NETFLIX COMMODUS "DOC": ROMAN EMPIRE: REIGN OF BLOOD

Oh! Well that explains it!

 

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And here I am dorgetting that Netflix does anything other than streaming... I haven't seen it. I'm thinking I'll have difficulty convincing the wife since she couldn't make it through the Medicis or Borgia...

 

My bad, I assumed you were streaming.

 

I do - several times per night. Oh wait, you mean streaming Netflix. Naw, I'm old fashioned. I'm still watching Beta/VHS (only joking).

 

draped bust commodus seams to be scare

 

Just an update to this old thread: there is a second season of the series starting July 27. It is called “Master of Rome” and focuses on Julius Caesar. I was kind of disappointed to hear this focus; the best part of the first season was that it dealt with historical matters that had not been addressed in film or television very much. With a return to Julius Caesar, the series is going back to some well tilled soil. I would’ve like to have seen the series, for example, focus on the reign of Aurelian or somebody like that. Oh well.

Edit: It is season two of the Netflix series ROMAN EMPIRE.

 

RIC II, COMMODUS, Denarius, No. 146
Obverse: Commodus, laureate head facing right
Inscription clockwise from bottom: M COMM ANT P FEL AVG BRIT
Reverse: Pietas standing left, holding a box and dropping incense from a patera onto an altar
Inscription: AVCT PIET PM TRP XII IMP VIII COS V PP


RIC II, COMMODUS, Sestertius, No. 452
Obverse: Commodus, Laureate head facing right
Inscription clockwise from bottom: M COMMODVS ANTON AVG PIVS BRIT
Reverse: Victory (Britannia?) seated right, writing on shield
Inscription: S C (left and right) VICT BRIT (Exergue)

....... and, as far as I can tell, he wasn’t even there!

 

I share your disappointment. I was really hoping that they would do something off the beaten path, how cool would a season about Caracalla and Get a have been?

 

Hollywood only knows a couple Romans and they have trouble keeping their vices straight. There are a hundred other stories you could wreck with poor treatment but that is why I prefer Game of Thrones where you aren't bothered by little details like truth.

I will repeat my often expressed believe that the Roman history mini-series worth making would be the life of Julia Maesa. The first season would watch as her sister rose to power. The second would cover her view of Caracalla. Third would be about Elagabalus but that one would get the show cancelled as making him look too perverted for cable. Finally we could see her change grandsons and set Rome up for a time of peace and happiness. OK, it would be a short time but you can't blame Maesa for Maximinus. If I were producing it, the last scene would show a very tall man standing in the wings of the room when Maesa died. No one would understand who he was or why he was there and there is no truth in the scene but, after all, when did truth enter the list of requirements for TV?

 

One more episode to go for me. My opinion tracks many of those already listed here. Decent, didn’t need all the nudity, could have been more detailed, but at least it was narrated by Sean Bean. Probably the first thing he’s done in awhile where he wasn’t killed.

At least they showed a coin. Doesn’t appear real from my sofa.

 

Definitely made for TV.

 

I just watched the trailer and they feature Julius Caesar, but the episode list starts at Marcus Aurelius. Are the seasons going back and forth?

 

That brings back memories for me. At that time I was setting up at coin shows as an exhibitor here in Tucson and I remember how people would stop at my table (I had numerous Julio-Claudian coins) produce a Caligula video box which featured a pic of a coin inscribed simply CALIGULA, and with a demonic portrait with blood running out of his eye, and say “I want to buy one of those coins” (albeit without the bloody eye). They were sorely disappointed when I told them there was no such coin - more so when I told them Caligula was a “nickname” and that his coins were inscribed with his real name: Caius (I think most of them thought that Caligula was more ominous sounding) - or C as a prefix.

 

To the blood loving commudus. My only coin of him ex forum

 

I watched it when it first came out. It was pretty good- at least it was 100% factual- not tainted hollywood hack storylines

I like how it was a hybrid series of both of biographical and documentary styles.

I liked the casting and narration as well as the experts being interviewed

However the storyline was a tad dull
I cant wait until the next season when they will have Julius Caesar!

 

I think the episode list is for the first season, which does begin with Marcus Aurelius. The second season will go back in time with Julius Caesar. I do not think they are seeking continuity between seasons.

 

I just watched season 1 episode 1 not a bad movie at all. though the actor for marcus aurelius doesnt look like him in reality . to marcus aurelius the wise emperor.

RIC 205, RSC 209, Toned Very Fine, 19.1mm, 3.28 grams, Struck Circa. 168/169 C.E.

Obverse: M ANTONINVS AVG ARM PARTH MAX around laureate head of Marcus Aurelius to right





Reverse: Fortuna seated to left, holding rudder and cornucopia, FORT RED TR P XXIII IMP V around, COS IIII in exergue

I should mention interesting observation for this coin which I did not see in many roman coins. This coin had some small amount of Bismuth (Bi) which is a rare metal so not sure how it ended up in this coin. here is XRF analysis for people who are interested .

 

While it won't drive me to buy Netflix, I am somewhat amazed that they went to the trouble of finding a fake of the correct emperor for that shot. The style is bad but the spelling is correct. I do not recognize that particular fake. Does anyone know its source? I would think it would cost more to pay someone to find the right fake than to buy a real one.

 

it is funny you said that. he did look a little like the actor playing him in Gladiator ( without Richard Harris's beard

I still liked the actor who played Marcus Aurelius

 

But even the one in gladiator did not really look like marcus aurelius but the commodus was a bit more similar I would say