JOHN HURT, HOW DOES YOUR FACE WORK. OH MY GOD.
The video file for “Zeus, By Jove!” is available for download here, and all Mark Watches videos are now indexed in my Dropbox folder.
Now, it’s time for…. lord. LORD.
- HOW DO YOU TALK ABOUT THIS EPISODE WITHOUT JUST YELLING INCOHERENT SOUNDS? I AM SO FUCKED UP FROM THIS.Â
- John Hurt. John Hurt. I realized during this episode that he once (brilliantly) portrayed Quentin Crisp in An Englishman in New York, WHICH YOU SHOULD ALL WATCH BECAUSE IT’S SO AMAZING. Anyway, he is downright terrifying as Caligula. There are so many moments in “Zeus, By Jove” that gave me chills. His monologue as he “transforms” into Zeus is the first that comes to mind. My god, this is unreal.
- Now, I’m somewhat familiar with what happens at this point in history, but good gods, it doesn’t help. This is a portrait of depravity, and every scene is more disturbing than the one before it.
- Margaret Tyzack is SO INCREDIBLE. As much as John Hurt steals the show, I don’t want to ignore her performance here. Realizing she can’t escape what Rome has become, she kills herself. That whole sequence where she tells a despondent Claudius what she’s doing is TOO MUCH TO SIT THROUGH. Oh my god, y’all.
- It’s fascinating to think about what others truly believed regarding Caligula’s delusion. Did they believe him out of a desire to protect themselves? Out of ambition? Did Drusilla share his delusions, or was she too high to think otherwise?
- It’s weird typing that name because all I think about is Spike and Angel.
- HEY THAT FINAL SCENE IS GOING TO GIVE ME NIGHTMARES. THANKS, BBC. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
- I really don’t know what else I can say. Y’all, this show is so messed up.
