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Imagine a play being filmed with different stage sets, corresponding make-up and props, and you have a pretty good idea of what this series looks like. This doesn't have to be huge detracting factor. You've probably seen plays before and enjoyed them, and this one is very enjoyable as well especially if you liked HBO's "Rome".
The first thing that makes I Claudius worth watching is its basic plot-line. Claudius is the stuttering cripple grandchild of Augustus Caesar and he lives in the house of Augustus (Octavian) Caesar and his wife, Livia. As such, no one takes Claudius very seriously and in fact he is regarded as a fool. However while it's true that he is clumsy, he stutters, and he walks funny, his brain is anything but crippled. When he learns that the wife of Caesar is systematically poisoning all who stand in the way of her stepson Tiberius from taking the throne when Caesar dies, he is indeed in the fortunate position of being regarded as an idiot since all who stand in Livia's way soon discover that "poison is king".
After watching the first two episodes, my impression was that the series lumbered along a bit, not completely devoid of interest, but also not the riveting high production ride that "Rome" was. In terms of PRODUCTION and even acting, Rome is of a higher caliber for the most part, the difference between a well-financed modern production and a theatre presentation put to film 35 years ago. In spite of that, there are many memorable characters here as well (John Hurt's Caligula, and Claudius himself are certainly unforgettable).
Having finished the complete Rome series (only 2 seasons), "I Claudius" picks up almost exactly where Rome ends, i.e. with Octavian (Augustus) and Livia now with children of their own. Even Marcus Agripa is still in the scene when the series begins. Occasionally "I, Claudius" borders on a soap, and as I said, it plods along somewhat in the beginning. But most will not be able to tear themselves away from it after getting through the third episode. Come to think of it, it took me a few episodes to get hooked on "Rome" as well. The acid test for me in this case was the fact that I actually spent one or two nights watching it until dawn. For a show to do that to me it has to be engaging. "I, Claudius" fits that bill once it gets rolling and I'd urge anyone who gets the series not to be put off by the initial 'stage' vibe. Even without the high production value of HBO's Rome, the basics of the storyline here should be enough for most to maintain interest. And having seen Rome already will really give you an edge on getting into it since you'll already be familiar with many of the main characters and background on Julius Caesar, how Augustus came to be emperor, etc - which is where "I, Claudius" begins. Another likable device used in this series is the voice-over narration by Claudius himself. The story is his tale.
For those who inevitably start getting confused by the plethora of family lines and character names, there is a small insert in the DVD set outlining who's who. And while another detracting factor is that there are no subtitles, the sound if turned up a bit is clear enough to be mostly well understood. I used subtitles with HBO's Rome (region 2) to get familiar with people and place names. I was sorry there were no subtitles here, but it really turned out to be much less of an issue than I thought it would be. Again, if you've already seen "Rome" you are in a much better position toward appreciating and understanding this series.
You haven't seen so many snakes in one basket since "Rome". Even without the lavishness or attention to detail that made Rome great, "I, Claudius" remains a mesmerizing tale.
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