The BEST episodes written by James Wood
#1 - Fall of Rome
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire - Season 1 - Episode 6
Under emperor Honorius Rome was still the nominal, eponymous capital, but his seat of government was the palace in Ravenna, an Adriatic port closer to the borders under constant threat as irresistible attacks from the east by nomadic peoples like the Huns caused a chain-reaction of westward migrations, forcing people like the Goths (who lived by the Black Sea) to invade the Roman imperial territory. Stilicho had allowed them to live there, but after his disgrace and execution on the instigation of Olympius, the new imperial chief councilor, all 'barbarians' were slaughtered or fled to such remote regions as the mountainous central European province of Noricum, where the Goths await the final assignation of land they were promised; when king Alaric realizes that is no longer Honorius' intent, he decides not to attack his naturally sheltered residence in Ravenna, but to lay siege to Rome itself, no longer properly defended as the imperial army is overstretched by rebellion in Gaul and invasions by other barbarians, especially across the Rhine. The idea was first to extract the treasures of Rome and then the promised land, a rich peace, but the gold and silver brought by a senatorial delegation are less then hoped and Honorius never assigns the land. Olympius makes a failed attempt to bring reinforcements once Alaric had retreated, but his army is slaughtered, causing Honorius to disgrace him in favor of Iovius. Alaric tries to make Honorius concede by 'strongly suggesting' the senate to declare its own 'hero' Attalus the new emperor of Rome, but Jovius soon gets him discredited with the Romans by cutting the food supply to the city from its main source, North Africa. After a peace negotiation is ruined by Sestus, a Gothic former rival of Alaric who became a Roman general but fell out of favor, who on his own attacks Alarics delegation, the king survives but can no longer resist the urge of his own people for action, so he has potential coup leader Berig executed and f
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#2 - The Tazbek Spring
Ambassadors - Season 1 - Episode 3
Ambassador Davis and his wife Jennifer are marking the president's Platinum Jubilee with a party at the residence. However, the evening is disrupted by gunfire and explosions on the streets of the capital as the army suppress an anti-government rebellion. Later that night, the ambassador is woken by the arrival of Mr Jackson, a legendary Foreign Office interrogation specialist. He has been sent to 'vet' all embassy staff to ascertain if any of them have been spying. This is bad news for Neil who, blackmailed by the Tazbek secret police, has been passing them classified information. As the rebellion intensifies, the ambassador has to make a difficult decision: should he risk his career attempting to make contact with the rebel leader or stick to his usual cautious attitude of waiting to see how events transpire? Thrown out of his comfort zone by an incisive analysis of his character flaws by Mr Jackson and the pleas of his wife Jennifer to do something to stop people being slaughtered on the streets, Davis is sparked into a courageous but possibly doomed mission into the heart of the Tazbek rebellion.
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#3 - The Rabbit Never Escapes
Ambassadors - Season 1 - Episode 1
Keith Davis, the British ambassador to Tazbekistan, is tasked with securing a £2billion helicopter contract for the UK. Things begin badly when he accidentally shoots an Ibex, the national animal of Tazbekistan, whilst on a hunting trip with the president. Then affairs are further jeopardized when an arrogant young British human rights activist is arrested by the regime on trumped up charges. This throws Davis into direct conflict with the deputy head of mission, Neil Tilly, who believes Britain should be prioritising human rights over winning arms contracts. Neil, though, has ethical troubles of his own when the Tazbek secret police blackmail him into spying on the British for them. The embassy is hosting a 'Best of British Festival', offering an opportunity for Davis to impress the Tazbeks and persuade them to go with the British helicopters. However, the best the festival can offer is a medieval folk group from Gloucestershire, a demonstration of how to make a pork pie and a one man production of Frankenstein. Nobody, least of all Davis, is feeling too confident. News reaches them that the human rights activist is facing the death penalty and the ambassador and his team are forced to make a tough decision.
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#4 - The Prince's Trousers
Ambassadors - Season 1 - Episode 2
Minor royal Prince Mark of Bath has been invited to Tazbekistan in his capacity as trade envoy to help the embassy win lucrative drilling licenses for AngloBrit Oil. With an unshakeable sense of entitlement and utter disregard for the sensitivities of others, Prince Mark soon makes himself unpopular with his exacting demands for luxurious accommodation and high-level service which far outstrip what Ambassador Davis and his wife Jennifer can provide at the embassy residence. The prince's arrival coincides with the escape of one of Tazbekistan's most celebrated and outspoken dissidents, Amil Zarifi, who asks for sanctuary in the embassy. Unable to contact the ambassador, who is tied up managing Prince Mark, deputy head of mission Neil takes the decision to bring Zarifi into the compound - a decision which not only incenses his boss but also infuriates the Tazbeks who demand the British give up the dissident immediately. With hopes of securing the oil licenses hanging by a thread, the embassy must rely on the man least likely to improve relations between Britain and Tazbekistan - Prince Mark of Bath. However, the prince's keynote speech in front of the president at a high-level dinner has a most surprising outcome.
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#5 - Caesar
Ancient Rome: The Rise and Fall of an Empire - Season 1 - Episode 2
At the close of the Gallic Wars, Gaius Julius Caesar finds his army encircled by a massive force of Gauls but wins a decisive victory with a brilliant counterattack at the Battle of Alesia. An inspiring speech to his troops, promising to rescue Rome from its corrupt rulers and restore it to its people, raises opposition from Senators Cato and Marcellus. Caesar refuses to disband his army before crossing the Rubicon, plunging the Republic into civil war and turning his deputy Labienus and old friend Pompey against him. Caesar captures Rome unopposed after Pompey is forced to withdraw his vastly outnumbered legions and the senators and people flee.
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#6 - Episode 6
Vexed - Season 2 - Episode 6
Jack and Georgina are called in to investigate a violent robbery at a family-run jeweller and along the way they manage to get a glimpse into a world of diamonds and romance.Georgina isn’t impressed by the stones but she does find a romance of her own, as she enters the complicated world of internet dating. Jack’s relationship issues are with his brother, who has unexpectedly asked him to be his best man at his upcoming wedding.
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#7 - War and Vomit
The Great - Season 1 - Episode 5
As the war with Sweden continues to rage, Catherine and Aunt Elizabeth visit the military at the Russian front. Seeing the soldiers reminds Catherine of her goal to rule Russia differently. Grigor struggles with Peter and Georgina's relationship and poisons Peter to end it. When Peter falls ill, Velementov, Orlo, and Marial all try to influence Catherine's steps toward takeover as Peter's life hangs in the balance.
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#8 - The Duke's Tracheotomy
Quacks - Season 1 - Episode 1
Robert is a domineering, showman surgeon - a rock star of his age - who is almost as brilliant as he thinks he is. He can pack out an operating theatre and take off a leg in 92 seconds. But after a botched amputation, Robert is put under pressure by the royal physician, Dr Hendrick. So John, a drug-addled dentist who is trying to create the world's first anaesthetic, convinces Robert to use potentially lethal ether in a prestigious and pioneering operation.
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#9 - Vietnam: The Orphanage
Gap Year - Season 1 - Episode 3
May and Ashley decide to do some 'good' by volunteering at an orphanage in rural Vietnam, but May is surprised to discover that volunteering actually involves hard work... Dylan and Sean claim to be travel writers to blag a top room in a luxury hotel. Sean tries to heat things up between him and Ashley with unexpected results. Meanwhile Greg tries to move on from his ex-wife by pursuing a nurse at the orphanage.
#10 - Gay Weddings
Rev. - Season 3 - Episode 2
Adam's put on the spot when two of his and Alex's friends ask him to marry them. Of course he'd love to but there's one problem: they're gay and the C of E have a tiny bit of a problem with gay marriage. Meanwhile, Adam signs up for a course on how to save his church - led by Roland Wise. Is Roland's explosive IED (Invade - Evangelise - Deliver) approach to ministry the answer to Adam's prayers? Probably not.
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#11 - Birth
Rev. - Season 3 - Episode 1
Reverend Adam Smallbone and his wife Alex adjust to life as new parents in the inner city parish of St Saviour's, Hackney. How will Adam cope with parenthood on top of his small but demanding congregation? Can he manage being a father and a Father? Adam's wife Alex gives birth to their daughter in dramatic circumstances. Adam teams up with a local imam to help improve the community - but is his new colleague friend or foe? Plus the new area dean and diocesan secretary clearly have it in for St Saviour's. Can Adam save his church from their parish reorganisation plans?
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#12 - Jesus Is Awesome
Rev. - Season 1 - Episode 2
The archdeacon tells Adam that the collection plates from his church are not receiving enough revenue, needing more generous people, Adam loans priest Darren Betts the church for his sermons since Darren's is undergoing renovations. However a problem erupts when Darren will not leave Adam's church after the hard work he did transforming the church to a modern version. Meanwhile Alex feels lonely and decides they need to reignite the flame of their love life.
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