I couldn't agree more Indiana.
Awesome show!
At one point I had all of Season 1 recorded from HBO onto DVD but I erased them after watching each episode 2-3 times. I only had so many re-recordable discs and needed the space to record different stuff.
Now I wish I hadn't done that.
I do have every episode of Season 2, though.
Season 2 is also very good...though it may throw you for a loop to see Octavian as a boy one episode and in the next, he's like 20 years old and none of the other characters look like they've aged at all.
Despite that, they did make a good casting choice for the actor playing him.
My only gripe with season 2 is that they spend a little too much time focusing on Marc Antony and Cleopatra.
Most of the time, they're stoned out of their minds on opium and it slows down the pace of the show.
Then again, I have other friends who think the scenes with Antony & Cleopatra are the best in the series. It all depends on personal preference, I guess.
By far the best part of Rome is the friendship between Titus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus.
In the first episode, Vorenus has Pullo publicly flogged and by the end of season 1, he literally saves his life.
Those two get into some serious scrapes together!
Especially when Pullo gets thrown into the arena with that big nasty gladiator.
It is hands down, one of the coolest scenes ever!
Pullo in the Arena
(don't talk bad about the 13th Legion!)
If any of you haven't seen Rome, do yourself a favor and go buy or rent this on DVD.
I give this show 4 out of 4 stars. It kicks ass!