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.

I'm aheming it right now

Right! THAT's the other show I meant to do that thing to!

Oh, ha: Baltimore: Why Are You So Depressing?

You know, that had me going for a second because of Baltimore's for-real slogan hunt, occasioned by the fact that the city fathers don't like Charm City being known as "Oh, yeah, that place Homicide is from," anymore. They credit Simon with destroying the city's image. So I was all bracing to read about economic development and the Inner Harbor and stuff and-- psych!