If you’ve never heard the name Titus Pullo, I suggest you load up your Mac App, Play Episode 1 of The Forgotten Masterpiece RomeAnd meet one of the greatest television characters to ever grace the screen. A historical sword-and-shoe retelling of Julius Caesar’s rise to power and the aftermath of his death, Rome Only lasted two seasons and ended right in the middle of the story Due to its massive budget. But the loss of one of HBO’s timeless classics has always been a personal downer in my TV viewing life.
Game of Thrones Before it was Game of Thrones, Rome is an epic tale that makes fantastic use of its budget to perfect the look of the Roman world. Even better than the production and story are the characters. HBO veterans just the cast however Special mention must be made for Titus PulloPlayed by the late Ray Stevenson in one of his greatest roles. Not only was Stevenson upset on his own, but it also meant that I would never get the chance to see one of television’s most iconic characters return to the screen.
Titus Pullo is a better antihero than most TV icons
Titus is a human and conflicted character
Titus Pullo is one of the best anti-heroes I’ve seen. Anti-hero is a term that gets thrown around a lot, but Titus is in a rarefied air with the likes of Tony Soprano and Walter White. Few characters can straddle the line of villainy and heroism quite like Titus. Those who try often fall on one side or the other. What separates Titus from the other great anti-heroes is that, while many, like the aforementioned Walter and Tony, are, in the end, villains, Titus has the most realistic claim to be called a hero.
Titus has so many layers of pain and joy, it’s a shame we never got to peel more from him.
A charming villain or an angry one, it is never clear who Titus is and when he does something terrible, he puts his head in his hands, like a child who accidentally broke his niece. He doesn’t want power or fame, he wants to be good, but in the harsh world of Rome, his size and strength mean he’s good at just one thing. A charming rogue for sure, but not quite one with a heart of gold. Titus has so many layers of pain and joy, it’s a shame we never got to peel more from him.
Titus Pullo’s Real-Life Connection to Julius Caesar Explained
Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo are mentioned in Caesar’s Journals
The capital letters of RomeTitus Pullo and Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd), are based on two Roman centurions mentioned in Caesar. Bello Gallico CommentariesThe general imperial description of the Gallic wars. Caeaer briefly mentions the men, commenting that they shared a bitter rivalry but in a heated moment of battle, they took turns saving one another in front of the legion (via History).
The sequence is alluded to the introduction of the characters, but the show takes liberties with their lives after, proposing that they were present at all the main moments in the history of the creation of the Roman Empire. It is a fantastic conceit and the fact that both men actually appear in Caesar’s writing Gives their journey a much more poignant and inspiring angle.
Rome Season 2 perfectly set up Season 3 of the Titus Pullo arc
Titus has a child to take care of in Rome season 3
What’s even worse about Rome canceled before season 3 is that they had the perfect setup at the end of season 2. Titus was put in charge of Caesar (Ciaran Hinds) and Cleopatra’s (Lindsay Marshall) son, Caesarion (Max Baldry), entrusted to keep him hidden . from his enemies. Only Titus knows that Caesarion is his child. I would love to see this storyline in Rome Season 3, but if I’m being honest, I’d take Ray Stevenson in just about anything. Rest in peace.