Conspiracy  – As the episode opens, Livia (Kasia Smutniak) and Augustus returned to Rome after a three-year hiatus. With the Senate in a weakened state, the people of a war-torn Rome are starving and dying. Gaius Augustus (Matthew McNulty) suggests brothels are the best source of information. Hesitantly heeding his advice, Livia enters the brothel where they soon discover Rome is in a famine. A male patron berates Caesar Augustus for not caring enough to be there for the people. He threatens to toss them in the Tiber if he and Livia show their faces in Rome. Hearing enough, Livia prepares to leave without paying for her wine when she is physically attacked. A brawl breaks out. With Augustus caught in the middle, Livia flees to only be attacked again. The police arrest Livia and her assailant.

Tycho (Alex Lanipekun) informs Tiberius (Benjamin Isaac) of Livia and Agusutus’ return. Tiberius Nero rouses Drusus Nero (Ewan Horrocks) from the bed to tell him that Livia is missing. After their search in the city turns up nothing, Augustus confronts Piso (Darrell D’Silva).

Locked in a cell, Livia is locked in a cell with Ursa (Mia Jenkins) who confesses her desire to be a “whore.” Livia asks if there is any way to get messages out of the prison. Ursa says for money, otherwise, she will be put in the slave market tomorrow. Claiming to be a “citizen,” Livia points out the laws that prohibit the sale of citizens.

Slave Market – A man acquires Ursa for 6,000 to work in the brothels. While Livia stands on the auction block, a man in the audience Piso that she looks like Livia. Agreeing with his assumption, Piso sarcastically suggests gifting her to Vipsania (Joelle) and Tiberius. She announces her status, causing an uproar before offering 50,000 in silver for someone to deliver a message to Augustus. Piso demands her release. Augustus informs her that the Grain Prefects have been summoned before ordering the brothel destroyed by fire.

Livia greets Aelina when Tycho approaches. After a quick embrace, she says Aelina looks like Antigone (Colette Dalal Tchantcho). He says Antigone wanted her to have her poisons. She suggests Augustus knows they murdered Marcellus (Finn Bennett) but as long as she is useful, he will not kill them.

Augustus admonishes poor Romans for sitting by while hundreds of senators live a life of luxury. He assures Grain Prefect, Titus Cloelius Siculus (Edmund Wiseman), and Marcus Cassius Elva (Edward Franklin) that the government’s promise to give the citizens bread daily is the only reason the senators and their families are still alive. After reminding him of the uncontrollable bad weather, Siculus claims the ship owners have failed to live up to their side of the bargain. Augustus points out that the Grain Prefect was created specifically to ensure there would never be another famine. He removes them from their duties.

Aratus (Alessandro Epifani) announces Tiberius, Iullus (Joseph Ollman), and Drusus’ arrival. Drusus demands to know if Livia was sold as a slave. Augustus boasts she didn’t even get a bit before they both burst out laughing. Augustus questions why he wasn’t informed of the famine. Drusus claims the Grain Prefect continuously claimed the shortage was improving. He appoints Drusus, Iullus, and Tiberius to the new Grain Prefects. He orders the warehouses at the port of Ostia searched and grain merchants questioned. He calls for an emergency Senate meeting. Tiberius tells him that hardly any Senators are left in Rome.

Drusus and Tiberius complain about their new positions. Octavia (Claire Forlani) rushes over to greet Augustus. Tiberius suggests relocating her before Livia realizes she is living there. Drusus says he should be more concerned about Livia’s opinion of Vipsania (Joelle). Octavia informs Livia of Drusus and Gemina ((Yuliia Sobol). She claims Gemina presents as Drusus’ wife, even though he is to betrothed to her daughter, Antonina (Isabelle Connolly). Livia assures her that she will take care of it. Octavia offers to abandon their betrothal. As Livia confronts Tycho with the information, Piso returns her bracelets. Ursa is chowing down when Livia asks where they can find some bread. Ursa asks if she would be permitted to return to the brothel. Livia says, “No.”

Ursa escorts Piso, Livia, Tycho, and several guards to Faustus’ place. They arrive in time for Faustus to flee. The room is packed to the ceiling with bags of Egyptian grain. Piso demands to know where Faustus got it from. Livia orders the grain to be distributed among the people. She turns to see Ursa has disappeared.

Elva informs Domitius (David Avery) of Augustus’ return. After reminding him of their plan to get out clean, Siculus urges him to have the grain released. Domititus warns that doing so would collapse the grain prices which would really get Augustus’ attention. He suggests introducing more grain in the market until the price normalizes. Elva promises they will all go down together.

Livia informs Gemina of Tiberius’ betrothal to Antonia. Gemina reminds her that she is a king’s daughter. Vipsania listens as Livia demands Gemina to move into her estate outside the city until a suitor is chosen for her. Gemina tells her that she isn’t going anywhere. Before leaving, she and Vipsania discuss her marriage to Tiberius. Vipsania says she and Tiberius plan to leave Rome for the country when they wed. Livia assures her that it will never happen.

Marcella (Alais Lawson) boasts of Octavia’s handling of informing Livia of Drusus and Gemina. Antonia (Hannah Chinn) admits to feeling pity for Gemina. Tycho says Faustus is listed as Titus Cornelius Faustus, the former slave of Siculus, in the census records. He adds Siculus is the former Grain Prefect. Augustus tells Domitius and Piso of Siculus and Faustus’ grain scheme. Tiberius questions if Elva can be trusted as well. Piso and Iullus agree the manufactured famine is actually a “conspiracy.” Domitius requests authorization to arrest Siculus and Elva. Augustus demands Siculus be brought to him alive.

Livia orders Drusus to remove Gemina from Rome by tomorrow or she will do it for him. Promising to find her a place on the opposite side of the city, he demands she not touch her. She asks for Tiberius’ opinion of Domitius. He describes him as “the son you never had.” Piso claims Domitius’ father was a turncoat. She warns them to be cautious around Dimitius.

Domitius stabs Siculus in a brothel. Elva suffocates him with a pillow before staging the scene to look like a suicide. Domitius orders him to flee Rome.

Octavia informs Marcella and Antonia of her plan to leave for her home in the country tomorrow. Antonia demands she resolve any issues with Livia before leaving Rome. She reminds her of Tiberius’ marriage to Antonina. Octavia assures her that anything can happen within a year. Marcella tells Antonia that she has no intention of forgetting Marcellus’ murder.

Drusus promises Gemina that he will always protect her. She professes to love him when Tiberius approaches. Tiberius reminds Drusus of how Livia was covered in blood after beating a man in the head. Drusus refuses to let Gemina go but agrees to attend Livia’s dinner. He settles in with the family when Gemina walks through the door. Drusus jumps up to rush her outside. Augustus asks who is she. Marcella accuses Drusus of disgracing Antonina. Julia (Liah O’Prey) and Agrippa (Ben Batt) arrive. Domitius tells Augustus that Siculus committed suicide in a brothel. Iullus claims Elva fled. Agrippa assures Augustus that someone informed them. They discuss how the culprits acquired a lot of grain that never made it to Rome to drive up the price. The merchants are being paid to not complain.

Tycho tells Livia that he will have someone to remove Gemina from Rome. She says leave her alive. Tiberius is awakened by Gemina’s screams. He enters the room to see Tycho with several men forcibly removing her from the house. After they leave, he tells Vipsania that Livia is a “monster.” She warns what will happen if they remain in Rome. He assures her that it is impossible to escape Livia.

Piso reminds a restrained Drusus of his promise to help restore the Republic. Drusus asks if Gemina is dead. As Piso says, “Yes,” Gemina enters the auction block. Livia tells Ursa that she will be staying at Piso’s place. Tycho offers his services to Livia which she readily accepts.

Following Livia’s instructions, Agrippa and Augustus find a fleet of ships carrying Egyptian grain. Domitius informs Elva of the grain ships being found. Elva stabs a sword into his stomach. Vistilius (Ethan Moorhouse) slices his wrist to speed up his death. Agrippa and Augustus agree it is in their best interest to keep the grain conspiracy under wraps. Iullus suggests the people would view Augustus as a “God” if he takes it public and ends the famine. Augustus announces that he is Rome, now that the Republic is no more. He promises it will be theirs if they so choose at his death. Julia tells Iullus that her pregnancy makes it safe for them to start seeing each other before leaving with Agrippa.

Livia tells Tycho of Augustus’ plan to overtake “him.” He suggests restoring the spy network. She stresses the importance of quietly finding whoever is behind the grain conspiracy.

Augustus acquires Gemina from a slave trader as the episode ends.

 

Domina Series 2 Cast

• Tycho (Alex Lanipekun)
• Livia (Kasia Smutniak)
• Drusus (Ewan Horrocks)
• Tiberius (Benjamin Isaac)
• Gaius Augustus (Matthew McNulty)
• Octavia (Claire Forlani)
• Agrippa (Ben Batt)
• Piso (Darrell D’Silva)
• Julia (Liah O’Prey)
• Vipsania (Joelle)
• Domitius (David Avery)
• Iullus (Joseph Ollman)
• Gemina (Yulia Sobol)
• Antonia (Hannah Chinn)
• Marcella (Alias Lawson)

Where To Watch Domina Series 2

Domina series 2 premiered on Sunday, July 9, 2023, on Sky Atlantic.

Where Was Domina Filmed

Domina was primarily filed in Rome, at the Cinecitta Studious.

Domina Synopsis

Unknowing to Livia and Augustus, they return to Rome in a severe famine. They soon discover that most of the Senators have fled the city where they continue to live in luxury. Before leaving Rome, Augustus established the Grain Prefect to ensure there would never be another famine. The people were promised daily rations of bread which isn’t possible due to the severe grain shortage. Augustus confronts Grain Prefects, Elva and Siculus. They are quick to blame it on bad weather and corrupt merchant ship owners

Livia is apprehended after coming under attack in a local pub. She is thrown into a cell with Ursa who informs her of Faustus’ stash of bread. A raid renders a roomful of Egyptian grain. While Augustus raids the warehouses at the port and questions the grain merchants, Tycho, Livia, and Piso discover Faustus is a former slave of Grain Prefect Siculus.

It turns out, Domitius is working with Elva and Siculus to control the grain prices. They acquire as much grain as possible to keep it from legally entering Rome. The grain is soon discovered in a fleet of moored ships. The owners are being paid handsomely to store the grain on their ships. Although Augustus orders Domitius to deliver Siculus and Elva to him alive, he kills Siculus and allows Elva to flee. Learning Augustus knows about the moored grain ships, Elva stabs a sword through his abdomen.

Livia discovers Drusus who is engaged to Octavia’s daughter is living publically with Gemina. She agrees to not intervene until Gemina makes a spectacle at a family dinner. She orders Tycho to have her sold in the slave market. A slave owner acquires her for a hefty sum. Augustus later acquires her for an undisclosed amount.

Domina Review

While the series is decent, the pace is too fast. It didn’t help that they crammed too much into the episode. It is impossible for the brain to process so much information so quickly. Watching made my head spin.

My ineptness of Ancient Rome will not permit me to comment on the historical accuracy of the series. For the most part, the acting is good. The cinematography, more specifically the editing could use improvement. The camera work is amateurish at best.

No offense of Joelle, but the show could have done without the scene in which Vipsania strips and removes her wig. The dialogue was cringeworthy at times, especially the overuse of the term, “whorehouse.”

I’m playing catch-up since I skipped the first season. All in all, Domina isn’t a smooth-flowing story. The episode deserves a 6. Get more Domina recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating to our platform. Learn how our onsite advertising reaches millions of consumers worldwide by clicking the link.