Domina is a British-Italian historical drama television series created and principally 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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"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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"Family"
Claire McCarthy
Simon Burke
14 May 2021 (2021-05-14)
Eleven years later, the civil war is over. Livia is pregnant once more. On the holiday of Saturnalia, Gaius receives a delegation of senators at his villa, including Crassus, Morena and Corvinus. He is reminded that the triumvirate's mandate from the senate expired some years previously and is given an ultimatum to step down, as his position is now illegal and unconstitutional. Agrippa advises his friend that he should do no such thing as they have made many enemies over the years and this would only strengthen their hand. Livia initially tells her husband that after his great achievements he has nothing left to prove and should step down with honour and make history once again, this time as the roman who restored the republic, but hearing her husband's vision for the future, she offers her wholehearted support. Gaius asks Agrippa to resign as second consul so they might offer Piso the position to placate the old republican faction in the senate. Meanwhile a bitter enmity is forming between Livia's and Octavia's children fuelled by Scribonia. When Piso declines the offer of consul, Livia realises the way forward is simply to get the senate unwittingly to grant power to Gaius thus legitimising his position. In the senate Gaius outmanoeuvres his detractors by seemingly ceding all power back to the senate, but when a large faction, led by Livia's former guardian Libo calls for his continued leadership, he is immediately reinstated. At the tomb of the Claudii, Livia's waters break and she miscarries.
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"Secrets"
David Evans
Simon Burke
15 May 2021 (2021-05-15)
It is 25BCE. Livia, pregnant once again, goes into labour, but the child is stillborn. On learning she cannot risk having any further children, she fears if Gaius was to learn that she could not sire him an heir, divorce would be an inevitability. Upon his return from campaigning in Hispania, Octavia proposes to Gaius that his daughter Julia, is married to her son Marcellus. Having overheard the conversation, Julia seeks comfort in the arms of Iullus. When Scribonia learns of Livia's inability to have any more children, she immediately informs Octavia, who in turn informs Gaius. Livia decides to divorce Gaius and leave Rome, but before doing so she visits Agrippa and offers him the opportunity of calling off the marriage between his daughter Vipsania and her son Tiberius, but he declines. Livia also lets it drop of the impending union between Julia and Marcellus, and her reservations about the match from a political perspective. Feeling both overlooked and disrespected by his friend, Agrippa confronts Gaius and the two men come to blows. Livia finds shelter at Piso's country estate, whilst Gaius finds himself increasingly isolated. Livia confides to Piso that she has been working towards a goal of restoring the republic, but now realises this will not happen during Gaius's tenure. She indicates that when Gaius dies, Drusus would be the natural candidate to complete her life's mission, but not without the assistance of Piso. The growing schism between Gaius and Agrippa throws Rome into yet another political crisis and Livia takes the opportunity to mediate between the two factions helping reinstate both their friendship and her marriage.
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5
"Plague"
David Evans
Simon Burke
15 May 2021 (2021-05-15)
In 23 BC Rome is in the grip of plague. When Antigone tries to intervene in the treatment of a stricken Gaius, she is rebuffed by Octavia. With Caesar on his deathbed, the vultures start to circle. Livia plots to usurp Marcellus, who has been groomed to take over from Gaius. She favours Agrippa to step into the role of Princeps, but Marcellus, along with Crassus and Corvinus is plotting to kill Agrippa and disband the senate the moment Gaius dies. Antigone poisons Octavia and her doctor and once they are out of the way, attends to Gaius who is in a coma. The next morning when Crassus and a senatorial delegation arrive demanding news of Gaius and the appointment of a successor, Livia denies them an audience with her husband, fearing he may make Marcellus' succession official. She tells the senators Agrippa is the nominated successor and presents him with Caesar's ring of office. Once recovered, Agrippa returns the ring to Caesar, who is not pleased that his wishes were ignored by Livia. Antigone learns of the plot against Agrippa and Livia's sons from a spy in Octavia's household. She suggests to Livia they neutralise the threat Marcellus now increasingly poses by poisoning him and confesses to poisoning Nero, Livia's first husband, Octavia, her physician Musa and also Balbina, madam of the whorehouse where she was imprisoned.
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6
"Nightshade"
Debs Paterson
Simon Burke
15 May 2021 (2021-05-15)
Caesar announces to the family that he intends to adopt Marcellus as his son and heir in the autumn. Knowing of Marcellus' plans to kill her sons and send her into exile, Livia outwardly agrees that he is the future of Rome, but secretly accelerates plans with Antigone to poison him whilst he is taking a sojourn in Baiae using Deadly Nightshade. Crassus and Corvinus continue to cultivate their relationship with Marcellus, but also plan to assassinate him when he is no longer of use to them. When the money Marcellus' personal slave and lover Aprio has been receiving for supplying information to Livia's household is discovered, Octavia's suspicions are raised and she travels to Baiae in order to get answers. Before she arrives however, word reaches Livia from Tiberius that Aprio's deception has been uncovered and fearing that he will reveal all under torture, Livia brings forward plans for the assassination, offering Aprio safe passage, manumission and a new life if he mixes the poison in with Marcellus' food. Faced with a choice of freedom and riches, or torture and possible death, Aprio acquiesces, but poisons everyone. His duplicity is short lived however as he himself is double-crossed and killed by Tycho on his wife Antigone's orders. Antigone manages to make Livia and Julia vomit by administering sea-water, saving their lives.
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"Treason"
David Evans
Simon Burke
15 May 2021 (2021-05-15)
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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"Happiness"
David Evans
Simon Burke
15 May 2021 (2021-05-15)
As Livia tells her sons about their role in her Mission, the truth behind her part in Marcellus' death threatens to come out.
Upon returning to Rome, Augustus deals with a famine that may be caused by a citizen of Rome. Livia is taken by a slaver, but is saved by Piso. Drusus' concubine, Gemina, is unwelcome to the family. Following Antigone's death, Tycho returns with his daughter, wishing to work for Livia again.
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2
"Wedding"
David Evans
Simon Burke
9 July 2023 (2023-07-09)
New laws on marriage are approved in Rome. Octavia tries to prevent the marriage between Drusus and Antonina. Marcella and Domitius have an adulterous relationship, as do Julia and Iullus. Gaius is the new owner of Drusus' concubine Gemina and has impregnated her. Livia begins to fear that Gaius no longer loves her.
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"Betrayal"
David Evans
Simon Burke
16 July 2023 (2023-07-16)
Gaius orders his stepchildren and nephews to produce heirs. Livia finds out about Gaius' betrayal and kills the concubine. Gaius exiles her outside Rome.
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4
"Exile"
Sallie Aprahamian
Simon Burke
23 July 2023 (2023-07-23)
Julia's infidelity is discovered. Livia is forced to accept that Agrippa's sons come before hers in the succession in exchange for the possibility of returning to Rome.
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5
"Sacrilege"
Sallie Aprahamian
Rachel Paterson
30 July 2023 (2023-07-30)
Iullus and Domitius reach an understanding. Augustus arrives in Germany, and asks Drusus to take Germany for Rome. Livia obtains a copy of Gaius's will. Turia is killed without being touched or harmed.
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"Freedom"
Sallie Aprahamian
Simon Burke
6 August 2023 (2023-08-06)
Agrippa dies. Livia must make a dangerous choice. Augustus grows suspicious of Drusus. Tiberius makes a move against Livia.
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7
"Curse"
David Evans
Simon Burke
13 August 2023 (2023-08-13)
Livia is in danger. Tiberius and Julia get married. Octavia dies asking Gaius to avenge Marcellus by killing Drusus or Tiberius.
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8
"Control"
David Evans
Simon Burke
13 August 2023 (2023-08-13)
Drusus dies in war. Livia wants Tiberius on the throne after Gaius, but he does not want to restore the Republic. Marcella is killed and Tiberius kills the illegitimate son he had with Julia.
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.[5]
In February 2022, Epix (later renamed MGM+) renewed the show for a second series.[6]
In the United States, the series premiered on 6 June 2021 on Epix.[8] In Australia, the series is streamed on the service Stan.
The second series premiered on 9 July 2023 on MGM+[9] in the US, on 10 July in Australia,[10] and on 8 September in Italy and the UK.[11]
Reception
The series has received mostly positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 82% based on 11 reviews, with an average score of 6.7/10.[12] Suzi Feay in the Financial Times dubbed the series "Game of Romans".[13] 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".[14]
