#i clavdivs

[hennethgalad]

ecce homo

[mywingsareonwheels]

BRIAN BLESSED as Augustus in I, Claudius voice:-

IS THERE ANYONE IN BLOOMSBURY WHO HAS NOT SLEPT WITH DUNCAN GRANT?!?!!!!

[locutus-sum]

I, Clavdivs and Cicero Positivity

(yes, it has to be both spelt and pronounced with ‘v’s, there is no other way. Thus we must jokingly and affectionately show our appreciation for the show)

Unlike certain other Roman-themed TV series which shall remain nameless (*cough* HBO Rome *cough* - a nice bit of Ciceronian praeteritio for you 😀), I have to say I, Clavdivs (1976) gets extra points for being a wholly Cicero-positive show, as if I needed more reasons to love it (historical accuracy, thrilling slow-burn pacing, brilliant cast... I could go on.)

One of my favourite scenes is in episode 7, “Reign of Terror”. Just after elephantgate (I love that bit so much 🐘 🐘 🐘 ), the Roman writer Asinius Gallus, a friend of Claudius, discusses with him as they walk to the Senate a recent essay the former wrote on why Pollio is a better orator than Cicero. I immediately lost all respect for the character. Claudius’ reaction says it all:

Like we need any more reasons to love Claudius, he’s also #teamCicero!

But the best part is, moments after Gallus utters such disgusting words of slander (’they must have sounded even worse than they read’ - o impudentia hominis! o effrenata audacia!), he’s arrested by one of evil!Picard’s Sejanus’ cronies, tortured and put to death. This is by no means a critique of the writers, but the emotional impact of the character’s death was SIGNIFICANTLY lessened by what immediately preceded his arrest.

Of course, I hardly think poor old Gallus deserved what he got, but as a ‘Ciceronian fangirl extraordinaire’ (as Andrew Sillett rather amusingly describes Quintilian, though obviously he used the term ‘fanboy’) I admit it gave me no small amount of satisfaction to see that I, Clavdivs doesn’t think much of those who diss the Cic.

The only other time Marcus Tullius is name-dropped, as far as I can remember, is when somebody says something along the lines of ‘I promise even Cicero couldn’t defend you better’. Again, he’s portrayed with due reverence as the paragon of eloquence.

So thank you, I, Clavdivs, for being a rare and precious source of Cicero-positivity. Cicero may be a vain hypocritical walking disaster, but he’s our vain hypocritical walking disaster, and we love him very much.

[froward-bat]

I am the exact kind of nerdy to recognize and clap like a seal over J. Michael Straczynski's choice to do "the Caligula Episodes of I Clavdivs... In Spaaace!" on Babylon 5. Obviously influenced by the historical Caligula as well, but the dynamic between Cartagia and Londo is so clearly inspired by Caligula and Claudius in that series, JMS has mentioned being a fan several times... and he full-on lifts the gag about curing a cough with decapitation, come on!

I will say, Wortham Krimmer gives a solid performance as Cartagia, but it does pale in comparison to John Hurt as Caligula, easily a top ten John Hurt role IMO (and middle fingers all around to the obituaries who felt his 5 minutes in Harry Potter was more significant to mention, ugh).

[mysticmjolnir]

the worst thing is about being ravaged by illness is, i was halfway through watching i claudius and my brain wants to Continue but my heart and soul know i'm not currently strong enough to watch caligula eat the baby out of his sister's belly even though it's amazing

[thevideowall]

I finally got round to watching I, Claudius and I don’t know how people watched this in the 70s without the wikipedia page for the family tree of the Julio-Claudian emperors open on their laptops

It would be easier if they didn’t all have the same names, too

[locutus-sum]

[locutus-sum]

More Reigns:Caesar designs! I know this is supposed to be a Cicero blog but I’m having so much fun with these.