First, I have to say that I am a fan of Anciant Roman History, so every bit of information about that period is very welcome. Secondly, this documentary series counts with "Santiago Posteguillo" a great Spanish writer, reading "Trajano Trilogy" is really something you should do, interesting and entertaining at every level, also, maybe crude and detailed in the depictions of violence and sex, but definetely worthwhile.
This documentary has a positive thing. The historical figures depicted are really interesting, also some theories about the "real vs propaganda historical-account debate" are interesting.
However there are 3 problems in my view:
1) Using latin is a good idea, but, maybe just my perception, as acting is not so good, actors seem to have learnt the dialogues by heart. They suffer to be articulate in latin... of course, I do not know like latin sounded at that time, but it seems "artificial" in the documentary, as if they were given a "latin class" to a group of students (beginner level).
2) The historians, mostly that I can remember (except the writer) are women. They try to give their opinions about everything. Like 90% opinion 10% facts/history. It is really annoying sometimes. In particular, when they insist on repeating again and again and yet again, how the women were treated as children, how hard their lives were, how much they were suffering as they were considered "children" all their lives. This is repeated episode after episode, several times. "Come on, I got it. It is good to know but... can we focus on the individual person depicted?" (Besides, they were rich women, with power and priviliges... sure slaves (men and women) have much more crappy lives.
3) Regarding the depiction of violence, sex and sordid scenes. I think 10% violence, 40% sex and 50% sordid scenes, including like several "give to birth" scenes in every single episode. Well, at least, after watching the series, you will learn that women, and no men, at that time, gave birth. I should have expected a "whipping scene" or a "execution scene" with all the details also or maybe some battle were men were also brutally treated or killed. In reality, I think 90% of all the these violent, sex, sordid scenes were gratious and unnecessary.
In summary an interesting tv show that I have watched fully as I like the subject, with no so good performances, latin "forced" inclusion, too many sordid, pointless and repetitive scenes, and too much opinion like trying to put in our brains a message rather than a piece of history.
I really would like that someone could make a movie or tv-series about one of the many Santiago Posteguillo books... really missing fresh different historical movies with other historical periods (I know it is really hard to create that universe, but they do House of the Dragon and other many fantasy worlds, why not a more real one?)
