The war is over, Egypt is unified, and the men are returning home. Everything should be peaceful, right? Come now, this is ancient Rome and the show is aired on HBO, of course it's not gonna be peaceful. For those that complained that the ladies of the show have been in the background for the past couple of episodes, well, this was the week was for you then. Attia and Servilia were at their prime in their machiavellian cat-fight in this episode. This conflict could end up spelling the end of Rome as we know it as the respective men in their lives have to choose a side.

We open with the last remnants of Caesar's opposition meeting it's demise. Cato and his faithful have failed and been slaughtered. He and his remaining men make it to the city-fort of Utica. There, unwilling to face his own future as an outlaw and fugitive, Cato takes his own life. His general follows suit.  Back in Rome, Brutus worries that his friend has taken power the wrong way (a concern echoed by Lucius) and tells his mother that he is not proud of himself, but must back Caesar for their own well-being.

Servilia, in one of their *ahem* weaving sessions, learns about Caesar's mysterious seizures from Octavia. She wonders if her curse has come true. She lures Octavia into gleening more information from her brother, Caesar's young protege Octavian. Octavia does her "best" but Octavian figures out her endgame before she can capitalize on it. Attia is shocked at her children's actions and retaliates against Servilia for imploding her family. Servilia's entire entourage is slain in the street while she is mutilated and humiliated. Payback's a bitch.

After the interlude of the Egyptian trip from the past couple of episodes, we've started to get into some serious crap. Everything is coming to a head and the feeling that I got from this episode is like when you're younger and on holding on for dear life to that carousel that's just moving too fast. You know you're gonna be thrown, and more than likely injured, you just don't know when, or in what direction. There are only three episodes left this season, so hold on and enjoy the ride.