Rome - 2.08 - A Necessary Fiction

[fembuck]

How frakking good is this show? Infinity + 1 frakking good! Damn, damn, damn!

First of all, even though it was near the end of the episode, Julii's do it better! This family is totally in love in appropriate chemistry and touches. I know aphrodite_mine was squeeing with me during that cute, and really gay, scene between Atia and Octavia. Like, I'm sorry Rome writers, parents don't kiss their kids like that and nuzzle their necks. Yeah, it was sweet that Atia was there for Octavia, but it was also really incestuous. Seriously, Octavia is like the hub of all Julii incest, Octavia is like the toy that families play together with to stay together.

Don't believe me, check it out - Juliicest v2.0

Secondly, I <3 Octavian. Cold, calculating, manipulative, kinky little bitch that he is. There pretty much wasn't anything about Octavian that I didn't like this episode. It's like the snootier, and more insufferable he gets the hotter I find him. MmmOctavian.

I have to say, I really enjoyed his scenes with Livia, Livia wasn't exactly what I was expecting, but there's definately something to her and I look forward to seeing more of them in the future. Also, aphrodite_mine you totally called Octavian being a little bdsm in your last Oct/Oct fic, go you! I agree with Octavian, when Livia took his hand after his "I will beat you occasionally with my hand and small whip, not because you'll have done anything wrong, but because it brings me sexual pleasure" speech, I too knew they would get along well.

Also, the showdown with Marc Antony was brilliant. That little smirk that Octavian had on his face when Antony had him by the neck, eye-double-dog-daring him to do it, was the smexiest thing ever.

Also, I really felt the connection between Marc Antony and Atia tonight. I felt so bad for them when they were kept apart by Octavian's guards outside the house. I know Antony/Cleopatra is coming, but I'm almost scared because I love Atia/Antony, they're so perfect for each other. I hope Antony/Cleopatra isn't played as true love, but more a political alliance with bonus sex that doesn't work out all that well for either of them.

I HATE GAIA WITH THE WHITE HOT INTENSITY OF A THOUSAND SUNS! I don't care how much she looks like a cross between Jordis Unga and Norah Jones, I could not hate this charcter more. I wish I had one of Servilia's awesome robes, one of her cursadelia's, and Vorenus' crazy eyes, because I would put the most horrible hex ever on her. She is the worst. *cries* Eirene! I was indifferent to you in Season 1, but I came to love you in season 2. You will be missed. Damn, Eirene's death and burial had me in tears. Hate. Gaia. So. Much. Bitch Pig Whore indeed.

I wouldn't necessarily say that whores are glamorized on this show, but between the "german slut from the kitchen", Gaia, and some of the other whore we've seen on the show they at least seem to generally enjoy their work. I felt really, really bad for Memio's whore's though. That redhead that was at his side when Vorenus came to call, looked so scared and miserable. I don't care how close a talker Vorenus was during that scene, there was nothing more disturbing than seeing that scared, abused woman.

And ... Vorenus is a madman again. Too bad Vorena the Elder wasn't a better actress because that scene could have been totally freaking awesome instead of just really good if she was better. McKidd was awesome as usual, and Lucious Vorenus is a scary motherfrakker when he gets angry. Seriously, when he was strangling Vorena he definately looked like a son of Hades. I like Vorenus mostly, but he just shouldn't be allowed around women and children from now on.

Yeah, Jocosta, being Jocasta-like. I like Jocosta and I'm glad that her marriage to Posca is working out for her. She amuses me.

Question: Was the blond(e) whore in Maceneas' caravan thing a man or a woman? I want to say man because I'd like for Rome to have actually shown some of the man-love they keep referring to, but it was probably just an andro girl.

Looking forward to Marc Antony in Egypt next week. I saw some pictures of James Purefoy all kohl-eyed out, and shirtless and that will be some fine television.

Comments

[sandrine]

Like, I'm sorry Rome writers, parents don't kiss their kids like that and nuzzle their necks. Yeah, it was sweet that Atia was there for Octavia, but it was also really incestuous.

Heh, and I thought it was just me. That scene made me go all "whoa, that doesn't look like maternal affection"!

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

lol, definately not just you.

At first with the little kiss on the shoulder, I was like "awwww, Atia's being a good mom, she's doing that a lot this episode", and then she just kept on kissing her and did that repeated neck nuzzle thing and I was like, "wait! What? No? I mean, I know they're both single now and in need of comfort, but they're not seriously going to go there are they?" and they didn't go there, but for a second there I thought they really would. Because it's Rome, and well Octavia's already done it once so ... lol.

P.S. Love the icon! Mind if I snag it (will credit of course)

[sandrine]

they didn't go there, but for a second there I thought they really would. Because it's Rome, and well Octavia's already done it once so ... lol.

I'm still wondering whether the incest-y implications were deliberate or if it was just something that came across differently than it was planned...

I get that feeling a lot when watching Rome. I'm still unsure whether Tobias Menzies deliberately played Brutus gay, or if the vibes I got were totally off.

P.S. Love the icon! Mind if I snag it (will credit of course)

Thank you, I'm glad you like it. Unfortunately, the icons I'm using are generally not sharable. However, I posted a bunch of (very) similar ones for public use over here: http://community.livejournal.com/rome_media/19355.html :)

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I'm still wondering whether the incest-y implications were deliberate or if it was just something that came across differently than it was planned...

As much as I would love to think the writers were playing with us, throwing in a little cestysubtext to please the fans, I think the problem is that Polly Walker is sexyfine and Atia is so sexualized a character that Atia + lips + contact with other people's body = sexy time.

I still remember Atia climbing into bed with Octavia after the Servilia breakup and finding it oddly sexual because a) it was Atia, and b) it was so similiar to Servilia and Octavia in bed together.

Mmm, maybe they are doing it on purpose, lol.

I get that feeling a lot when watching Rome. I'm still unsure whether Tobias Menzies deliberately played Brutus gay, or if the vibes I got were totally off.

It's interesting, I kind of got that vibe from Brutus too. But I'm not sure if it was the writing, Menzies acting choices, or the fact that Brutus was just always dominated by the men around him, kind of fascinated by the virility that he lacked or something. Maybe all three. In any case, I loved Brutus too, and always just wanted to hug him.

Thanks for the link, I'll check them out :D

[sandrine]

I still remember Atia climbing into bed with Octavia after the Servilia breakup and finding it oddly sexual because a) it was Atia, and b) it was so similiar to Servilia and Octavia in bed together.

I can't even remember that scene, so I probably didn't find it too odd. I generally find parent/child incest extremely squicky, so it's nothing I woul easily interpret into a scene unless they're bashing us over the head with it. Which, I think, they were with that odd little 'comfort' scene in the latest ep.

It's interesting, I kind of got that vibe from Brutus too. But I'm not sure if it was the writing, Menzies acting choices, or the fact that Brutus was just always dominated by the men around him, kind of fascinated by the virility that he lacked or something.

The scene where the vibe came over strongest, for me, was right before he went off marching right into Antony's army to die. That scene with the soldier he told to give a message to his mother. His eyes kept drifting off to the guy's lips. It was somewhat... weird. Not a bad weird, but still.

[murasaki1200.livejournal.com]

Like, I'm sorry Rome writers, parents don't kiss their kids like that and nuzzle their necks. Yeah, it was sweet that Atia was there for Octavia, but it was also really incestuous.

I don't know you guys, we Europeans don't have any problems with showing affection :D.

[sandrine]

I agree, we Europeans are generally more touchy-feeling than Americans - but I still thought that particular scene looked a bit like a prelude to hot lesbian sex.

[murasaki1200.livejournal.com]

Well of course you never know with Atia ;). But she does always treat Octavia like a 5 year old.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

But she does always treat Octavia like a 5 year old.

She kind of treats everyone that way though. Which is why I love Atia. Like remember in season 1, when she tried to bribe Servilia with a shiny new train set (okay, a slave with a huge penis and 6 barrels of ice, but it's the same principle!)

I find it interesting, that the Atia/Octavia bonding we've seen lately revolves around Octavia's sex life. [C & C Music Factory]things that make you go 'hmmm[/CCMF]

[murasaki1200.livejournal.com]

The thing that's funny is that this is probably Atia's idea of what being a supportive mom is. She doesn't even remember what sane and normal looks like.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

lol, I know! Atia's world, is not like the rest of ours (and I don't mean because she lives in ancient Rome).

It's like she wants to be a good mother (occassionally), but she just has no idea how to express it properly.

Note to Atia: Acting like her boyfriend is not going to help.

Although, I have to say, sneaking Agrippa in to see Octavia was a sweet thing to do, and I loved her "don't smile or the guards will know something is up" line to Octavia. Atia chastising Octavia for being grumpy and dour never gets old.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I don't know, Atia was making with the lingering nuzzling, and there was some mini-eye shagging going on there. If she'd stopped at the shoulder kiss and just hugged her, okay, but all of the little touches put together made it seem like a prelude to 'Naked Fun Time with Atia and Octavia'

[murasaki1200.livejournal.com]

I like the icon, lol.
K, clearly I need to see the episode as I'm not getting the full picture here.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

I like the icon, lol.

Hee! Glad you like it. No reason teh wrong, dirty, bad can't be funny, lol.

K, clearly I need to see the episode as I'm not getting the full picture here.

Totally! The episode is kick ass. The whole Atia/Octavia scene of inappropriate touching is in that link in my post though. So, defintaely watch the whole episode because it is awesome, but if you want the Juliicest its in the link ;)

[murasaki1200.livejournal.com]

Thanks for uplading the clip. I still have a lame-o connection so I don't know when I'll be able to get the whole ep.
I think it's probably my darn PG mindset striking again because the touching doesn't seem all that inapropriate to me, although since it's Atia we're talking about, I understand why Octavia is looking all uncomfortable and worried.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

aww, it's not your fault your mind isn't all perverted. Although I blame the show for making it so that my mind automatically goes into the gutter whenever something involving two people standing closely together occurs on screen. (see: Antony strangling Octavian this episode and Octavian looking like he kinda liked it).

And yeah, you just never know with Atia. Octavia's look of "whaa... what in Hades is going on here?" cracked me up. It was probably supposed to show that she is not used to getting affection from Atia or having Atia try to cheer her up, but it also kinda looked like "is ... is she trying to seduce me?"

[trufflehog.livejournal.com]

octavia is an incest magnet. and it makes me very happy :]
even so, is it...pathetic...at how sad i am that agrippa broke it off with her? like...really REALLY sad? they were the cute disney couple of hbo!
i don't think that's the last we've seen of them though.
[and, as much as i like octavia, i don't see her taking care of a kid. not on her own anyway. she'd be like a panicky mother rabbit and eat her babies, i think...]
hm. maybe if agrippa doesn't come back she and atia can raise it together...

octavian! oh god! when he said that to livia. i clapped my hands to my mouth. it was too awesome.

otp's are so outdated, but if i had one it would be posca/jocasta. they make my day brighter. well, them, and atia and antony. i felt so bad for them too! they had better meet again before then end of the series.

gaia needs to die. in a brutal, bloody way. i miss eirene ;_;
her death was TERRIBLE!

vorenus was intense in this episode!! i love it when he goes freakshit on everybody. he's in his element.

[fembuck.livejournal.com]

octavia is an incest magnet. and it makes me very happy :]

Me too, lol. wrongdirtybad just gravitates towards her and I for one dig it.

even so, is it...pathetic...at how sad i am that agrippa broke it off with her? like...really REALLY sad? they were the cute disney couple of hbo!

I liked Octavia/Agrippa together. I mean, I knew it was going to end badly, but I really wanted Octavia to just be happy. She gets screwed over and used so much that it would have been nice to see her happy. And Agrippa is one of the most decent characters on the show. They were so good for each other. Now she's been dumped, knock-up, is under house arrest, hates her brother. *le sigh* at least she got hit on is getting along with her mom.

[and, as much as i like octavia, i don't see her taking care of a kid. not on her own anyway. she'd be like a panicky mother rabbit and eat her babies, i think...]

lol! So true though. Octavia is way to immature to be a mother right now.

she and atia can raise it together...

Awww, that would be so cute. Though, I'd imagine Octavia would want to keep Atia as far away from any impressionable youth as possible, even though she's getting it on getting along with her better at the moment.

octavian! oh god! when he said that to livia. i clapped my hands to my mouth. it was too awesome.

Oh, I know. I loved all the Livia/Octavian interaction. They're kind of like a dark version of Aggrippa/Octavia, like totally perfect for each other, but where A/O were all sunshine and lollipops, O/L is like spanking, biting the heads off of birds and scheming.

otp's are so outdated, but if i had one it would be posca/jocasta.

I was glad to see some happy people this episode! I've always like Jocosta so I loved that she was happy, and funny again. She got a raw deal, and she and Posca are totally cute together. And I like that she went to Egypt with him, as it should be!

and atia and antony. i felt so bad for them too!

I know! The scene outside the house slayed me. Atia begging Antony to send for her, but knowing historically that it'll probably be the last time they see each other. I hope they don't play A/C as 'true love' but Atia is totally Antony's girl.

vorenus was intense in this episode!! i love it when he goes freakshit on everybody. he's in his element.

Bwah! Freakshit. So true. Vorenus is best when he's all crazy (as long as he's not beating on women and children ... unless its Gaia, then he can beat her dead).

[aphrodite-mine.livejournal.com]

This family is totally in love in appropriate chemistry and touches. I know aphrodite_mine was squeeing with me during that cute, and really gay, scene between Atia and Octavia.
Yes. You know me well!!!

Seriously, Octavia is like the hub of all Julii incest, Octavia is like the toy that families play together with to stay together.
Octavia makes me so much happy and joy. I want to have my own one day. And maybe, just maybe I mean that in an Atia-neck nuzzle way.

MmmOctavian.
HOMG YESSSSSSSSSSS. *flail* Whipmeplz?

I too knew they would get along well.
I will probably be writing some fic featuring Livia, because she's just incredibly delicious.

And re: Gaia? I am growling at her for Eirene, but you should read my friend's Eirene/Gaia fic and it totally makes it better! I don't hate her! Link (http://curt-tone.livejournal.com/26363.html)