Betrayal – As the episode opens, it is two months later in 19 BC. Gemina (Yuliia Sobol) gives the necklace Gaius Augustus (Matthew McNulty) gave her to a lady. A man wearing a mask is struggling against his restraints. She tells the witch doctor that her unborn baby must be a boy. He guarantees it before cutting off the man’s penis while she watches.
Livia Drusilla (Kasia Smutniak) gives Carmenta, the childbirth goddess, a gift in exchange for the lives of Julia (Liah O’Prey) and her unborn infant which must be a girl. A stressed Agrippa (Ben Batt) watches his wife, Julia scream in agony during childbirth.
On the way to the Temple of Vesta, Livia encounters High Priestess Turia (Alexandra Moen) in a one-way tunnel. Neither women are willing to back up their carts. Emerging from her cart, Livia jerks Turia’s headdress off and tosses it on the ground. As she returns to her cart, she spots Gemina in a nearby cart. She orders her slaves to not move while she follows the cart.
In military armor, Drusus (Ewan Horrocks) looks out over the terrain at Germany. A soldier explains their plan to dispatch scouts into the woods for military observation. Opposing the plan, Antonina (Isabelle Connolly) suggests laying low in the valley until dawn, then carrying out an attack. Drusus says her plan sounds good to him. She informs Tiberius (Benjamin Isaac) and Vipsania (Joelle) of their dawn attack plan.
Livia asks Tycho (Alex Lanipekun) what he did with Gemina. He claims she was sold in the Sutrium slave market. She tells him that she is living in an apartment in Rome. He suggests she has been in contact with Drusus. Julia’s baby boy is a stillbirth. Gemina and Augustus are together inside the apartment. She informs him of her pregnancy. She assures him that it is a boy and he is the father. He promises to free her and find her a husband to ensure the baby is born a citizen. She reminds him of the baby being theirs. He suggests relocating her to a small town. Irate, she pounds on his chest. Tycho sees him emerge from the apartment.
Julia apologizes to Agrippa for the loss of their baby. Augustus questions why Antonia and Vipsania have never gotten pregnant while Julia has had three pregnancies. Domitius (David Avery) assures him that Antonia will set an example for their family. Outside, Agrippa confronts Augustus about his affair with Gemina. He reminds him of his new marriage legislation. Augustus admits to wanting her. Agrippa says Drusus did as well. Augustus asks him to find her a husband. Agrippa warns that she puts his position and marriage in jeopardy. Augustus orders him to not kill his unborn son. Agrippa says the boy will always have a slave for a mother. He suggests taking Livia away from Rome until he clears it up.
Tycho sees Gemina emerge from her apartment. He follows her to a public area where she meets Scribonia (Christine Bottomley). She tells her that Augustus is going to find her a husband. After saying divorce is almost out of the question, Scribonia says he could do as he pleases if Livia was dead. Gemina assures her that it would not be easy with her guards. Scribonia promises to make the arrangements. Augustus asks Livia to go away with him for a bit. She declines his offer. Following Augustus’ orders, Domitius and Antonia have sex.
Tycho urges Livia to remain calm after he tells her who is responsible for Gemina’s return to Rome. He says Augustus probably acquired her from the slave market. He tells her that Gemina and Scribonia are friends. Teary-eyed, she thanks him for a job well done. She scolds herself while holding in her tears before joining Augustus in bed.
Agrippa and Julia’s ashes in an urn are sealed in an underground vault. Vilbia (Elliot Barnes-Worrell) approaches Domitius to ask if he will arrange for Livia to be part of an audience. Domitius asks why. Vilbia reminds him of his request for their votes in the Consular election. Domitius suggests going through Piso (Darrell D’Silva). Agrippa asks what business he had with Vilbia. Domitius informs him of his plan to run for Consul.
When Livia arrives at Piso’s place, Ursa (Mia Jenkins) rushes out to greet her with a hug. Piso tries to convince Livia that Gemina is nothing more than a mere slave. He assures her that many married men have sex with slaves. She claims it is more about Augustus’ betrayal. He suggests it is Augustus’ revenge for her killing Marcellus (Finn Bennett). She stresses the importance of knowing Augustus. He warns that killing Gemina would be “fatal.”
A bloodied Tiberius runs after a gurney carrying an injured Drusus. Antonina starts washing the blood off his body when an excited Vistilius boasts of how Drusus killed their king. Outside the makeshift medical tent, Tiberius kills Vistilius for asking what is wrong with Vipsania.
Scribonia tells Gemina to send her slaves out because Livia will pay her a visit. She promises to be her witness. After assuring her that Augustus will protect her and his unborn baby, she says his primary goal is “sons for Rome.”
Antonia confesses to wishing Domitius was dead. She believes his hatred toward her is due to her inability to conceive. Julia assures her that divorce is out of the question. Antonia says he could die like Marcellus. As Marcella (Alais Lawson) washes after sex with Domitius, he says Antonia cannot conceive. She points out that he has never gotten her pregnant like Iullus (Joseph Ollman). He says she utilizes lemon juice to wash after they have sex. She denies having sex with Iullus in years. He claims his mother committed suicide after an unplanned pregnancy.
Livia receives a summons from Gemina. Tycho urges her to ignore the summons. She refuses to listen. Agrippa informs Augustus a widow up the Tiber is willing to marry Gemina in exchange for some nearby land. Gemina explains how she landed in Rome before accrediting Drusus of saving her. She says they loved each other. Grabbing a dagger, she stabs Livia in the shoulder and jumps on top of her when Livia slashes her throat. Gemina is bleeding out when she tries to attack her again before collapsing to the ground. Livia stabs her lifeless body.
Julia tells Iullus that “kind” and “decent” Antonia wants to kill Domitius. She reminds him of Domitius being his main rival after Augustus dies. She assures them that their fathers would not have thought twice about killing for power. Agrippa and Augustus find Gemina’s body in her apartment. Augustus orders him to find her killer before leaving. Agrippa discovers Livia’s bracelet on the floor. When Livia regains consciousness, Tycho and Piso are at her bedside. She realizes her bracelet is missing. He returns for the bracelet to find Agrippa at the apartment. Returning the bracelet to Livia, Agrippa claims to have never betrayed Augustus. He confesses to love her before saying Augustus should officially adopt his son in exchange for his silence. She assures him that she would have made it happen without restrictions.
Livia asks Tycho to let her explain everything to Augustus to save her marriage. When he agrees, she orders him to go to Alexandria in Egypt to find the source of the famine. He asks her to take care of his and Antigone’s (Colette Dalal Tchantcho) daughter. Before his departure, he asks his daughter to never forget him. Scribonia enters Gemina’s apartment to find a blood-soaked carpet. Agrippa burns Gemina’s body.
Livia tells Augustus that his betrayal almost killed her. She admits to killing Marcellus. He asks where do they go from here. She says to make him a God. Augustus claims Livia confessed to killing Marcellus and Gemina. Agrippa assures him that Livia made the right choice but he should have done it. Augustus admits it never bothered him that Livia murdered Marcellus, only that she was caught. Tycho arrives in Alexandria. Agrippa tells Livia that Augustus has ordered her exiled.
Drusus and Tiberius learn Livia has been exiled. Drusus says their dream of restoring the Republic and avenging their grandfather is over. Tiberius assures him that Agrippa will take care of them. The episode ends.
Domina Review
Julia has a stillbirth. Augustus orders Antonia and Vipsania to get pregnant. Domitius has sex with Antonia with little to no emotion. She confides in Julia about wanting him dead. Julia tries to convince Iullus to kill his main family rival, Domitius. His affair with Marcella never produced a pregnancy.
Gemina tells Augustus about her pregnancy. He agrees to find her a husband outside of Rome. He refuses to let Agrippa kill her while she is carrying his baby. Scribonia urges Gemina to kill Livia, so she will have Augustus to herself. Livia receives a summons from Gemina when it was sent by Scribonia. Gemina stabs Livia in the shoulder. Livia slashes her throat to save her own life. Agrippa discovers Livia’s bracelet in the apartment. Returning the necklace to her, he takes a vow of silence if she convinces Augustus to adopt his son.
Desperate to save her marriage, Livia tells Augustus that she murdered Marcellus and Gemina. He has her exiled for an undisclosed amount of time. Recovering from an injury on the battlefield, Drusus tells Tiberius that they will never avenge their grandfather’s murder and restore the Republic.
Before Livia is exiled, she sends Tycho to Alexandria to find out who is behind the famine.
The best episode of the season. The story was intense from start to visit. It deserves a 6.8. Get more Domina recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by donating to our site. Our onsite advertising is effective in building online awareness, clicking the link to learn more.
Jay Skelton is a fan of all television shows and movies. He tries his best to keep up with the latest foreign television shows and movies. Jay loves skinny dipping in the dark too.
