A drama that chronicles the early days of the Roman Empire is available to stream now and The Crown fans will love it. While the royal drama covers the story of the monarchy, I, Claudius charts the life of Roman Emperors, and the shows have previously been compared to each other.
The show—an adaptation of Robert Graves' books I, Claudius and Claudius the God—is currently available on BBC iPlayer. The action is relayed from the viewpoint of the elderly Emperor Claudius and covers a large time period, running from 24 BC to AD 54, reports the Mirror.
Fan Reactions and Comparisons
One fan of both shows remarked on Reddit: "The drama is essentially a Roman version of The Crown. I'm through two episodes and it's great so far. I, Claudius is a great show. Production value is pretty low but the acting quality is very high."
As they praised The Crown, someone else posted on review site Rotten Tomatoes: "The lines are so articulate and well-situated that it's definitely a 5/5 English drama that reminds me of I, Claudius."
A Timeless Classic
The show, released in 1976, has been hugely popular with viewers over the years, with one saying on Reddit: "I, Claudius is the greatest television show ever made. It comes off differently than a regular TV show, and more like a stage production where you are invited on the set with the actors." Boasting some of the best British acting of its era—both from theatre and film—the show has complex and engaging characters driven by breathtaking dialogue.
Another commented: "Amazing show. Hits a lot of the same notes as Rome and Game of Thrones, with world-class performances elevating it beyond the lower production value."
"One of my favourite pieces of TV ever," said another. "I saw a video somewhere recently that showed how brilliant the show's direction was in terms of complex camera movement/staging even though the sets were pretty bare bones. You really don't see any TV that uses the camera like that anymore."
One remarked: "It's one of the best shows you will ever watch. Fantastic characters, brilliant plotting, funny as well as terrifying, and a truly epic scope."
Someone else said on IMDb.com: "I'll try to add to the other reviews that sum up I, Claudius so brilliantly, but my feeling is that what needs to be said about it has been said. Superlative is the best way to sum up how phenomenal I, Claudius is, it is one of those rarities where everything works."
Another said: "The writing, the staging, the make up and the direction are so amazing when you consider how and when it was made. Also it really does get better and better... you start thinking this is not for me but by the end of the first episode you are hooked."
I, Claudius is available on BBC iPlayer.
