Visual Parallels: Game of Thrones + Rome

Game of Thrones and Rome. Both excellent series from HBO, both highly expensive with huge ensemble casts and intricate and astonishing scale of production. But there are even more similarities between the two.

Finding those when you set on searching for parallels was remarkably easy here because these two series have several key elements in common. In Game of Thrones we have cunning Cersei and in Rome we have manipulating Atia. They both take joy in winning when other lose, they both know great, adulterous passion and they are both prepared to do whatever it takes to survive. They also share love for their children which, most of the time, is the main motivation for their actions.

There are even similar moments here - after Bran Stark is pushed off the tower by Jaime Lannister because he saw Cersei having sex with him, she visits his room and comforts his mother. In Rome there is a great war of pretending, lies, plots and murder attempts between Atia and Servilla. After Servilla is stripped naked and humiliated in public on Atia's orders, Atia visits her and pretends to be a wonderful and honest friend.

There's also a younger rival - Octavian's wife for Atia and Margaery Tyrell, soon to marry Cersei's son, for the Lannister Queen. There are even similarities when it comes to the placement of Atia and Cersei in the shot - they are usually surrounded by darkness or by candles, leaving them next to the pure fire. We also see them smile only when something awful is happening and they are content of that, or throwing fake smiles when they are surrounded by people.

In Rome Servilla commits suicide after losing her son Brutus. In Game of Thrones after Catelyn sees her son Robb die she stands there motionless, practically allowing one of the Freys to cut her throat. In Rome we have young and patriotic Octavian who wants to avenge his "father" Caesar. In Game of Thrones we have greatly respected Robb who wants to exact vengeance for his father's death.

There are other similarities originating in the series' styles - they both feature a lot of sex and violence. Sometimes, though, the scenes were filmed in a very similar way, especially when we are being show the aftermath of a battle or the cut off heads of those who were particularly unlucky. We also get to see a person watch the body of someone whom they loved and who died being grotesquely paraded around.

We have two beautiful, strong and brave queens - Daenerys, technically without the Throne as she is a part of abolished dynasty and Cleopatra, a puppet queen for the Romans. They both use seduction and at one point of the story they stand up to their douchbag brothers and take the claim to the throne away from them.

There is one big similarity coming up, the assassination that is very much like famous killing of Caesar, but it's not until season 5 or 6 of Thrones.
And finally, because I couldn't help myself:
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