"Barbarians" (2006) TV series

User Rating:

8.1/10   

Writers:

Alan Ereira (writer)
David McNab (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2

Release Date:

26 May 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Documentary | History

Cast

Terry Jones

...

Presenter (4 episodes, 2006)

Series Directed by
Rob Coldstream		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Writing credits
Terry Jones		(2 episodes, 2006)
Alan Ereira		(unknown episodes)
David McNab		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
David McNab	....	series producer (4 episodes, 2006)
Nicolas Kent	....	executive producer (2 episodes, 2006)

Series Original Music by
Sandy Nuttgens		(2 episodes, 2006)
Michael Scott		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Cinematography by
Joe Taylor		(2 episodes, 2006)

Series Film Editing by
Mike Burton		(1 episode, 2006)
David Fairhead		(1 episode, 2006)

Series Production Design by
Tim Keates		(1 episode, 2006)
Jo Manser		(1 episode, 2006)

Series Art Direction by
Paul Halter		(1 episode, 2006)

Series Costume Design by
Heidi Miller		(1 episode, 2006)

Series Makeup Department
Robin Lake	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 2006)
Caitlin Tanner	....	makeup artist (1 episode, 2006)

Series Production Management
Rachel Shadick	....	production manager (4 episodes, 2006)
Annabel Lee	....	head of production (2 episodes, 2006)

Series Sound Department
Doug Dreger	....	sound (1 episode, 2006)
Jeff John	....	sound (1 episode, 2006)
Tom Corbett	....	sound effects editor (unknown episodes, 2006)

Series Visual Effects by
Antony Buonomo	....	graphics and titles (2 episodes, 2006)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Nathan Kendall	....	second assistant camera (4 episodes, 2006)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Heidi Miller	....	wardrobe (1 episode, 2006)

Series Other crew
Bella Barr	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 2006)
Barry Cunliffe	....	series consultant (2 episodes, 2006)
Alan Ereira	....	script editor (2 episodes, 2006)

Production Companies

• Oxford Film and Television Production

Distributors

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2006) (UK) (TV)
• Koch Vision (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Edit and Sound Store, The  post-production facilities
• Red Vision  visual effects

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Oxford Film and Television Production

Some good history but bends over backwards to bash Rome.

I looked forward to this when it came out, as I realized that the common history tends to paint the "barbarians" as uncivilized. The series does a good job of pointing out that as a lie. However, what bothers me is the tone that basically tells us that Rome had no redeeming qualities, that the "barbarians" were all saintly, advanced and nearly perfect, compared to the evil Romans.

I think the mistakes of the history books could be corrected without going overboard and simply switching from the incorrect view of Rome being the purely civilized empire, while those living in the lands around them were uncivilized and backwards, to having Rome the monster with no civilized values and no real contribution to the future world while those other lands were all so wonderful and purely peaceful.

Why is it so hard for people to try to give a balanced, unbiased account? All to often I get the feeling that there's an ax to grind. History shouldn't be about pushing some personal feelings or desire to bring someone or some nation down a peg, but to simply give us facts.

So, even though I thought this was well done, it was too black and white, in a politically correct way that was more about bashing the Romans than to give us a fair assessment of the time.