TV Gold

Whilst the devious manipulations of Livia continuing this fourth episode, appropriately entitled <span style='color:green'>?Poison Is Queen? </span>(specifically with regard to her husband) presents us for a further mellowing of Augustus. Sensing potentially the end of his reign and his life he seeks to make some recompense with his exiled son Postumus. I felt that the realistically designed wooden hut set combined with background sounds of distant sea gulls and waves crashing along the shores most effective in conveying the isolated situation in which Postumus had at this point lived for four years. These scenes, both at the beginning and later on in the episode, were I thought well played by both actors whose characters recognised personal status stances were exchanged. A bitter Postumus venting his anger on the source of his exile while the once mighty Augustus here portrayed, for the most part, a broken guilt-ridden persona when he sees what the punishment he delivered had caused to his son. One other point of note here is the guest appearance of James Bree, probably notable both for his season one Secret Army role and also for his ?Security Chief? appearance in the Doctor Who ?The War Games? epic story, here appearing as Augustus? personal apothecary.

As with all episodes in the series there is a small scene where the aged Claudius, transcribing his memories onto parchment, takes a moment to collect his thoughts before his verbal reflections slowly lead us into the main sequence of events. On this occasion, in episode five, we find Claudius doing this whilst taking his place on the toilet, charming! Well once past that introduction the again aptly titled <span style='color:green'>?Some Justice?</span> is another gem of a story with the recently returned to Rome, senator Piso (well played by distinguished actor Stratford Johns) facing a number of serious charges. With a fairly elderly Tiberius now as emperor we enter, for the first time, the convincingly portrayed Roman senate where Piso and his wife Plancina (whom faces charges herself of practicing witchcraft) are tried. There is indeed much strong feeling about the case and the appropriately robed senators, Roman guards and emperor certainly add to the seemingly authentic atmosphere that this aspect of the production sets out to achieve so successfully. There are just three other things I would just like to mention about <span style='color:green'>?Some Justice?</span>. This episode introduces, as a child, Caligula played by Robert Morgan and we see the seeds of trust in his uncle being sown when Claudius prevents the youngster from gaining a beating for being found in bed with his sister Drusellas. Next the memorable and enjoyable scene where Livia and known poisoner Martina (Patsy Byrne (long before her Blackadder II role) peacefully chat about various potions and ingredients with such an unusual innocence as to make it, justifiably, one of the best scenes in the entire series. Lastly, on arriving in Rome, Claudius arranges accommodation for Martina. It took me a while to figure out where I had seen the briefly seen bearded landlord Gershon played by George Pravda. Wasn?t he the psychiatrist who saw Number Six in ?The Prisoner? episode ?Change of Mind? shortly after his supposed ?social conversion??

Rounding off this second trio of episodes and episode six opens pleasantly enough with seated friends gathered around a dancer entertaining them. As the music fades and peace returns the mood quickly turns distinctly grizzlier. One of those assembled, a married woman by the name of Lollia relates a truly gruesome sequence of events that occurred in a reception at the Emperors residence. Her total disgust at what she had witness there leads to her eventual suicide, plunging a dagger right in her stomach, in clear sight of the assembled guests and the viewing audience. This was indeed an impressively measured, precise delivery by actress Isabel Dean who entirely engages the audiences emotional revulsion regarding what she was forced to endure and sincere sorrow at the course of action she is now compelled to now take. After that it is indeed a welcome change of pace with a rather light hearted scene the next day. In the midst of the hustle and bustle of the Roman market place (effectively realised I thought) you had the accidental collision of carriages carrying Tiberius and Livia resulting in another headed discussion. The market place scene features once more later on, this time with Claudius talking with Herod. The key aspect of this episode, titled <span style='color:green'>?Queen of Heaven?</span> is indeed the aged Livia who reveals all her dark secrets to Claudius early in the second half of the story (during the DVD chapters Five and Six). But can we really expect Claudius to grant her absolution for her crimes and allow her to ultimately become ?a goddess? as she desires. Or is it truly too late for her as the adult Caligula (played here for the first time by John Hurt with the ?monster? aspect of the character clearly evident) believes?

Time to head off towards the penultimate trio of episodes 7, 8 & 9 next week (Oh dear it?s the reign of Caligula! God help us all!)?

<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Her total disgust at what she had witness there leads to her eventual suicide, plunging a dagger right in her stomach, in clear sight of the assembled guests and the viewing audience. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

As I recall, Lollia didn't just witness events -- she had offered herself to Tiberius in order to spare her young, innocent daughter, and afterwards she could no longer live with the memory of the depraved acts to which Tiberius subjected her.

<!--QuoteBegin--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->But can we really expect Claudius to grant her absolution for her crimes and allow her to ultimately become ?a goddess? as she desires.  Or is it truly too late for her as the adult Caligula (played here for the first time by John Hurt with the ?monster? aspect of the character clearly evident) believes?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Is this the episode in which Livia dies? That even after all her despicable acts, S?an Phillips' plaintive cry of "I want to be a goddess" can make us feel a bit sorry for Livia is a marvelous feat of acting.

<!--QuoteBegin-TrentinaNE+Jul 20 2005, 06:28 PM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(TrentinaNE @ Jul 20 2005, 06:28 PM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->As I recall, Lollia didn't just witness events -- she had offered herself to Tiberius in order to spare her young, innocent daughter, and afterwards she could no longer live with the memory of the depraved acts to which Tiberius subjected her.
Is this the episode in which Livia dies?  That even after all her despicable acts, S?an Phillips' plaintive cry of "I want to be a goddess" can make us feel a bit sorry for Livia is a marvelous feat of acting.
[right][snapback]548[/snapback][/right]
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Sorry, you are right, I guess I was so overwhelmed by the measured powerful performance of this actress in this scene. That is indeed what Lollia did.

I believe this is indeed the episode where Livia dies (episode six), Sian Phillips only making it halfway through 'I, Claudius', but it was enough, in my mind, for her to qualify as the best performance of this series.