Everything Game of Thrones did, HBO series Rome did better – including not fumbling the finale

The short-lived series had blood, guts, sex and epic stakes. It also had a ride or die friendship in a pair of foot soldiers A sprawling cast of richly flawed heroes. Epic stakes. Elaborate sets. A family-man hero whose definition of good is skewed by the cruel world he lives in. Animated opening titles with a catchy theme song. Blood, guts, sex and a bit of incest: everything Game of Thrones did, Rome did better. Rome was one of the most expensive TV shows ever made when it launched in 2005;...

By Tansy Gardam