h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Anyone else been watching this and is anyone else going to miss it?

I'm not one for getting addicted to TV programmes but I reckon this one was pretty outstanding, not since This Life have I shouted at the telly and joined in like I did with this.
A fabulous piece of Television.

So what if they used south american parrots in a few episodes. If that's the harshest criticism that can be raised then that's a pretty good effort.

Looking forward to the next series where Mark Anthony and Octavian will ultimately battle it out...

Unfortunately missed large parts of the series, but loved the bits I did see. Last night's episode was great! Kevin McKidd and Ciaran Hinds were the stand out performances for me.

Love, betrayal, sex and extreme violence - what's not to like!

Well quite.

Strangely one of the other outstanding drama done by the BBC in their time was I Claudius.

Seems Rome is a winning subject

With material like that it would be hard to fail!

HBO/BBC productions are obviouisly a good idea too. The superb Band of Brothers and now this.

By the way, at the end they announced that "you can see series two *next* year", as in 2007?! They're not going to make us wait that long are they?

Dunno, but they spent 10 years making the current series apparently so that's pretty quick by those terms I guess.

I have found no info on a second series on the Imdb...

Apparently filming on season 2 won't start until March! In for a long wait then.

'fraid so, Disco Stu - there was actually some concern for a while whether they'd even make a second series, but hopefully that's now all been sorted.

I have to say that I loved every episode of 'Rome' that I saw (which sadly wasn't anywhere near all of them). I'm fascinated by this period of history, and by starting right at the dawn of the major period of Roman Emperors, the producers have cannily ensured that they've got enough storylines to keep going for AGES yet! I'd be fascinated to see what the guys behind 'Rome' do with the stories of Caligula and Nero... and (controversy ahoy!) how Roman governor Pontious Pilate got involved in the death of Christ.

Paully

If you enjoyed 'Rome', it's well worth looking out for Tom Holland's book 'Rubicon: The Triumph and Tragedy of the Roman Republic'. It's a work of narrative history/story-telling covering some of the same period of time, though its focus is on the end of the Republic and the aftermath, rather than on Caeser.

I don't know how well it stands up to close academic scrutiny, but it's an fascinating read.

Ooh, sounds fun. Having recently watched 'I, Claudius' for the first time (and despite having no budget, sets or special effects, it's still infinitely more gripping and horrific than 'Rome'), I've just picked up a copy of Rupert Graves' original two novels upon which the TV version of 'I, Claudius' was based. Thoroughly enjoying them!

Paully

Personally, as the stories of the Roman emperors that came immediately after Augustus has been done, I'd be interested to see some stuff from the Republic period before Caesar, say during the Punic Wars.

Hannibal, phoenicians and elephants

Also, the late period of the Western empire could be worthy with endless political corruption, emperors assassinated by their own Praetorian guard and invasions of Vandals and Huns.
The Sack of Rome would be sad but

I notice that Kevin McKidd has also been doing something as a soldier in the army of Romulus Augustus who was the last of the western Roman Emperors...

...although looking at it again, it looks more likely its an Arthurian tale...the name Ygraine is amongst the cast list...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0462396/

In that case the third series should be called 'Byzantine'!

Or more likely Constantinople

That's *really* jumping ahead a few hundred years

Actually, thinking along those lines, it would be interesting to see someone dramatise the story of the Fourth Crusade and the sack of Constantinople. It's got to be the most farcical moment in world history that I can think of. (barring the election of GWB )

What about the charge of the light brigade???

Mmm possibly but I like the enormous irony of the Holy Christian Crusade sacking the richest and most populous city in Christendom - albeit under duress.

I've really enjoyed 'Rome' too - and thoroughly enjoyed all the swashbuckling, especially last night's episode when Pullo saw off eight gladiators before Verinus stepped in to help him with the ninth one. The special effects were somewhat comic-book - but great, nonetheless

I read a lot of fiction based in the times of Ancient Rome - and can thoroughly recommend anything by Lindsey Davis or Steven Saylor. Both authors write rattling good yarns - with a huge amount of well researched historical detail.