My friend, Jill Floyd, was commenting on how wonderful ROME is, and the very graphic nature of the fight scene last week. So true! That fight scene had me cringing behind my hands in places. And I kept thinking: "Come on, Varenus! Jump in and save Pullo!!" I was so glad when he did.

I think eventually, Ireni is going to kill Pullo. It's like in the Oresteia myth. Agammemnon comes home safe from the Trojan war only to be killed in his bath by Clytemnestra. If Pullo dies in the series, I think it will be at the hands of someone we don't expect, not in a face to face confrontation with a man.

But who knows what will happen. That's what makes this show so delicious. Though we know historically what is going to transpire, we don't know how this series will play it out, and how these fictional characters will fit into the scheme.

Ironically, I would like to see Pullo survive more than anyone. Please note: I've not seen the first 5 episodes, so I may have missed something that would change my opinion. However, Pullo is a perfect example of a soldier trained to kill efficiently without thought. However, when he is of no more use, he is cut loose without anything to build a life on except his ability to kill (which as we see does not work well in a "civilized" society). Yet Pullo seems to have a great desire to belong, to love, to build a life. But when something happens to thwart him in a big way, his instinct is to lash out, to destroy the obstacle. But his remorse afterwards is so great at times, that it is heartbreaking. When he asked blessing on Varenus's family and Ireni, it showed just how much there is to him that is untapped.

Only one more new episode to go, and then the "long dark teatime of the soul" - no new episodes until 2007!!