What was the last series you binged overnight?

The Witcher was the last series I binged overnight, but it was The Chosen Plebs from me that truly captivated my attention recently. I started the season on a Friday night and had the complete series finished by the next morning. It was worth the marathon, every moment spent watching brought me closer to the story that unfolded.

This Series

The Chosen Plebs is a delightfully humorous series that takes viewers back to ancient Rome, presenting us with characters in unusual circumstances. Two young men, Marcus and Stylax, are living in a city that has seen the rise and fall of countless empires. However, their story is far from glitzy; they are desperate to secure jobs and climb the social ladder in a society vastly different from their own.

Life is challenging for them, not just for the usual reasons, but in an unusual way. They live as plebs, the non-aristocratic class of workers, which adds an extra layer of authenticity and intrigue. Their daily struggles are compounded by their lazy slave, Grumio, who has a particularly ill-tempered attitude, and their ruthless boss, Flavia, who is an expert manipulator with a life of legendary proportions.

Marcus and Stylax find themselves in a squalid apartment building in a dangerous neighborhood, sharing walls with a resident and her female "slave" from Britain. Their workplace is equally humorously depicted: one of them is a "copier," while the other is a "shredder." These occupations, while laughable, offer a stark commentary on life in ancient Rome, where survival and cunning often meant the difference between life and death.

A Blast of Laughter and Brilliance

The first three seasons of The Chosen Plebs are a joy to watch, thanks to brilliant acting, compelling sets, and impeccable character interactions. The interplay between Marcus and Stylax is one of the highlights of the series, providing a refreshing twist on the tale of ancient Rome. The show was filmed at the same studios in Bulgaria where they filmed the series Rome, which explains the quality of the sets. Observing the characters' interactions while the events of Rome unfold in the background only adds to the humor and intrigue.

An Evolving Journey

The quality of the series does dip in the fourth and fifth seasons, with one of the main characters leaving the series. However, it remains worth a watch, as the remaining characters continue to navigate their tumultuous lives with the same wit and determination they demonstrated in the earlier seasons.

Conclusion

The Chosen Plebs offers a fresh perspective on ancient Rome, through the lens of young men living in the slums. It is a bittersweet comedy, filled with moments of joy, sorrow, and triumph. If you're a fan of historical dramas with a touch of humor, The Chosen Plebs is definitely worth a binge-watch.