No, I mean any actress I watch after watching Allison Janney as CJ Cregg, although it's true if you're talking about Bette's wife, hippie earth mothers everywhere are all "Yeah, she's sweet, but kind of out there.' In addition, you can always tell she's smoldering away about something she's too "nice" to come out and say. It bugs me when people do that.ETA: Oh, no, you were talking about the one with the male fiance. Although it was a good joke when he said "Kiss and make up with her...whatever you women do."

Hey! How did I not know that Mere Smith was writing for Rome?

This ep sold me on the new Octavian. Although I think Max Pirkis could have handled the role.

Hey! How did I not know that Mere Smith was writing for Rome?

I know! I was surprised to see her name but not surprised at the quality of the episode. Lots of good stuff there.

Another Rome writer: the real-life person who posted as "Hazel Shade" and "Hulga Hopewell" on TT. If you remember this poster, then, well, you remember some crazy flame wars and the endless repetitions of "how long blues by jimmy yancey".

the real-life person who posted as "Hazel Shade" and "Hulga Hopewell" on TT. If you remember this poster, then, well, you remember some crazy flame wars and the endless repetitions of "how long blues by jimmy yancey".

oh, man, "Hulga Hopewell" sounds familiar but I don't remember! either she posted in threads I was never in or that part of my memory is being used for something else now.

How did I not know that Mere Smith was writing for Rome?

Seriously? Awesome!

(Haven't seen last night's yet.)

Oh, how good was that episode? Some thoughts on Octavian Mark II: I gotta say, he lacks the canniness and burgeoning surety Max brought to the role, but he looks so much more like Attia. Max looked more like Octavia.

It was interesting to see Brutus so chipper. And Cicero's disgruntled look at being totally beat by a teenager was priceless.

Kevin McKidd astounded me in this episode, and in this season generally, with the complex range of emotions he's portrayed in Vorenus so far. Going from Long Dark Night of the Soul, with Added Bloodshed and Rage, to the serenity and perspective he adopted once he brought the kids home to the collegium of all places, was a remarkable transformation.

It was the first time we got to see the children actually *acting* and not just being scenery, which was great. They showed surprising depth, except perhaps for Lucius who seems to be mute. But with Vorenus as your dad, man, I'd be mute too.

I cracked the hell up at Pullo's wife complaining that he loves Vorenus more (because dude, he so does) and his sly reasoning that he would save her because she would be easier to carry (although you know he would totally go back for Vorenus right after getting her to saftey).

Salon has a really interesting article about Rome: [link] If you ignore the wanky bits about the Iraq war, it offers some insight into why this is such a great series and compares it favourably to I, Claudius.

Kevin McKidd astounded me in this episode, and in this season generally, with the complex range of emotions he's portrayed in Vorenus so far. Going from Long Dark Night of the Soul, with Added Bloodshed and Rage, to the serenity and perspective he adopted once he brought the kids home to the collegium of all places, was a remarkable transformation.

Yes--this. I fear he's in for so much more heartache. He's been a soldier too long and he just doesn't have the skills to build relationships. But he tries so hard it breaks me.

I cracked the hell up at Pullo's wife complaining that he loves Vorenus more (because dude, he so does) and his sly reasoning that he would save her because she would be easier to carry (although you know he would totally go back for Vorenus right after getting her to saftey).

I suspect this theory is going to be tested at some point.

The Senate speech got me past the point of needing the first few lines of any scene with the new Octavian to remember that he is Octavian. I'm not pleased with the change, but I'm not terribly annoyed by it, either.

I'm with Attia on Antony's beard. It's strange how jarring it is to see him bearded among all those clean-shaven Romans.

Poor Vorenus has no frickin' idea how his kids see him, does he? Such a messed up family, the Lucii. Voreni. Whatever they are.

"Time machines fueled by obscenity", that's good.

I suspect this theory is going to be tested at some point.

It does seem inevitable.

He's been a soldier too long and he just doesn't have the skills to build relationships. But he tries so hard it breaks me.

I know! I mean, who walks into the collegium he'd been absent from for months, bringing along your gay boyfriend and your kids and announcing to the entire slack-jawed room that your daughter was a whore and your son is illegitimate? Oh, Vorenus.

I'm with Attia on Antony's beard. It's strange how jarring it is to see him bearded among all those clean-shaven Romans.

Though it was very entertaining to see him go a little native. He was a terrible consul and politician, but a brilliant soldier-general. I can't believe Octavian whuped his ass with four legions to his seven. Or maybe it was five, and the other two were acquired when Amusingly Fey Guy came around.