I was not expecting poor Eirene to die. That was so awful. I want to see Pullo rip Gaia apart. What an evil wench.

I hate that Vorenus and Pullo are being separated (again). Poor guys.

So the latest play I was working on at the Colony was a (well acted but poorly written) comic thriller called Stage Struck, and one of the stars was Larry "Leon the Card-Dealing Addict" Cedar. He's a member of the company at the Colony, and has done a few other roles there.

He's always a treasure to work for, and a great and funny guy to talk to.

Also at the Colony, there's something of a little tradition there, where the tech crew does a parody of the play we've done, and puts it on for the cast (yes, I talked about this over in Bitches).

But the reason I brought this up is because Larry had some VERY kind things to say about me and my performance in the parody afterwards. It was really nice to hear, and reminded me how much I love acting, and that maybe I should try to get back into it, even though I'm much more interested in behind-the-scenes work these days.

Plus, it's pretty cool when a favorite actor has really great things to say about your own acting.

I'm all with the swelled ego today.

(Okay, yes, this is tangentially on-thread at best, but I had to toot my own horn a little)

That's fantastic, Sean!

I hate that Vorenus and Pullo are being separated (again). Poor guys.

Yes, but that means a reunion down the road!

I see Mere Smith had producer credits on this episode, too. I liked Anthony & Atia's good-bye. It made me really think her. Of course he loves himself more and I love the way he greeted Cleopatra.

I can't wait for Pullo and Vorenus to be reunited. And although it was very sad that Eirene died (I totally expected her to live and kick Gaia's ass herself) this supports my two-daddies theory.

Octavian knocked it out of the park too with his frustration and anger bubbling just under the surface, showing his real power for the first time. Way to be an emperor, dude. I like the new wife too.

You know, I was never sure that Antony really felt for Attia what she felt for him, until he came to say goodbye to her. Obviously the story didn't end happily ever after for them, but it was still quite satisfying.

And I got shivers when Antony walked into the palace in Cairo, and he and Cleopatra just said each other's names with all that will come behind it. I am *so* glad there are five more episodes.

Man, everybody losing their families. Octavian really came into focus for me in this one, and Livia is more interesting than I thought she would be.

It makes me really angry that Gaia's going to get away with killing Eirene. Pullo sending her back to her gods was so touching and sweet. And good lord but the confrontation between Vorenus and Vorena was incredible.

Next week - Marc Anthony in eyeliner!

Congratulations, Sean! How wonderful to get compliments from someone you admire.

It makes me really angry that Gaia's going to get away with killing Eirene.

I wouldn't be so sure. Really nothing goes unpunished in the world of Rome.

Marc Anthony in eyeliner!

hell yeah!!

but poor Atia.

I wouldn't be so sure.

I'm not sure at all, but just the evident possibility that she could burns me up.

And then I feel a little bad because you don't get to be a madam and a slave by having an easy life, so maybe I should have more sympathy for her, but dammit Eirene and Pullo deserved a little happiness.

The cycles these characters go through are so intense. I love them--one minute, you don't think they can get any lower, and the next they're ruling the city. And never once does it feel contrived.