Rome: Season 1
2005 · 12 episodes · ★ 7.9
What Season 1 of Rome
Set in the 1st century BC, the series follows the Roman Republic as it begins to give way to the Empire. Rome is a metropolis of one million inhabitants and the richest city in the world, but its institutions are crumbling under the excesses and corruption of several powerful men. At the heart of the conflict is the civil war between the populares and the optimates, which shakes the Senate and tests ambitious men and women alike. Lucius Vorenus is a strict, traditionalist officer who tries to balance his beliefs, his duty to his superiors and the needs of his family. Titus Pullo, on the other hand, is a carefree, easygoing soldier with a taste for pleasure and little sense of responsibility.
Season 1 Episodes
1x01 The Stolen Eagle
Eager to return to Rome after eight long years of war, Gaius Julius Caesar ends his campaign with a resounding triumph in Gaul, and news of a shattering personal loss at home. In Rome, Caesar's old friend Pompey is counselled by the Senate, who worry about Caesar's growing popularity. Two soldiers are enlisted to find the army's stolen gold standard. Atia is careful to play both sides of an escalating power struggle.
Directed by: Michael Apted · Written by: Bruno Heller, Michael Apted · Starring: Lydia Leonard, Anna Patrick, Bob Mercer, Ted Rusoff
1x02 How Titus Pullo Brought Down the Republic
Anointed People's Tribune by Caesar, Mark Antony returns to Rome with Octavian's liberators, Vorenus and Pullo. After being feted by a grateful Atia, Vorenus heads home to his family, for the first time in eight years, while Pullo heads for the brothels. Pompey drafts an ultimatum stripping the general of his power.
Directed by: Michael Apted · Written by: Bruno Heller, Michael Apted · Starring: Ted Rusoff, Jonathan Readwin, Ilaria Stivali
1x03 An Owl in a Thornbush
With Caesar quickly advancing toward Rome, Pompey begins ordering a retreat and forces his citizens to pick sides. Timon is forced to do Atia's dirty work and Vorenus cannot understand why no one is resisting while on a scouting mission.
Directing: Michael Apted · Writing: Bruno Heller, Michael Apted · Starring: Anna Patrick
1x04 Stealing From Saturn
As Pompey "maneuvers" outside the city, Caesar seeks to consolidate his hold on Rome. Atia throws a party to welcome Caesar home, while Vorenus throws one of his own to usher in his new life as a citizen businessman. Pullo's run of luck continues when he delivers Quintus Pompey to Caesar, who in turn returns Quintus to his father's camp, with an offer of truce he knows Pompey will never accept.
Directed by: Julian Farino · Written by: Bruno Heller · Starring: Roger Hammond
1x05 The Ram Has Touched the Wall
Caesar weighs Pompey's counteroffer against Antony's recommendation to chase down Pompey's vulnerable army. Vorenus is forced to reconsider his career choices after a series of business setbacks leave him with little income to support his family. A jealous Atia concocts a clever scheme to separate Caesar from Servilia. Pullo is recruited to tutor Octavian in the art of soldiering, but ends up learning a lesson or two from the boy.
Directing: Allen Coulter · Writing: Bruno Heller · Starring: John Bennett, Parvez Qadir
1x06 Egeria
When Caeser finds himself outnumbered by Pompey's legions, he asks Antony to join the fight. Marc Antony is having fun in his new political life while he ponders a counter-offer from Pompey. Atia urges Octavian to take another step toward manhood. Vorenus and Niobe try to bring passion back to their marriage.
Directing: Alan Poul · Writing: John Milius, Bruno Heller · Starring: Lynda Baron, Francesca Fowler, Andrew Scarborough, Francesca Berrettini
1x07 Pharsalus
Pompey attacks an outnumbered Caesar. Vorenus and Pullo are stranded at sea. Atia continues to seek out Servilla's friendship in order to ensure her protection, while Octavia and Servilla's bond grows.
Directed by: Tim Van Patten · Written by: David Frankel · Starring: Vincenzo Nicoli, Anna Patrick
1x08 Caesarion
Having pursued Pompey into Egypt, Caesar arrives in Alexandria and meets the boy king Ptolemy XIII, who offers the general a surprise gift. Vorenus and Pullo play liberators again, freeing Ptolemy's incarcerated sister, Cleopatra. Caesar seeks payment from Egypt for past debts, and ends up forging a strategic union to ensure his legacy.
Directed by: Steve Shill · Written by: Steve Shill, William J. MacDonald · Starring: Lyndsey Marshal, Scott Chisholm, Liliana Mele
1x09 Utica
With Scipio and Cato defeated, Caesar returns home to a hero's welcome. Vorenus and Pullo's showdown with local thug Erastes gets an unexpected reprieve from Caesar. Servilia's plan to use Octavia to unearth a secret about Caesar backfires.
Directing: Jeremy Podeswa · Writing: Alexandra Cunningham · Starring: Roger Hammond, Lorcan Cranitch
1x10 Triumph
Unanimously proclaimed Dictator by the Senate, Caesar pronounces the war over, and prepares for five days of feasting and games honoring his "triumph." No longer an enlisted soldier, Pullo eyes a pastoral future with Eirene, while Vorenus runs for municipal magistrate, with Posca's help. Meanwhile, Octavian retrieves Octavia from her self-imposed exile. And Servilia invites a revenge-minded Quintus Pompey into her home, to Brutus' dismay.
Directing: Alan Taylor · Writing: Adrian Hodges · Starring: Lorcan Cranitch, Hugh Sachs, Guy Henry, Abhin Galeya
1x11 The Spoils
Vorenus sees to it that veteran soldiers receives severance on behalf of Caesar, and is then invited along with Niobe to one of Atia's parties.
Directed by: Mikael Salomon · Written by: Bruno Heller · Starring: Lorcan Cranitch, Michael Nardone, Guy Henry, Haydn Gwynne
1x12 Kalends of February Season Finale
Pullo and Vorenus are now heroes in the eyes of the Roman rank and file because of their arena feats. This causes Caesar to bestow rewards to those he might normally punish.
Directing: Alan Taylor · Writing: Bruno Heller · Starring: Haydn Gwynne
Season 1 Cast
Kevin McKiddLucius Vorenus12 episodes
Max PirkisGaius Octavian12 episodes
Chiara MastalliEirene12 episodes
David BamberMarcus Tullius Cicero12 episodes
Kenneth CranhamGnaeus Pompey Magnus12 episodes
Nicholas WoodesonPosca12 episodes
Lee BoardmanTimon12 episodes
Manfredi AliquòCastor12 episodes
Lorcan CranitchErastes Fulmen3 episodes
Anna PatrickCornelia3 episodes
Roger HammondChief Augur2 episodes
Guy HenryCassius2 episodes
Ted RusoffStrabo2 episodes
Haydn GwynneCalpurnia2 episodes
John BennettElderly PriestEpisode 1Where to Watch Season 1 of Rome
Frequently Asked Questions
How Many Episodes Does Rome Season 1 Have?
Season 1 of Rome has 12 episodes.
When did Season 1 of Rome premiere?
Premiered on August 28, 2005.
Where to Watch Rome Season 1?
Available by subscription on Amazon Prime Video, Movistar Plus+ Ficción Total, HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, and HBO Max Amazon Channel (availability may vary by country).
What is the best episode of Season 1?
According to the TMDB audience score, episode 1x12, «Kalends of February», with a 8.6.