Unlike another certain celebrated HBO series, Rome's end will satisfy those swept up in its lavishly mounted spectacle and invested in the human dramas of the historical figures and fictional characters. Season 2 begins in the wake of Julius Caesar's assassination, and charts the power struggle to fill his sandals between "vulgar beast" Mark Antony (James Purefoy) and "clever boy" Octavian (Simon Woods), who is surprisingly named Caesar's sole heir. The series' most compelling relationship is between fellow soldiers and unlikely friends, the honorable Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus "Violence is the only trade I know" Pullo (Ray Stevenson), who somewhat reverse roles when Vorenus is overcome with grief in the wake of his wife's suicide. Season 2 considerably ups the ante in the rivalry between Atia (an Emmy-worthy Polly Walker), who is Antony's mistress, and Servilia (Lindsay Duncan) with attempted poisonings and sickening torture. Another gripping subplot is Vorenus's estrangement from his children, who, at the climax of the season opener are presumed slaughtered, but whose true fate may be even more devastating to the father who cursed them.

Season Two builds on titanic foundation of Season One and brings the Republic to a perfect close

HBO's "Rome" may be over, condemned by budget and scope to a two-season life, but it will live forever as one of the best TV series ever produced.

Season One took the audience through a rollicking tour of Julius Caesar's rise to power, first defeating Pompey in the Civil War and then assuming the title of Dictator for life, only to end his life on the Senate floor under the conspirators' knives. Season Two picks up in the immediate aftermath of the assassination, as Mark Antony narrowly escapes his own murder as he leaves the Senate.

Just as with Season One, Season Two takes an "Upstairs, Downstairs" approach to telling its story. While Season Two uses the struggle between Brutus, Mark Antony, and Octavian Caesar as its main storyline, there is plenty of time spent on the lower classes as well. Marcus Vorenus and Titus Pullo are back for more murder and mayhem, and they provide some of the strongest emotional points of the series.

There's plenty of blood and sex to go 'round, particularly after Antony arrives in Alexandria for an extended debauch with Cleopatra, but "Rome" is far more than a T&A, blood-and-guts exploitation show. "Rome" goes to great care to remind us that Romans were real flesh-and-blood people, with real concerns. "Rome" also reminds us how the rise of Augustus, which seems after two thousand years to be a mere formality, was actually the result of a life-and-death struggle that could have gone in any of fifty different directions. This is solid history told in a hugely entertaining way.

The DVD set is fine, complete with commentaries for a handful of episodes as well as short segments (usually around 30 minutes) about the historical period or characters.

While Season Two can be enjoyed on its own merits, it is highly recommended that the viewer start with Season One. Immediately.

Not a bad continuation of the series

I agree with some reviewers that said this was a little too much like a historical soap opera and too little like a real drama. But I did find it interesting and entertaining, which is I think what the producers were aiming for. A funny note though, while they advertised the first season in my college history dept. I did't see any posters for the second. I'm thinking either it was too graphic re the sex and violence, or maybe they didn't think it was "historical" enough.

Battles of Network T & A

When I reviewed Rome The First Season I raved and said I couldn't wait for the second season. Well, the second season fulfilled that old saying about 'being careful what you wish for'. The second season had the high production values, the violence, and the sex - but little else. The story shoots off into wildly inaccurate and implausible directions, especialy concerning Atia. The men, particulalry the great general Marcus Agrippa are portrayed as weak-kneed boys who are manipulated by the ily women.

No, it's not University, but the first season proved that they could produce riveting TV with plenty of salacious details and violent action without mutilating the history part. The Second Season is mostly a vheicle for a lot of bedroom romps by Atia and others, not altogether a bad thing, but what a disappointment after such a promising first season. It reminded me of the old SNL skits about the Battle of Network T&A.