By the end, I do think Max played him better. More calculating, less wrong in the head.

Agreed. And yes to the similar eyes...except that Simon Woods has that serial killer star that I found distracting.

Funnily enough, I didn't even remotely recognize him in Starter for 10. Should have, considering that character was nuts too.

Simon Woods totally had the serial killer vibe, the kind of guy you just look at and know is both dangerous and wrong in the head. Can't blame a guy for wanting to take over an empire, though, especially when he knows he can.

Interestingly, though, was the way his young wife changed for being around him. When she was first introduced a couple episodes ago, she seemed sweet, naive, a little gullible. Now, though, after a couple years with Octavian, she's a right mean bitch with a bad streak in her. That more than anything shows Octavian for his true colours, I think.

Oh, but I saw Octavian's wife as a schemer straight away. She didn't even blink when he asked if she wanted to marry him...despite already being married! And when he squeezed her hand and said he was going to bat her around, but that it wasn't personal...again, not a blink. Spine of steel or bald ambition? Probably both.

He said that he wanted her because she was a proper Roman wife...but I suspect he saw the kindred in her.

In either case, they were both pretty scary.

Max's Octie had heart and genius. Simon's took that genius and twisted it into something really cold.

I need to go read that character/historical figure comparison.

See there though? How often does television engage me so completely? Not very! I'm gonna miss it.

I thought we were supposed to get something about Livia from when Octavian says (after driving Antony away and imprisoning His women) the line about try the songbirds, my cook does them particularly well, and she picks one up and crunches delicately into its head. That may have been typical patrician eating style, but it felt like a message at the time.

Oh yes, that. It seemed like they were always communicating whatever that message was. Whether her chowing on budgie head or the sweaty smacking about. Those two were made for each other.

And did you notice how similar Octavian and Attia's eyes were?

Yes! That, and Attia's little "I wonder how he went wrong, it was probably my fault" musing that seemed like it might have been about Antony but almost certainly was about Octavian. Lovely.

Damn fine show.

Antony going native in Gaul, and then even nmoreso in Egypt, but dying like a Roman. Vorenus wiping off the kohl and dressing him gave me chills.

Attia is one hell of a woman, and it was nice to see Octavia be on her side there at the end. It takes a fucked up person to end up ruling an empire, but it took a whole fucked up family to put Augustus on the throne.

I'm a little afraid to start Season 4 of the Wire, erika. I have a feeling that it's going to suck me in and eat my brain. I'll definitely get it watched before 5 starts, though.

That may have been typical patrician eating style, but it felt like a message at the time.

I think so--but I still get the impression that she wasn't quite as bitchy and evil until she wed Octavian. He, let's say, refined it in her.

Those two were made for each other.

And actually, I think this was best conveyed when they were in bed after they'd fucked particularly hard, and she seems entirely nonplussed; and then proceeds to divine so much of the scope of Octavian's plan that he himself is discomfitted. It was a nice touch.

but almost certainly was about Octavian. Lovely.

Oh, I absolutely believe that was about Octavian. And she was entirely right. It was somewhat her fault.

but it took a whole fucked up family to put Augustus on the throne.

word.

You know, the more I poner it, the more I thnk that switching Octavians in mid-show was a canny move. It's a sharp representation of how much of his likeability and humanity he shed to become Augustus.

when they were in bed after they'd fucked particularly hard, and she seems entirely nonplussed; and then proceeds to divine so much of the scope of Octavian's plan that he himself is discomfitted

Dude, yeah, she was scary right then. And yet, for all her grasp of strategy, I have no doubt that Atia would be the one still standing were they to go head-to-head.

Whatever may have happened historically.

Oh, PS, who's going to be watching The Tudors? Other than, obviously, me? Because Jonathan Rhys Meyers = must see tv for me.

As Jeremy Northam goes, so goes my nation.

Not to mention Sam O'Neill! I'm aheming it right now, and man am I ever looking forward to it.