Rome 2.08 A Necessary Fiction

[baleanoptera]

The short version: I loved it. I cried. I went "OMG! Ewww!" at certain times.

The long version:

The loving:

I don't really care that they play fast and loose with the historical events, because where Rome shines to me is in conveying emotions and life. It makes you feel something about history and historical events and it forces you to care. I think my greatest love in regards to "Rome" is how it manages to be so human and so foreign all at the same time.(My second love would be mad, bad Titus Pullo in leather - because um..yes.Do I need to explain why?) And I felt this episode had this is spades. From manic Pullo covered in blood to Livia biting the head of birds the show is so good at using visual imagery to get you to emotionally connect.

Granted that my stance is that you cannot make a historical correct movie/series no matter how hard you try. Even films depicting events that happened 20 or 60 years ago will at some point be historically inaccurate and that's just the way things are. As L.P. Hartley said: "The past is a foreign country, they do things differently there" and we cannot recreated it wholly. But what we can do is to remind ourselves that the people living then were human too. They were more than just names on a page or in marble, and "Rome" works for me as a wonderful reminder of that.

The crying:

I will admit that I cried twice – which is actually a little unusual. But when Eirene died and during the big Vorenii confrontation and Vorenus nearly strangling his daughter I got all teary. I will also admit to forgiving Pullo after he went all catatonic and grieving – in fact I might have forgiven him already on Eirene’s deathbed when he talked about her getting old and grey.

The rest - from OMG! Ewww - to analysis and talk of parallels

One of the things Rome has been very good at is playing with parallels. In this episode I would say there was a parallel between Maschius and Lepidus – both being the third f**king man. (And was it just me or did anyone else find Lepidus’s "It was probably Gauls!" extremely funny?)

There was also a very good parallel between Eirene’s funeral and Pullo’s proposal, with them both set in the country – but most importantly a parallel between Niobe’s funeral and Eirene’s.

I also liked the symbolism that Pullo now has buried "peace" aka Eirene’s name, and then goes absolutely insane in battle. Now the tongue biting was bad, but I wasn’t that shocked. For some reason it was the mad Pullo wielding an axe and looking psychotic that really scared me!
(I’ve probably read too many Viking sagas in school. There they bite of body parts all the time. Like in one of my favourite sagas: "Then Egil threw a way his shield and grabbed him and bit him in the throat until he was dead." I read that when I was 13 and have never gotten over it. )

But I would also claim that there is a connection, or perhaps the term circle would be more appropriate, – between this episode and the beginning of series one. Now Pullo is the one with a family to look after (not his biological family, but I doubt he takes that into consideration), and Vorenus is the lonely one without any connection besides the army.
In S1 it was of course the other way around, and I will admit I never thought it would shift like this.


I’m going to sound extremely geeky here, but then again I often do, and say that this was possibly my favourite episode title of the season. You see I have a special love for titles that both match and twists your view about an episode. This might hearken back to my love for paintings and how the title of a painting changes the way you view it, but at any rate: Yay for A Necessary Fiction. So why did I find it so very fitting? Because this episode was filled with people who lied – either to themselves or to others.

Octavian is a liar – he lies to himself all the time. For he clearly believes every word of his little moral speech – he thinks this is the way the world is, the way it should always be. So the pieces that do not fit his picture get cut away. This is a large part of what makes him dangerous. Now Caesar was someone who saw the world for what it was and used that as a basis for his manipulation, whereas Octavian is someone who views the world with an already formed image in his mind and gets cross when the pieces have minds and images of their own.
There is Vorena. She is a liar too – both to others when she pretends to her father that everything is alright. But also to herself with her box of animals. She wants to believe in her farm in the country – symbolised by all the little straw animals and people. She wants to believe that this person loves her, even if she knows that the person is connected to Memmio and a little shady.

One of the things I’ve been asking myself is why nobody tells Vorena the Elder the truth. That Niobe wasn’t killed, but killed herself, and that her father isn’t (such) a bad man. But after watching "A Necessary Fiction" I’m not sure it would have helped. Granted everything Vorena has seen indicates that her father is a horrible man and that he is the root of all evil.
But at the same time I think it is important not to overlook that for Vorena it is goodto be able to lay all the blame on her father. He is there, he is tangible – and so it’s much, much easier to hate him and blame him for everything – than to face what has happened to her and her family.

Then there is Agrippa. When confronted by Octavian he blurts out that yes, he has been having an affair and he is very sorry. At first I was rather cross at him, but then I started thinking –especially about his little speech in the kitchen. Octavia says they can elope and that she has some money – and he refuses and breaks it of with her.

As I said to alexandral I was disappointed at first, but I'm beginning to understand him a little. Not saying excusing him - but I see where he is coming from. Octavia's talk about escaping and running away is sweet, but not very practical. For love is sweet but it doesn't put bread on the table - and now I sound like the worlds worst anti-romantic and I'm not.(I’ve just been reading too much George R.R. Martin)But I think it’s important to remember that in this series Agrippa is a nobody as far as background is concerned. His grandfather was a slave, and his father has probably worked damn hard to rise above that - and Agrippa himself seems to have work damn hard.

So he knows what hard work and toil is - and Octavia does not. How long do you think she would last on the run in the east? What would they do when the money ran out (which it would), and they were being chased by a slightly psychotic Octavian (and he would chase them).
What would they do when the first rush of eloping has gone and hard reality sets in? Octavia doesn't know an occupation and she isn't very strong. I'd wager she would suffer terribly, and by breaking it of Agrippa has spared her of that. He has kept her safe, said all the blame is on him (remember he was very focused on telling Octavian it was all his fault). The result is Octavia is as safe and as well looked after as he can make her at the moment. Heartbroken yes, but safe.

Add to that is the fate of other characters who have run away to the east. It started with Pompey and ended with Cassius and Brutus, and it all ended with death. Now I’m not saying Agrippa is thinking a long quite so dramatic lines, but it must be whispering somewhere in the back of his mind that going east never solves anything. In fact it often reduces you to live on others mercy. The Egyptians killed Pompey to try to get Caesar’s favour. How many would try to kill him and capture Octavia to get Octavian’s favour? And he is (as yet) a nobody compared to Pompey – what measure of protection for Octavia could he muster?

Comments

[reginaspina.livejournal.com]

Octavian is someone who views the world with an already formed image in his mind and gets cross when the pieces have minds and images of their own.

This is also Vorenus, though. He had an image of Niobe as his loving wife, and when it turns out that she made ONE MISTAKE years ago, it erases all the love that is genuinely there between them; he has an image that his family is reunited and they can start afresh and stubbornly clings to this believe, until Vorena shatters it with her affirmation of her hatred for him.

Pullo is the one who sees and accepts the world as it is – and perhaps this is why, although he has, as you so beautifully say, “buried” peace, and though he is grieving and deeply affected by Eirene’s death, he IS still able to look beyond himself (to save Vorenus from killing his child; to promise to take care of Vorenus’s children) and he gives himself the outlet of violent, murderous rage, so he can both avenge his friend’s honor (by killing Vorena’s lover) AND express his fury at the world that took Eirene from him (by, err, maiming Memmio before he kills him. It’s such PERSONAL violence and it is the second time in the episode that Pullo is covered with blood!)

He is there, he is tangible – and so it’s much, much easier to hate him and blame him for everything – than to face what has happened to her and her family.

But I blame Vorenus for this too, a little bit – when he brings the children back, he says that they’re going to start afresh and never speak of the past. So he shuts down the lines of communication completely, to the point where the children are clearly not encouraged to talk about their mother at all, and Vorena can stew in her anger and hatred and also create this same picture for the younger children (a picture doubtless reinforced by the sight of Vorenus strangling her.) If anyone can convince Vorena that Vorenus is not the evil man she thinks, it might be Pullo – I cannot tell you how much I loved that after the awfulness, he took her in his arms and just HUGGED her. (And he still tries to speak for her to Vorenus, to tell Vorenus how she is very like him, but she’ll not always hate him if he just stays and tries, but poor Vorenus is so weary at this point – and has his illusions so shattered – that he cannot even try.)

I agree with your observations on Agrippa, although I would add that I think his friendship for and loyalty to Octavian ALSO play a role. He cannot knowingly betray his friend, which, as tricky as that is for poor Octavia, IMO speaks well for Agrippa. (These people aren't modern Westerners, bred into the idea of romantic love – they are also pragmatists (Octavia not so much, but see how things ended for the husband she could not give up? Remember that Glabius died? You’d think she’d be a little more cautious about making Agrippa become Octavian’s enemy, considering that Octavian is a lot scarier than Atia!)

I was actually sorry for AND annoyed by Octavia – I think she is making the same mistake here that Vorena mistakes in believing that “amor vincit omnia” because sadly, in this world, all it does is make you vulnerable. And Agrippa who truly does love her understands the truth of this, where Octavia doesn’t.

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

It’s such PERSONAL violence and it is the second time in the episode that Pullo is covered with blood!)

Ooo! I hadn't thought of that - but yes, he is covered in blood both at the beginning and at the end. How wonderfully symbolic, in a scary way.

That said I had to stop myself from quoting pretty much everything about Pullo in your comments and just go: YES! . Because I loved that he hugged Vorena, and that he just held her there. I loved that he looked sinister at Memmio, but it wasn't until after Memmio had called Vorenus crazy that Pullo went crazy. Still defending his brother and his legacy, even if a bit bloody.

I LOVED his prayer at Eirene's grave, in fact so much I get a lump in my throat just writing about it. And that prayer made me think of the prayer before the Gladiator match, just as defending Vorenus in absentia from Memmio's insults reminded me of he shouts of "Thirteenth!"
In fact I quite possibly love Pullo even more after this episode, based on all those facts alone - and to top all that there is angry Pullo in leather. (before ear-biting mind you).

But I blame Vorenus for this too, a little bit – when he brings the children back, he says that they’re going to start afresh and never speak of the past.

Oh I very much agree with this. His instance that everything was well and that the past was a closed chapter might have helped him, but it didn't help anyone else. I just found it so sad that Vorenus leaves for the legion because he believes that there is nothing else left for him. Especially considering how reluctant he was to leave for the legion in the middle part of season one. I think that shows how broken he really is.

I simply loved the goodbye scene between Pullo and Vorenus, and I loved Pullo for trying to speak Vorena's case.

I agree with your observations on Agrippa, although I would add that I think his friendship for and loyalty to Octavian ALSO play a role.

Definitely - both in that he is loyal TO Octavian, all while realising the possible consequences of betraying Octavian. Instead of arguing or denying his guilt he admits everything, and this obviously pleases Octavian and all is well.

considering that Octavian is a lot scarier than Atia!)

Actually I get the feeling that Octavia is just starting to realise this, and that part of her anger is a result of this brother she no longer understands or knows. So I don't think she quite grasps how dangerous her brother has become.
As a sidenote I also found it quite funny that she tells Livia "You're marrying a monster", because all gossip from Suetonius or Robert Graves aside, Livia was a formidable woman.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I’ve probably read too many Viking sagas in school. There they bite of body parts all the time. Like in one of my favourite sagas: "Then Egil threw a way his shield and grabbed him and bit him in the throat until he was dead." I read that when I was 13 and have never gotten over it.

I find that my perceptions of dark, bloody and depressing are formed by Russian fiction. Russian WW2 films quite often show things of such terrible terror that I have never seen in Western movies yet. In Russain fiction "depressing and dark" is reserved for something like " Titus Andronicus" and a truly happy ending for everyone doesn't happen as often as in Hollywood films. Sorry for rambling, I am just trying to say that tongue-biting didn't shock me all that much. :D
And neither I find "Rome" particular depressing.

So why did I find it so very fitting? Because this episode was filled with people who lied – either to themselves or to others.

This thought about the episode's title is fabulous! I was scratching my head trying to decipher what it was about!!

But at the same time I think it is important not to overlook that for Vorena it is goodto be able to lay all the blame on her father.

I think it is very good for her to be able to speak it all in her father's face. This is a first stage of real healing between them, this breaking of the lies.

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Sorry for rambling,

hee - not a problem at all. In fact its very interesting, and the more you talk about Russian films and tv, the more it sounds like Norwegian tv.
In a recent Norwegian film for instance a woman get lye all over her. She literary melts away. It's horrible to watch, but the film got the equivalent of a PG-13. In fact hardly any films get a higher rating than that.
And I agree that Rome isn't depressing. It's heartbreaking and highly emotional yes, but I don't consider that the same thing.

This is a first stage of real healing between them, this breaking of the lies.

Oh I hope so! I'm just afraid that Vorenus will never come back, and that he will die in battle.

[wildtiger7.livejournal.com]

An excellent post about the episode! I agree with what you said about Agrippa - that as much as he would love to run away with Octavia (and as he admits to her), it just wouldn't be right, and by that he means it really wouldn't work out so well.

In this episode I would say there was a parallel between Maschius and Lepidus – both being the third f**king man.

I think there is this parallel and also a contrast, in that Maschius gets a bit more respect than Lepidus. Lepidus's role (as you point out) was laughable; Maschius' was tragic.

I loved what you said about Octavian, and how very dangerous that makes him. There is a huge difference between seeing the world as it is and wanting to make it the way you want it, like Caesar did, and not seeing the world as it is at all but instead making sure everything conforms to your view. And I also laughed a bit when you called Octavian "slightly psychotic." He was probably slightly psychotic when he was two. :)

What was up with the falcon eating the rat? It just occured to me that that was bothering me.

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Maschius' was tragic.

Oh absolutely. I found Maschius's speech to Pullo about all their history very touching. Lepidus on the other hand just comes across as Alan Rickman's less snarky, long lost brother. ;P

What was up with the falcon eating the rat? It just occurred to me that that was bothering me.

That was creepy wasn't it? I took it as a symbol for a predator eating its pray, and since it was shown in the Forum to have some connection to the public life. Perhaps as a symbol of Octavian?

On a historical note the Romans were very occupied with signs and portents, and especially signs from birds and their behaviour - so it could be a play on that as well.

[nutmeg3.livejournal.com]

I found myself nodding non-stop as I read your post. I love how brilliant mt f-list are about this show, because I never seem to analyze it much, just watch and emote all over the damn place. So much breaks my heart every week that I'm almost (but not quite) glad there are only two episodes left, because it's just so damn painful.

[baleanoptera.livejournal.com]

Thank you!
To be quite honest I had to wait 24 hours before writing anything, because the episode had left he so devastated. First Eirene and then the horrid fight between Vorenus and his daughter.
I now insist on watching Rome with cats nearby, simply for emergency comfort. Thankfully the cats don't seem to mind. ;)