*I Claudius*........a most wonderful series....I watch it at least once yearly......just the best of BBC/PBS.......Bravo Livia and Claudius. Great scene!
Livia was so cruel to Claudius, and it's only in the face of damnation that she is able to show him any courtesy. And yet he still fulfills her wish. Does that make him a fool or a hero? Though she gives him the most precious thing to him, the truth, it always amazed me he could actually love her enough and forgive her enough to make her a goddess. But then, hey, anybody in Rome could be a deity with the right connections, so I dunno...
@pmkraa Hey he still remembers the advice the historian gave him to exaggerate any infirmities or disabilities that he had and therefore never be considered a political threat.
I remember a professor of mine saying that it is good art but he wouldn't stick his hand in the fire to save it. It is brilliant drama but the history is artistic license. In fact with Tiberius there are two ways to take him either as the pervert who violated and murdered or else he was a scholar with an interest in linguistics. The history it self is as Claudius might say "full of lies" simply because there is too much information on the matter but nothing definite.
"When people die so much dies with them, and all that's left is pieces of paper that tell lies! Lies, lies..." One of my 1,001 favorite lines in this incredible series!
If she really ordered all those kills, she deprived the Empire of people who would have become great leaders, like Drusus, Germanicus, Agrippa... But the story of "I, Claudius" doesn't tell that Tiberius was one of the best emperors of Rome. An able general and a very capable administrator, despite being a resentful and sad person.
Also, administration of the Empire marched well under Caligula (lucky his reign was short), Claudius and Nero. It's then where things begin to get down slightly
good point. and this is ofcourse a dramatization which has its propaganda value. in that book "the twelve ceasars" tiberius is described as a modest and good man. then seutonius i think qualifies the rest of it by saying "the following is slander and libel and you can believe it if you like" my guess is that he was probably a man of virtue smeared by his detractors. so robert graves takes the slander and libel and writes two long books elaborating on it this becomes a mini series and history ...
Well said. Although I think that Tiberus was not really a good man, rather he was resentful and full of secret hatred for those who were more virtuous. Still, he proved to be contempt, modest and I doubt he ever wanted to be Emperor.
But still, his abilities of government were great (despite the Sejanus incident).
@Ennio444 in the book claudius actually does state the tiberius was a competant administrator and a great general; just that he was a complete asshole.
@Ennio444 tiberius admits that it "wasn't really worth it" in the final episode. the book does state that tiberius was intelligent (if an unpleasent) ruler.
@Ennio444 tiberius was a competant ruler, but I was also an unpleasant guy to be around. Vespasian, Titus, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus aurelius also led what was some of the better years. commodus was when shit really hit the fan.
Not really. You're assuming that the Empire was safe because it had good rulers, and it started to fall when it had bad rulers. That's not true. Caligula and Nero has been bad rulers. Titus would have become another Caligula / Domitian had he lived more. Trajan was very clever, but he was enjoying the great work of Vespasian. Commodus didn't create any crysis. The problem was that the Severians didn't do it well enough, but the bases of the Empire were already trembling.
*I Claudius*........a most wonderful series....I watch it at least once yearly......just the best of BBC/PBS.......Bravo Livia and Claudius. Great scene!
neilerone 1 month ago
@nightbear01 What did he do to defy Livia?
Hylas19 3 months ago
Livia was so cruel to Claudius, and it's only in the face of damnation that she is able to show him any courtesy. And yet he still fulfills her wish. Does that make him a fool or a hero? Though she gives him the most precious thing to him, the truth, it always amazed me he could actually love her enough and forgive her enough to make her a goddess. But then, hey, anybody in Rome could be a deity with the right connections, so I dunno...
Hylas19 3 months ago
Indeed, one of the best scenes from " I Claudius" . I saw this series about 4 times the last years. Very very good actors,. Very good story.!
don3001 1 year ago
I like the way Claudius trips and passes out just after his conversation with Livia.
pmkraa 1 year ago
@pmkraa Hey he still remembers the advice the historian gave him to exaggerate any infirmities or disabilities that he had and therefore never be considered a political threat.
3baxcb 10 months ago
I remember a professor of mine saying that it is good art but he wouldn't stick his hand in the fire to save it. It is brilliant drama but the history is artistic license. In fact with Tiberius there are two ways to take him either as the pervert who violated and murdered or else he was a scholar with an interest in linguistics. The history it self is as Claudius might say "full of lies" simply because there is too much information on the matter but nothing definite.
schizoidboy 1 year ago
Brilliant writing- brilliant actress
puppetoz 2 years ago
"When people die so much dies with them, and all that's left is pieces of paper that tell lies! Lies, lies..." One of my 1,001 favorite lines in this incredible series!
chaosfive55 2 years ago 2
It's so funny how she said she poison all those people with ease ! XD
ButtaUsagi 2 years ago 3
She was also never deified. Livia was either a monster, or a scapegoat. We will never know.
mackeral0 3 years ago
Actually, Claudius did deify her in 42 AD, 13 years after her death.
NightBear01 3 years ago 7
she is wrong. she only taught people murder and subterfuge, she brought the whole empire down with her evil conduct
iorixs 3 years ago
If she really ordered all those kills, she deprived the Empire of people who would have become great leaders, like Drusus, Germanicus, Agrippa... But the story of "I, Claudius" doesn't tell that Tiberius was one of the best emperors of Rome. An able general and a very capable administrator, despite being a resentful and sad person.
Also, administration of the Empire marched well under Caligula (lucky his reign was short), Claudius and Nero. It's then where things begin to get down slightly
Ennio444 2 years ago
good point. and this is ofcourse a dramatization which has its propaganda value. in that book "the twelve ceasars" tiberius is described as a modest and good man. then seutonius i think qualifies the rest of it by saying "the following is slander and libel and you can believe it if you like" my guess is that he was probably a man of virtue smeared by his detractors. so robert graves takes the slander and libel and writes two long books elaborating on it this becomes a mini series and history ...
iorixs 2 years ago
Well said. Although I think that Tiberus was not really a good man, rather he was resentful and full of secret hatred for those who were more virtuous. Still, he proved to be contempt, modest and I doubt he ever wanted to be Emperor.
But still, his abilities of government were great (despite the Sejanus incident).
Ennio444 2 years ago
@Ennio444 in the book claudius actually does state the tiberius was a competant administrator and a great general; just that he was a complete asshole.
pirateking193 1 year ago
@Ennio444 tiberius admits that it "wasn't really worth it" in the final episode. the book does state that tiberius was intelligent (if an unpleasent) ruler.
pirateking193 1 year ago
@Ennio444 tiberius was a competant ruler, but I was also an unpleasant guy to be around. Vespasian, Titus, Trajan, Hadrian, Antonius Pius and Marcus aurelius also led what was some of the better years. commodus was when shit really hit the fan.
pirateking193 1 year ago
Not really. You're assuming that the Empire was safe because it had good rulers, and it started to fall when it had bad rulers. That's not true. Caligula and Nero has been bad rulers. Titus would have become another Caligula / Domitian had he lived more. Trajan was very clever, but he was enjoying the great work of Vespasian. Commodus didn't create any crysis. The problem was that the Severians didn't do it well enough, but the bases of the Empire were already trembling.
Ennio444 1 year ago