Empire (TV series)

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Empire is a six part miniseries filmed in 2005. It is a historical drama set in 44 BC Rome, and covers the struggle of a young Octavius (Santiago Cabrera), the rightful heir of Julius Caesar, to become the emperor of Rome. The young nephew of Caesar is helped throughout by a fictitious gladiator called Tyrannus (Jonathan Cake), who plays a key role in the story.

The series, filmed entirely in Rome and South Central Italy, was directed by John Gray and Kim Manners, and produced by Carrie Henderson and Nick Gillott (episodes 4 and 6). It was written by Sara B. Cooper, Chip Johannessen, Tom Wheeler and William Wheeler.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Upon returning to the Senate, Julius Caesar is murdered by his fellow senators, who fear his increasing power and popularity amongst the citizens of Rome; however they are not able to gain the support of Mark Antony, who is appalled at their treachery.

The assassination succeeded because Tyrannus, Caesar's bodyguard, and a former gladiator undefeated in battle, had been distracted by the kidnapping of his son Piso, arranged by the assassins. He manages to rescue Piso, but returns to join Caesar just too late, after he has been stabbed. However, Caesar remains alive long enough to tell him that his nephew Gaius Octavius is to be his successor.

Trusted to protect Octavius, Tyrannus assists him to seek alliances to overthrow the Senate. Octavius believes he can win the support of Mark Antony. Antony agrees to join him, and even signs a document stating that Octavius has the support of Antony's troops if he should die. However, Octavius makes the naïve mistake of offering Antony leadership if he himself should perish. Antony then has Octavius killed, or so it seems, but when his body is being disposed of, the young Marcus Agrippa finds he is still alive, and joins Octavius, helping him to escape.

With the help of Agrippa and others, Octavius sets out for Gaul, where he aims to enlist the help of Caesar's Third Legion. According to the story, the Third Legion was disgraced in battle, and Julius Caesar had one in every ten men killed (decimation). They have remained in Gaul ever since, living as bandits, and are known as the ‘Lost Legion’. They at first want to kill Octavius, who they see in the same light as Caesar, but Octavius is able to win their support, with the help of Cicero.

Meanwhile Tyrannus joins Mark Antony as a centurion, thinking Octavius dead, and that in exchange for his support Antony will free his son, and even elevate him to the nobility. His troops are suspicious of this low-born gladiator, but he saves one of his men from being killed, which nearly costs him his own life, earning him the respect of his men.

Mark Antony, having now allied with the Senate, hears of Octavius's survival, and moves quickly to intercept him before he can gain too large a following. He brings an army with him, including the men under command of Tyrannus.

In the ensuing battle, Octavius rallies his troops, despite being heavily outnumbered. Nevertheless, they begin to lose ground, and Antony appears to have won. At the crucial moment Tyrannus changes sides, and his men support him. The tide of the battle turns, and Mark Antony is left at the mercy of Octavius in battle, unable to defend himself. Octavian gives him mercy, allowing him to live.

The ending focuses on Tyrannus, who having saved Octavius, becomes a free man, and sees his son again.

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[edit] Reception

The series has received a mixed response, with many film critics giving negative reviews. The drama has been criticized for its lack of historical accuracy and tendency to portray the characters in a simplistic way as either "good guys" or "bad guys". It was also thought to be heavily imitative of the film Gladiator.

[edit] Historical notes

  • None of the historical chronology is included in the miniseries.
  • The comical characters Hirtius and Pansa whom Cassius makes consuls and whom Brutus sends to offer a truce to Antony are based on the historical consuls appointed following Caesar's death Gaius Vibius Pansa Caetronianus and Aulus Hirtius.
  • The real life Octavius was not as clement and ethical over killing his enemies as the Octavius portrayed. Although he was not as brutal as Mark Antony in warfare, he was much more so than Caesar. Also, after he defeated Cleopatra and Mark Antony’s armies, he ordered Cleopatra’s son Caesarion put to death out of fear that he may hold a grudge against him.
  • The historical Octavius was renowned for being very intelligent, wise and merciless in rulership; however, in this he is portrayed as a careless, rather stupid and weak teenager who often has to rely on Tyrannus and Agrippa to help him and solve his problems.
  • Historically, Marcus Brutus committed suicide following the Battle of Philippi; however, here the battle does not occur and Antony exiles Brutus, refusing to let him kill himself so he can ‘make himself a martyr for Rome'. Brutus is seen alive and back in Rome at the end of the drama.
  • The miniseries ends with a battle between Antony and Octavius. This is loosely based on the post-Caesarian battle, the Battle of Mutina, after which Octavius and Antony called truce; however, historically the decisive confrontation between the armies of Antony and Octavius was at the naval Battle of Actium, which took place over ten years after Caesar’s death. Octavius did not directly lead his forces, though he was the nominal commander; the de facto opposed commanders in the battle were Antony and Agrippa.
  • While Cicero is portrayed in the film as a friend of Caesar and Octavius, he was in fact on the side of Brutus and the assassins. He was killed by the followers of Octavius during the proscriptions.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Trivia

  • When shooting started, the series was supposed to be eight hours long. When it was clear that the show was going to excessively run over budget, it was cut down to six hours.
  • Victor Garber was the original casting choice for the role of Julius Caesar, but had to bow out, shortly before the show went into production.
  • During the final battle between Antony's and Octavius's armies, Tyranus removes two silver emblems from his chest to denounce Antony and fight for Octavius. In the next shot, they are there again. Later, they disappear once more.

[edit] External links