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Chris Knight's avatar

What if Game of Thrones came out a decade and a half earlier, in 1995?  Back when the style of fantasy television was dictated by shows like Hercules: The Legendary Journeys and Xena: Warrior Princess.  What would it have been like?

Very likely, something like this…




So if Sam Raimi had made Game of Thrones back in the day, who would Kevin Sorbo have played? My guess is Eddard Stark.  Maybe a shaven-headed Bruce Campbell as Varys, or at least Petyr Baelish.

And Lucy Lawless?  No doubt about it: Cersei.

Kudos to YouTube user “hunterlsanders” for such a great piece of work!...

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Chris Knight's avatar

There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.

That was the most perfect ending for a television miniseries that I’ve seen since Lonesome Dove. And easily one of the best finales for anything ever produced for the medium.

All day long, HBO had a marathon going from start to finish of John Adams. Lisa and I watched Part 6, “Unnecessary War”, and then segued right into the finale “Peacefield”. The previous chapter ended with the image of Adams, alone and seemingly friendless, leaving the Presidential Mansion (it wouldn’t be called the “White House” for another ten years) for the last time, ahead of the inauguration of longtime friend-turned-rival Thomas Jefferson.

“Peacefield” picks up the story two years later, as Dr. Benjamin Rush diagnoses John and Abigail’s daughter Nabby with breast cancer. For the next hour, the final twenty-three years of the life of the second President of the ...

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Chris Knight's avatar

DAMN if this ain’t one of the best things done for television in a long time!

I’ve been watching it since the first part a few weeks ago and have become absolutely hooked! John Adams is based on David McCullough’s biography of the second President of the United States, played in the series by Paul Giamatti. Part 1 began the story on the night of the Boston Massacre in 1763, and followed Adams as he successfully defended the British soldiers involved in the incident. During the ensuing weeks we have watched Adams’ involvement with the Continental Congress, the increasing tensions between the colonists and Britain, the trip that Adams and Benjamin Franklin made to Europe, and tonight’s chapter found Adams coming to terms with being the first Vice-President in the new country’s history.

It’s beautifully played and all exquisitely portrayed. HBO did an amazing job with Rome during the past ...

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Chris Knight's avatar

This is a show that knows how to wrap-up: by leaving them wanting more. That final shot, with Titus Pullo just about to tell Caesarion “about your father…” was timeless and beautiful. The whole hour and fifteen minutes (yup they went over a quarter-hour on this one) was awesome. Except… now we’ll have no more adventures from Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo. But at least Kevin McKidd and Ray Stevenson seem to be spinning their work on Rome into other stuff: both are said to be doing some TV pilots and such. Here’s hoping we find them back on the screen soon ‘cuz these are two actors who captivated a lot of people. It was their work, and not the machinations of Antony and Caesar and Attia and Octavian and the rest, that is what made Rome so must-see these two seasons.

All told, it was good stuff. I might ...

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Chris Knight's avatar

The adventures of Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo wind down tonight when, after only two seasons, HBO airs the final episode of Rome. Guess it was only natural: the past few episodes have been about the rise to power of Octavian and things were pretty peaceful in the empire after he took over. But still, I’ve been loving this show since the very beginning, and this is gonna be one heckuva void to fill when it comes to quality television.

So, long live Rome. And for the last time: “Thirteenth!”...

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