Ranking Every HBO Drama Series From Worst To Best
33. Rome
A glossy but somewhat hollow collaboration between HBO and the BBC had its moments, but often felt like HBO chasing its greatest hits. Antiheroic men, scheming, mysterious women, this was like that dream sequence where Tony Soprano was dressed like a centurion stretched out for two seasons.
That’s a little unfair: Rome’s first season did a great job of taking historical figures and bringing them, and the ancient city, to life. It always looking fantastic, and featured many character actors in rare leading roles, headlined by Trainspotting’s Kevin McKidd as Lucius Vorenus.
Like many shows set in bygone times, it was a little too keen on winks and nods to events about to unfold, most notably in the fate of Julius Caesar, played in scene stealing fashion by Ciarán Hinds for the first season.
The second season quickly went off the rails, with the plot becoming messier and viewers departing in their droves. Rome was always prone to using sex and gore to spice things up; by the end, that’s all that was on offer.