Episode Four List: Spoils of War
Six Things On My Mind:
1. Haters be hating, eh?
500 people? BEFORE the show even aired? And thousands after the first episode? All voting 1/10 on IMDb or 1/5 on Rotten Tomatoes, or thumbs down on Google?
Coincidence?
Or maybe not ...
Sigh. As a result, the IMDb page looked like this:
Hundreds of comments, before the show premiered, and hundreds after, written by reviewers who had previously never commented before. That first episode? Enraged hundreds of previously passive viewers into such a frenzy that they all spontaneously went to IMDb online, opened an account, and gave the show a 1/10 rating.
It would be funny, except I think these ratings might matter in the bigger scope of things.
IMDb removed all the comments made before Feb 17 for obvious reasons, and fans of the show have been rallying with realistic ratings and thoughtful comments since the show aired:
So, if you're reading this and are enjoying the show, keep watching. And maybe post a positive tweet. Rate it on IMDb. Give 'er a thumbs up on Google. Send chocolate chip cookies to the show's creators. Write a fan letter to your favorite Trojan. Or Greek. Spread some positivity is what I'm saying, I guess.
2. THAT said, I really love this show. For me, it's a story about the consequences and lingering doubts/anger/guilt/righteous indignation of the one father who didn't do as the gods commanded, and the other father who did.
Priam's family and city are in trouble. His daughter-in-law's father is dead and Cillicia has been razed. Their supply line has been destroyed. And ultimately (based on the title of this series) Troy will fall. All because he didn't kill Paris as a baby.
And Agamemnon clearly is a man tortured by his actions. It looks like he's becoming unhinged, making rash, immature decisions based on pettiness and pride and hormones. He DID slaughter his daughter, as the gods demanded and THAT act is driving him insane. (Johnny Harris is nailing this role.)
3. Paris and Helen. This was supposed to all about their grand love affair. But weren't they just pawns in some chess match the gods were playing? What was Zeus's end game in all this?
4. Can we talk about Achilles? What a complicated character. And David Gyasi - what a superb actor. His scenes with Briseis (beautifully played by Amy Louise Wilson) have been captivating.
This conversation/scene? Best one so far in the series.
5. ODYSSEUS. The rational strategist who didn't want to be a part of this war. There's something sexy about a man who uses his brains, yes? One who doesn't fly into a rage every other day? One who is three or four steps ahead of his peers when it comes to plans and problem-solving.
He is the very definition of stoic:
I wouldn't want to play poker with him. His face reveals nothing.
6. The duel. Menelaus vs Paris. King vs Prince. One fighting to get his wife back. The other fighting to keep the wife he stole. One has years of combat training behind him. The other is younger, but has limited experience. He was a cow herder.
Jonas Armstrong has completely embraced this role; he is Menelaus - a man obsessed to right a wrong. He is fierce, determined, focused, agile and strong.
(Who knew choreographed sword fights were so, erhm, fun to watch. A little bit hot, yes?)
Menelaus was the better fighter. And was winning. But when he brought out his secret weapon, the priest, my heart broke a little bit for Paris.
Imagine finding out all that about yourself while fighting with sharp pointy things with your wife's very angry ex? In front of huge crowds of witnesses. What an inopportune time to have a 'who am I' moment, not to mention all the new facts you have to process about your very existence, while fighting for your life.
I wondered why Menelaus hesitated in decapitating him.
Maybe killing Paris was never his intention?
Maybe this was enough? He just had to win. (And he had.)
Maybe the priest's words; "For Troy to live, you (Paris) have to die" were making him ponder the outcome he was really after. If he killed Paris, Troy would live. What did he want more? Paris's death or the city of Troy? What would his brother want?
5. ODYSSEUS. The rational strategist who didn't want to be a part of this war. There's something sexy about a man who uses his brains, yes? One who doesn't fly into a rage every other day? One who is three or four steps ahead of his peers when it comes to plans and problem-solving.
He is the very definition of stoic:
I wouldn't want to play poker with him. His face reveals nothing.
6. The duel. Menelaus vs Paris. King vs Prince. One fighting to get his wife back. The other fighting to keep the wife he stole. One has years of combat training behind him. The other is younger, but has limited experience. He was a cow herder.
Jonas Armstrong has completely embraced this role; he is Menelaus - a man obsessed to right a wrong. He is fierce, determined, focused, agile and strong.
(Who knew choreographed sword fights were so, erhm, fun to watch. A little bit hot, yes?)
Menelaus was the better fighter. And was winning. But when he brought out his secret weapon, the priest, my heart broke a little bit for Paris.
Imagine finding out all that about yourself while fighting with sharp pointy things with your wife's very angry ex? In front of huge crowds of witnesses. What an inopportune time to have a 'who am I' moment, not to mention all the new facts you have to process about your very existence, while fighting for your life.
I wondered why Menelaus hesitated in decapitating him.
Maybe killing Paris was never his intention?
Maybe this was enough? He just had to win. (And he had.)
Maybe the priest's words; "For Troy to live, you (Paris) have to die" were making him ponder the outcome he was really after. If he killed Paris, Troy would live. What did he want more? Paris's death or the city of Troy? What would his brother want?
Well done, Jonas and Louis - amazing work.
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Such a strong episode; compelling dialogue, believable tension, incredible action scenes, more daytime action, stunning camera work, and beautiful settings.
We're halfway through and I'm totally enjoying the ride.
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