Rome

BBC2 are running Rome on both Wednesdays and Sundays - but why is the show scheduled in a 10-minute longer slot on Wednesdays?

I'd like to know why a second series was commisioned full stop. I thought the first was hailed a disaster, being as though every 30 seconds consisted of violence and sex.

That's precisely what made it a roaring success in my eyes. Good stuff.

Rome has a variable episode length time, as it is shown on HBO in the US who do not have commercial breaks in programming for films or dramas.

Some episodes are around 50mins long, whereas the last episode of Series 2 is 1hr 5mins long.

Yes, but aren't they all in the same slot anyhow - and even if variable, I doubt that there is a regular 10 minute difference each week.

Revitt is right. I want to know why BBC2 is showing this kind of rubbish. Couldn't it go on BBC3 instead of the endless Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps repeats? It would certainly get the target audience interested, with its non-stop orgy of sex, swearing and violence.

Having copies of the DVD version, I can confirm that some episodes are 55 minutes, with others being less than 45, so it doesn't surprise me.

The BBC did seem to be filling the hour a bit last night with a lengthy "Previously..." segment before (they're not a regular thing usually) and another lengthy "Next time..." after the show - looked like it was direct from a HBO promo.

Is this a different show from "Ancient Rome - Rise and Fall of an Empire", which I have seen in Latin lessons at school and contains no sex or swearing, though there is some violence. The "Ancient Rome" DVD seems to have been made by the BBC only, aswell.

Mmm, yes! "Rome" is an HBO made drama in association with the BBC.

A couple of things - firstly, as mentioned in the BBC2 thread a new 2 sting before and after Rome - apparently linked to Heroes, but it blended seamlessly into the "Next time" promo at the end - talking of which, why "Rome: The Return" - is that it's full title?


And secondly, why have they recast Octavian?

In fairness much of the criticism of the first series stemmed from the BBC's decision to take out large amounts of background story from the first three episodes (which they cut to two), leaving in a disproportionate amount of sex scenes.

Besides, I don't think it's any great secret that, by modern standards, ancient Rome was a cesspit of debauchery in any case. Any programme worth its salt must reflect that -- I Claudius was full of it as well.