I loved this series- I think you downplayed how clever the script was- I think this was one of the best written series of all time...weaving not just Pullo and Vorenus into the story in clever ways (the lost eagle, the shipwreck, how pullo destroyed the republic, capturing pompey, vorenus in Egypt with cleopatra, octavion's relationship with them, Caesarion and Pullo), but with memorable lines that I still quote today...and we haven't even gotten to the heart of the matter: the rivalry between Atia and Sevillia (sp) driving many of the events of the republic...which was just brilliant! Many of the important episodes were written by Bruno Heller, to give credit where it's due!