, he really was solid.

[@blackadder3570]

Loved all the characters, the coldness disguised as warmth, the double dealing. Surely this series has to be the definitive work on the politics of Rome?

[@jt7638]

Purefoy gave us the most compelling vision of Marc Anthony ever put on a screen. No one ever showed us someone so incredibly charismatic as the man must have been yet flawed as to lose so totally to Octavian who nevertheless once was a ruler of the Roman world.

[@Ruosteinenknight]

Anthony's badassery (And Purefoy's excellent delivery) has pretty much captivated everyone of this series. Ironically, it was BECAUSE of this badassery that got him shafted in the end: one of the reasons why Caesar switched to Octavian as his inheritor was because politics was one battlefield Anthony couldn't ever master. Like this shows, Anthony couldn't just resist intimidating and threathening Roman upper class to comply what Caesar wanted. It's funny and satisfying to see Patricians squirm(who doesn't love millionare/billionare tears?), but it's also detrimental in a long run when time comes to forge an empire because you rely on those people to help you build it. Caesar probably would've gotten assasinated in one point, but Anthony's attempt to declare him king kinda made Caesar a marked man.

[@walihenry4600]

He made the show!!!! Everything he did was hilarious and vicious at the same time!!!!

[@paddymcginty1264]

The way he tries to hide his laugh when he says "a flower". Class

[@Izznogood76]

First you start with an incentive, formalities and end it with a passive death threat...shit gets done

[@c.c8752]

Cuts through the red tape

[@AlwaysSomeone]

Antony: "Slaves have stolen all the work." Slaves in the background: "Well I'm sorry if my enslavement has inconvenienced you."

[@thisisaname5589]

Disgusting. Slaves shouldn't think. Or respond to their betters.

[@1597B]

Real.💯

[@pz3j]

I don't think they were slaves. I think they were freemen.

[@MaevaStardust]

"Poppea, my dove. If your husband should die, come to me. We'll marry neh." 🤣😂 Love Marc Antony's subtle threat.

[@justamaninTN]

Subtle? 🤣

[@Kitchdmn3]

And gives her a little smack on the ass as he walks off.

[@doriandundee9906]

If it's in a show the people love it but if I do it at work I get fired... shit just ain't fair!

[@oldfrend]

purefoy is so good as a narcissistic asshole it's not hard to imagine he really enjoyed fucking that dude's old ass wife haha

[@kamion53]

is it Poppaea or Pompeia? in the first case she would be the daughter of some Poppeaus, a family that did not rise to prominence before the time of Augustus, in the second case she would be the daughter of a Pompeius a family that rose to prominence at the time of Marius and Sulla.

[@nathanwasywich-fox1926]

in one sentance he threatened to have a man killed and marry his wife infront of eachother

[@hmartin879]

A masterpiece of how to be both comedic and deadly at the same time...

[@findinghare4588]

I love it how from all accounts he was like this in reality haha such a character in life and tv

[@supercarnitas]

I love how he has the little person just for his amusement

[@july9566]

That's actually tyrion lannisters bizzaro world double learning how to rule the seven kingdoms

[@John-Adams]

Ben Shapiro has a name, you know

[@supercarnitas]

@@John-Adams I’m not laughing.

[@PR--un4ub]

@@John-Adams Shap Benpiro.

[@pillowprincess3673]

@@supercarnitas And you shouldn't. Ben has a serious mental deficiency, where he thinks saying something nonsensical sounds less dumb if you say it really, _really_ fast. We shouldn't make fun of the poor lad.

[@azraelangelofred]

Say what you want, Mark Antony would spice up politics today! I'd watch politics if he was there doing stuff.

[@yawgmoth5662]

I think you mean James Purefoy. We have no idea if the real Mark Antony was as excitingly dramatic.

[@Dr.TJ_Eckleburg]

Trump is basically Caesar.

[@antred11]

LOL, what?? Trump has none of the cunning, intellect and strategic foresight that Caesar possessed. But I hope he turns out to have one very specific thing in common with Caesar.

[@iasiahalofivae967]

+antred11 he won tho

[@donkeykongfederersucks66]

antred11 YOU DUMB ASS LOL TRUMP DEFEATED ALL ODDS. DUMB ASS HATERS TRY N MAKE TRUMP OUT TO BE A IDIOT!

[@evanb1470]

I think he was only half joking to dudes wife. Mark Anthony (in the show at least) would screwed a snake if he could keep it still long enough!

[@theannouncer5538]

A tad old, but she is cute

[@wkcia]

TheAnnouncer old senator chose well, she would have been a glamour in her 20s

[@renuoz]

Dude had a lot of offspring in real life too

[@BestWayKilla]

Let us not forget "I am not rising from this bed until I've fucked someone!"

[@StrawberryLegacy]

In real life too, if you can believe the (mostly biased) sources.

[@flankspeed]

I love the boys' contrasting reactions to the anti-slave law. Brilliant direction 👏

[@the_j_machine2254]

Pullo is smirking since he likes the idea of Romans with jobs. Vorenus is unhappy since it furthers upsets the status quo set since ancient times.

[@DutchGuyMike]

@@the_j_machine2254 ESTP/ESFP (Pullo) vs ISTJ? (Vorenus)

[@the_j_machine2254]

@@DutchGuyMike I have no idea what you're saying.

[@DutchGuyMike]

@@the_j_machine2254 Then Google it! :P It could help yourself too, knowing what those 4 letters mean, I know it helped me with self-growth!

[@the_j_machine2254]

@@DutchGuyMike I know about the 16 personalities. I also think that they're bullshit.

[@abubakryasin5082]

He was devoted with loyalty to Julius....loyalty.....rare

[@piccoloxnailxkami3617]

This show was really good, it's a shame it ended so abruptly.

[@melvert33]

Yeah the writers thought it was going to be 4 or 5 seasons but then got told it was going to be wrapped up by end of 2nd as it was costing too much and not enough viewers, hence the reason for the rushed strange ending.

[@gachajayjay5453]

So many top characters but for humour Marc is a class act! Lao

[@damayantibahar7613]

Yeah..it's the role play that matters to me

[@trueromancat7978]

Publius Servilius Vatia Isauricus was a son of the senator who was Princeps Senatus - the one who presided the meetings and exactly the one, who was harmed in episode 1. It was his father who was the oldest. Probably his wife was Junia, the daughter of Servilia (THIS Servilia). The scene is correct to the point regarding the reforms of Caesar and perfect as far as a fabular concept.

[@HoOGenghisB]

"Oh you know Posca of course, Caesar's creature, he'll take all the details" Posca: *Simply hands over the scroll*

[@Serg223]

LOL i like Marc Anthony here. Now thats good politics

[@charlesoshea4803]

" Say nothing then...its often best..." Hilarious.

[@JetConvoy]

Absolutely brilliant as Mark Antony. I cannot read anything about him without imagining Purefoy.

[@centurion8446]

Great stuff all round. Vorenus and Pullo expressions are no exception.

[@NomeDeArte]

Off course the cast is AMAZING, but the support actors are unbelieveble good too!

[@SeArCh4DrEaMz]

I got to hand it to the writers of the show, it is an epic scene no doubt, and the acting is incredible!

[@davidczenner5784]

James Purefoy is a wonderful actor, it saddens me he didn't get to play more of this type of roles. Outstanding performance as Mark Anthony, amazing job portraying Joe in The Following, yet the roles that suit him in my opinion, like Shakespearean protagonists/antagonists, James Bond, and character-based drama roles sadly avoided him mostly and I'm having a hard time to understand why.

[@carolinelynch2823]

Didn't like James mucking about with that Emma in The Following. She was little tart.

[@maestroclassico5801]

And now he plays Otis's Dad on SEX EDUCATION! He's not the greatest Dad but he IS entertaining to watch!

[@UncleZeke]

He played Blackbeard, the legendary pirate and captain of Queen Anne’s Revenge in a History Channel special some years ago. He was equally as brilliant

[@worndown8280]

He would make a good over the top bond villain.

[@carolinelynch2823]

@@maestroclassico5801 He did something dirty with a girl in his office in that show aas remi Millburn.

[@FlymanMS]

Posca was like: "I wonder how quickly he ruins everything. I give it three months tops".

[@thetooginator153]

I like how it’s heavily implied that Antony grabbed Pompeiia’s butt. Most TV shows and movies would make it obvious, but “Rome” has confidence in its audience.

[@malafakka8530]

And then there is the gratuitous nudity. Not so subtile I think.

[@ubermikesocal]

Unexpected ass grabs are always best without a camera seeing them

[@AverageAlien]

@@malafakka8530 yeah but that was just common and normal back then

[@malafakka8530]

@@AverageAlien I wouldn't be too sure about that in Ancient Rome's case, but that's not even what I mean. HBO often includes nudity just for the sake of it and any excuse will do. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind the use of nudity and they should have every right to show it, but I find it a bit cheap and definitely not subtle when it is clearly used to hopefully boost ratings.

[@AverageAlien]

@@malafakka8530 in the pre catholic era, nudity was perfectly normal and fine

[@ballad2212]

The pat on the rump is the best part😁

[@intotheunknown21]

This scene never gets old. LOL.

[@commandoslayer]

One of my favorite scenes of the series.

[@hayaglamazonluxe]

I love the way he underscores that Caesar is his friend and he will ensure the law goes through. Love his cadence!

[@sighisoaraa]

One of the best scenes in the history of cinematography.

[@madavarams268]

Not cinematography. Writing and screenplay

[@tinman96]

Cinematography is the art of aiming the camera and crafting the composition of the shot. Not much of that going on here

[@ChicagoDB]

"...Caesar wishes this law to be made, he is my friend...I will have it made!"

[@einkitteh109]

If I had a nickel for every time I subconsciously imitated James Purefoy as Mark Antony... I'd have a reasonably substantial pile of nickels.

[@emperorbartu2414]

Mark Antony was the best and funniest character in this show

[@carolinelynch2823]

Wasn't quite merciful towards women

[@thursday1679]

Totally loved the characters of Antony and Pullo,,,, total badasses who didn't give a fig about anything or anyone.

[@hendrixisgod777]

RIP Ray Stevenson.

[@donaldelfreth553]

Purfoy was born to play this role. He is beyond good.

[@TheLolbot3000]

THis show..looks...divine. I really wanna watch it. My favourite period in a tv show. YAAY!

[@benhuber1717]

Dropping that big energy like a mic! Love it.

[@july9566]

1:01 no wonder tyrion lannister learned how to be a good politician lol

[@AverageAlien]

Gotta love those back handed compliments

[@TaRAAASHBAGS]

Imagine if we had politicians today that brought the rich to kneel instead of served them hand and foot. Democracy has done nothing for humanity but put convince us businessmen are leaders.

[@rileydd08]

He has a Tyrion Lannister for a hand!!!

[@walesdoesntsuck6635]

Antony failed at ruling Rome in Caesar's absence. He was a soldier, not a politician.

[@czos9239]

@@walesdoesntsuck6635 Kind of a tragic figure in a way. (At least in the show.) He realizes ruling sucks and really wants to follow up on jokes he made earlier on bailing from it all and go off and fuck slaves in the outer provinces. But Atia maneuvers him with comments his opponents would always be after him so he marches to a destiny of doom.

[@TurinTurumba]

@@walesdoesntsuck6635 Maybe, but he had a decent crack at ruling for a while with Cleopatra

[@brucetucker4847]

@@TurinTurumba She had twice his brains and ten times his seriousness about ruling. She just had the misfortune to be born a woman and to have an extraordinarily wealthy but otherwise second-rate power as her patrimony. I think the series did her a disservice.

[@SeArCh4DrEaMz]

hats off to the writers, directors and james purefoy for this masterclass piece of art , everything was AMAZING LMAO xddd

[@aliasif8498]

He was born to play Marc Anthony

[@aritzneo]

Mark Antony breaks the timeline to threaten the Duke of Sandringham

[@jeremyjohnson7429]

And Mark Antony, is, an honorable man.

[@Squeenix1]

The first season of Rome is some of the best TV out there

[@stratosprokopiou1245]

James Purefoy's character of Mark Anthony WAS Rome TV series. Brilliant and then brilliant some more.

[@ARCtrooperblueleader]

Best character. 🫶

[@journalbee5808]

Scribble and quibble is lifted from the film Amedeus, and the actor who said it in that film is the one in conversation with Mark Antony's character depicted here.

[@donarturo6628]

He was a good fighter and a samrt man. I'd hate to have him as an enemy.

[@kirbs0001]

He was a good tactician when he was merely carrying out Julius' tactics. He was a good leader when he was enacting Julius' will. Left to his own devices, he was incompetent and Julius always had to clean up his mess

[@Robbstark2024]

Octavian probably hated him as an enemy too, until he crushed MA

[@veryfieddoctor7450]

You lose a fight and you become enemy in history..... Its just basic history

[@tsdobbi]

There are literally no accounts of Antony's prowess as a soldier or commander. While he served in many successful military campaigns, it's hard to say how instrumental he was in any of them. I mean a bad officer can still serve in a successful military enterprise. The only situation we know he actually made decisions was at actium and against parthia and he lost.

[@trueromancat7978]

@ I'm afraid your knowledge about Mark Antony is based upon Shakespeare or Coleen McCollough, who didn't like him. Do you expect someone who was not a smart politician, would have been able to keep peace in Rome after Caesar's death and later rule on the East for some 12years?

[@alswearengine4867]

The smile on Pullo’s face

[@jabbyjabjo]

I think she was actually considering his offer...lol..Caesar,s creature,pure gold

[@CEIVE4EVER]

Well, she is acting, quite well, as a member of the nobilitas. For her Marc Anthony is a rudd bastad. But I suppose that everybody had (and has) a price to survive.

[@sealstorm1935]

Honestley I don't see an actor playing Marc Antony, I just see Marc Antony

[@mom2adragon677]

James Purefoy as Phillipe in a Discovery Of Witches on Sundance was a pure pleasure. He’s a gift to screens everywhere

[@soldieroftruth77]

Make Rome Great Again!

[@nomore9004]

MRGA

[@LordTalax]

Season 1 of Rome was the best season.

[@1SaG]

I think it was Brian Helgeland on the commentary track of "A Knight's Tale" who said that James Purefoy would make an excellent James Bond - I think that track was recorded when Brosnan was on his way out and everyone was talking about who the role should go to. As much as I liked Craig in the role, I still tend to agree that Purefoy would indeed have been excellent as 007. This little scene alone proves it.

[@markplows2198]

Have to love Marc Anthony in this. Subtle as a sledge hammer but gets the job done.

[@UAPReportingCenter]

Played Antony perfectly!

[@bomsquadoce]

the way he licks the fruit off his servants knife before conducting business says everything you need to know.

[@kw19193]

Antony was neither as incompetent nor brutish as this series portrays him to be. While he never possessed the military and political talents that Caesar had in abundance he was far from being the buffoon we see here for had he been so Caesar would never have entrusted him with anything more than holding his horse. Too, he was never as close, at least so constantly, to Caesar as Rome would have us believe, there were multiple instances where Caesar kept him out of his inner circle and did not seek his advice. But that's television for you, it seldom does complexity and subtlety but is just fine with dumbing down. Regardless, Rome was a wonderful series. A pity there haven't been more similarly themed shows. Cheers!

[@MrJpc1234]

I mean you say dumbing down but the time this scene took place in Mark Antony did fail and was incompetent (he obviously did get better when he grew older) so the show had to use some shorthand ways to show that

[@jt7638]

He proscribed fellow citizens to obtain their wealth, and his treatment of Cicero was vile, and he was a bankrupt until he pillaged part of Julius Caesar's wealth after his death. It is said his Eastern appointments were capable enough to be maintained by Octavian, but Roman history was better served by letting him die a foil to Augustus/Octavian.

[@Call-me-Avi]

The man managed to get an ex pompeyen to agree to both of the things ceasar wanted them to enact. This guy says he is incompetent lmao

[@jackbuckley7816]

Chilling and charming, this Marc Antony.

[@otto3663]

or even it it kills someone else for that mater

[@squamish4244]

These guys were so rich by the standards of their time they make Elon Musk look ridiculous. If anyone could afford to hire free men at a loss (it was only a loss because slavery was legal, however) they could.

[@neil18AA34]

I've always thought that Marc Antony was a great second in command. But as a leader he was very wanting in his position since he got out maneuvered by an 18-year-old great nephew (adopted son) of Julies Caesar in the long run and found himself dead at the feat of the future Emperor Augustus.

[@tonyh1718]

He wasnt out manuvered as much as defeated in battle by agrippa

[@masterexploder9668]

Agrippa did finish the job at Actium, but battle was also lost before it began.

[@alswearengine4867]

“He negotiates with a whore and a dwarf at his side!”

[@morningmidnight9398]

I see the obligatory little person has to be next to the erratic official

[@alleghenyrebel445]

God I loved this show ❤

[@rebelwithoutaclue9387]

The only bigger tragedy than this show being cancelled after only 20 episodes is Firefly getting cancelled after only 14 episodes (and a pretty damn good movie)!

[@manglyanzaw9541]

"Or even if it kills anyone for that matter'

[@scatterthewinds3126]

1:42 the mock midget cato makes me laugh every time.

[@MarouenAK]

This series is so deep in its representation of ROme. In fact in this scene we learn about a very important aspect of Rome : the democratic element which is the assembly of the people which sheds a new on the 'tyranny' of Caesar

[@nobbytang]

This scene kind of bears testament to the great oratory skills of Marcus Antonius ...he inter wines politics with flattery !!

[@imnotyourfriendbuddy1883]

and threats

[@HavidDagstrom]

Noice, Mark Antony should be the model of all politicians today :P

[@HoratioNelson10]

HavidDagstrom trump?

[@daddylonglegs4805]

RAJU PEDDADA impulsive is a trait he does possess, luckily he only has tantrums

[@Mitaka.Kotsuka]

@ninjast4r You can put your arguments to them... a great orator like you can just persuade, that Donnald is wrong

[@slimshady9147]

Trump can be compared to Anthony for their brutish nature and their inability to look ahead. Anyone who compares Trump to Caesar is either a fan or a lunatic and even they dont go that far. Caesar had the support of the majority of the people not just those with missing teeth and yell communism at anything that opposes their religious dogma.

[@Mitaka.Kotsuka]

@@slimshady9147 You just sound like Cassius when he said they have "men of quality" on their side, afer them murder Caesar. Caesar had the support of the majority of the people... well, yes, the only ones that didnt support him were the economic elites and their dogs... wait... i've seen that somewere else

[@chrisserrific]

Damn. You'd think your dignity would be a little more expensive.