Reaction to Rome Episode 8: Caesarion

[@RetrousseRaptor]

The actress that plays Cleopatra hits it out of the park with her performance, even though they take some liberties with her character.

[@jasonbuckenberger3122]

I know it sounds like too much praise, but this was truly one of, if not THE best ensemble cast in HBO history. Even above GOTs or Sopranos in my opinion. Every character seems to be perfectly cast, especially the supporting cast. If only this show had half of GOT budget.

[@mikeity2009]

HE WAS A CONSOL OF ROME

[@nathanskywalker1536]

I love that line

[@Jerrongamereview]

Cleopatra already planned on having an heir from Caesar but didn't want to wait because she was inside of her fertility window at that moment. So it wasn't just her being a seductress for the sake of it, although they obviously did it to inject Pullo and Vorenus into another historic event. There have always been doubts if it was truly Caesar's son so they chose this way to depict it I guess.

[@86leewis]

I can think of several battles that caesar was in a far worse situation than the siege of alexandria

[@RetrousseRaptor]

From a historical accuracy perspective, the Egyptian sequences of the show are definitely highly dubious. They portray the Ptolemaic court (costumes especially) as if it was in the pre Hellenistic era. I think they did this to add an almost Orientalist vibe of exoticism to the show. Within Alexandria itself (it was different in regions of their domains with less Greeks and more native Egyptians) the self-presentation of the dynasty was thoroughly Hellenic in reality.

[@walker1tnranger]

To be fair I would say the Ptolemaic dynasty was as much “oriental” as it was hellenistic.

[@thesaurus9226]

@@walker1tnranger It is true they took on aspects of the native egyptian religion and culture to cement their rule, but they also considered themselves wholly greek. It's a bit of a confusing situation.

[@lyledeyounges1276]

It’s most likely for the wider audience, to make a clear distinction between Rome and Alexandria, Roman and Hellenistic culture looks very similar to people who aren’t history buffs. They don’t really look that ancient Egyptian either, and with the painted faces, it seems to be more an artistic liberty to give an impression of a foreign, strange and ‘exotic’ culture, clearly different from Roman culture. What I never understood was the freaking sand inside the palace!

[@zahrans]

..and then Cleopatra makes a bet with Caesar that her people can build a magnificent palace within three months, using Edifis who claims to be the best architect in Egypt...

[@Sinewmire]

"My master has many talents..."

[@davidladjani108]

But she had to call some Gauls to the rescue 😉

[@86leewis]

In Plutarch journals, it was said he wept at his funeral. I do wonder what he would have done with him.

[@glen9593]

How did you not understand that she's trying to get pregnant before she meets Caesar so she can pretend it's his?

[@thesaurus9226]

Wow, finally all caught up with these. Please continue doing them, they are great.

[@lanzknecht8599]

Pompey Magnus - beheaded, Julius Cesar - stabbed to death, Marcus Crassus - liquid gold poured into his mouth by the Parthians: what an end for the men of the First Triumvirate!

[@thesaurus9226]

They had it coming. They had it coming. They only have themselves to blame!

[@neddhu]

Bloody good orders 🤣🤣🤣

[@BrandonHernandez-tg5ql]

Cleopatra was not sex crazed. She said a baby would sure come. Remember? She was tryin to get pregnant before she met cesar so she could pretend the baby was his.

[@86leewis]

Antony doesnt know any better. Violence is all he understands to get what he wants.

[@BrandonHernandez-tg5ql]

The writers of the show intentionally wrote these characters to be "the forest gumps of ancient Rome"

[@TheCrazyCanuck420]

When you wrap up the series it'll be interesting to see what you think about the accuracy according to what we know from history.

[@86leewis]

Im sure the same was mentioned when he was kidnapped by the illirian pirates. Look how that went. Dinner for worms.

[@86leewis]

I thought patreon was full unedited reactions

[@86leewis]

Antony simply forgot who it was he was counseling. Like he wasnt in gaul for 8 years.

[@86leewis]

That was ptolomy 13 dead in that river.

[@steven1498]

Great job ! 👍

[@gregmattson2238]

yeah I'm a fan of cleopatra here, even though if her and the portrayal of ptolemaic egypt was one of the least historical parts about the show. I get why the show runners did it, they wanted egypt to be fundamentally different and alien to the romans so they egyptianized the court heavily. But really, the alexandrian court at this time was predominantly greek. The ptolemies were greek, the leadership of egypt descended from greeks, and their rule was decidedly greek with albeit an egyptian spin on the monarchical practices of egypt. But at the same time, they definitely did pay lip service to the egyptian people that they ruled, so perhaps that was the other intent. They could only do so much with their time. A whole series could have been devoted to egypt and the politics there. But most people seem to prefer dragons and fantasy, so that is the series we never got.

[@chunkygamer5579]

Hey bud can we get this series watched can’t wait for the rest and season 2 is much better

[@86leewis]

The THING in front of him.