Domina is a British-Italian historical drama television series created and written by Simon Burke for Sky Atlantic (Italy) and Sky Atlantic (UK). Starring Kasia Smutniak as Livia Drusilla, it examines the power struggles of Ancient Rome from a female perspective.[1] The series premiered on 14 May 2021 in Italy and the UK. MGM+ renewed Domina for a second series, which premiered on 9 July 2023 in the United States.
Livia Drusilla, a young noblewoman, prepares for her marriage to Tiberius Claudius Nero, assisted by her enslaved friend, Antigone. Antigone is freed so that she can join Livia as her companion after she marries. The assassination of Julius Caesar still throws a shadow over Roman politics. Livia's father, Marcus Livius Drusus, a republican, covertly gathers support from other senators, such as his friend Piso. Gaius Julius Caesar, adopted son of Julius Caesar, and his friend Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa meet Marcus Antonius and Marcus Aemilius Lepidus in secret. They agree to divide the empire between them and kill hundreds of senators and knights sympathetic to Caesar's murderers to raise money. Livia marries Nero but meets Gaius at the wedding and they are immediately attracted to each other. The proscriptions begin. Drusus flees to Brutus and Cassius. He later kills himself after the republicans are defeated at Philippi. Nero is ignored by Gaius and the other triumvirs but after his name is posted on a later list, he and his family go on the run. Gaius marries Scribonia as part of a deal with Sextus Pompeius, who holds Sicily and is protecting many refugees from the proscriptions. Nero makes for Sicily, but on the way, the family is attacked by bandits. Livia kills their leader, Nero knocks Antigone down and she is left for dead.
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2
"Rise"
Claire McCarthy
Simon Burke
14 May 2021 (2021-05-14)
It is 39 BCE. Gaius and Marcus Antonius celebrate their truce with Sextus; Antonius is now married to Octavia, Gaius' sister. Livia, Nero and Tiberius have taken refuge with Sextus in Sicily but an amnesty as the result of the truce means the family can return to Rome. Livia is horrified to find herself pregnant again. Back in Rome, Livia and Nero move in with Livia's new guardian, Libo. Nero considers divorcing Livia to improve his prospects. Livia returns to her family home, looking for news of Antigone; she learns that Antigone has been re-enslaved and sold to a brothel. Livia tries to free Antigone from the House of Balbina but is thrown out. Scribonia, Gaius' wife, sends Livia and Nero an invitation to dinner. The dinner disappoints Nero; Livia makes it clear to Gaius that she's looking for a new husband. Soon afterwards, Livia is invited to visit Gaius alone and she sets out the terms for their marriage. Agrippa fails to dissuade Livia from pursuing Gaius. Livia returns to the House of Balbina with a platoon of Gaius' soldiers and frees Antigone. With Antigone's help, Scribonia gives birth to Julia. Gaius divorces Scribonia the day after Julia is born in order to marry Livia, who has now also divorced Nero. As Livia gives birth to her second son, Drusus, Antigone takes her revenge on Balbina.
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3
"Family"
Claire McCarthy
Simon Burke
14 May 2021 (2021-05-14)
Eleven years on, Livia is married to the powerful Gaius, and is pregnant again. Yet, she does not feel entirely secure.
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4
"Secrets"
David Evans
Simon Burke
14 May 2021 (2021-05-14)
Livia's marriage to Gaius is compromised when she learns that she can't bear him any children.
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5
"Plague"
David Evans
Simon Burke
14 May 2021 (2021-05-14)
Gaius' illness causes a political crisis and reveals the weakness of Livia's position without him, a problem she must solve.
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6
"Nightshade"
Debs Paterson
Simon Burke
14 May 2021 (2021-05-14)
Livia has no choice but to eliminate Marcellus, who plans to kill her sons and exile her when he assumes Gaius' position.
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7
"Treason"
David Evans
Simon Burke
14 May 2021 (2021-05-14)
As Gaius' rivals taste blood in the water, Livia must outwit both them and her husband if the family is to be kept together.
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8
"Happiness"
David Evans
Simon Burke
14 May 2021 (2021-05-14)
As Livia tells her sons about their role in her Mission, the truth behind her part in Marcellus' death threatens to come out.
Series 2 (2023)
No. overall
No. in series
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Original release date
9
1
"Conspiracy"
David Evans
Simon Burke
9 July 2023 (2023-07-09)
10
2
"Wedding"
David Evans
Simon Burke
9 July 2023 (2023-07-09)
Production
Written by Simon Burke, the lead director is Australian filmmaker Claire McCarthy. Filming for Domina resumed at the Cinecittà studios in Rome in July 2020 following delays from the initial start in 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The show's title comes from the female version of 'Dominus', the Ancient Roman title for sovereignty, and from which the word 'dominate' originates.
As pointed out by Nicola Maccanico (executive vice president of programming, Sky Italia), Domina is an international production with strong Italian roots. Ancient Rome is brought back to life, bringing together at Cinecittà the great international artistic values and the best Italian talents in the sector: the costumes were designed by Gabriella Pescucci, the production design is by Luca Tranchino.[4]
In February 2022, Epix (later renamed MGM+) renewed the show for a second series.[5]
In the United States, the series premiered on 6 June 2021 on Epix.[7] In Australia, the series is streamed on the service Stan.
The second series is due to premiere on 9 July 2023 on MGM+[8] in the US, on 10 July in Australia,[9] and on 8 September in Italy and the UK.[10]
Reception
Enjoyable to watch according to many online. The positive response on social media and equally by critics make it a must see this summer.
The series has received mostly positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 78% based on 9 reviews, with an average score of 6.3/10.[11] Suzi Feay in The Financial Times dubbed the series “Game of Romans”.[12] Historian Tom Holland in The Times agreed that “The echoes of Game of Thrones in the first two episodes are strong, and surely deliberate...the rest of the series approximates more closely to a political thriller”. Holland praised the show “the meat of the show is so enjoyably done that the odd anachronism hardly matters. The 20s BC, sandwiched between the suicides of Antony and Cleopatra and the maturity of Augustus, have never before been the subject of popular drama, but Domina demonstrates to brilliant effect how unjustly neglected they have been... Part of the fun of the series is seeing characters who became significant players in the later decades of Augustus’s life as teenagers”.[13]
