I, Claudius Season 1 - Episode 1 -

Morose and reluctant, he feels like a pawn in his mother’s grand design.

Augustus maintains the illusion of a Republic while wielding absolute power. I, Claudius Season 1 - Episode 1

The mastermind; she uses poison and social engineering as her primary weapons. Morose and reluctant, he feels like a pawn

I, Claudius (1976) – Episode 1: "A Touch of Murder" The series opens in 54 AD with an elderly, frail Emperor Claudius. He is writing his secret history, fearing his wife Agrippina intends to poison him. He reflects on his family’s past to explain how he became the unlikely survivor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty. I, Claudius (1976) – Episode 1: "A Touch

The deadliest threats to the Roman elite come from within their own dining rooms.

The narrative shifts back to 24 BC during the reign of Augustus. The Emperor celebrates the anniversary of the Battle of Actium, but tension simmers beneath the surface. Augustus favors his nephew Marcellus as his heir, much to the silent fury of Livia, Augustus’s wife. Livia is determined to see her own son, Tiberius, take the throne at any cost. Key Plot Points

Briefly seen as a child, already being mocked for his stammer and physical limp. Notable Themes