Marcellus
Greasy, oily little turd or what? Evil as Livia was, one can't help applauding her efforts in offing the smarmy git.
shareEvil as Livia was, one can't help applauding her efforts in offing the smarmy git.
Funny, it seems that her first (A TOUCH OF MURDER) and her last episode (QUEEN OF HEAVEN) are the only two episodes where Livia doesn't look that evil compared to other episodes. Maybe SOME JUSTICE (episode 6) also. Sure, she is scheming and manipulative but if you look closely, she is showing some small signs of remorse (sort of) in advance when she decided to kill Marcellus (first murder is always the hardest, I guess). But little later she was like: "Ok, let's do this and don't trouble yourself anymore with conscience. It's worth it and I'm doing the right thing" (this way of thinking reminds me of some respected world politicians today). Don't forget that at that time Livia thought that murder of Marcellus would be her only crime - Agrippa was same age as Augustus and out of favor. Tiberius seemed like natural and only Augustus' heir.
It's just later, when Agrippa married Julia and they got children, when she turned herself into cold-blooded serial killer. It lasted almost 30 years. In episodes 2,3,4,5 Livia is pure evilness. But majestic, glorious, olympian evilness, with the official mask of Roman matron - almost a living saint.
Fassbender - Mara - Blanchett - Phoenix share
What about the scene of Augustus's death? Look at her face after she closes his eyes.
shareAugustus doesn't count He is the only person Livia ever cared for. After all, they were married for 52 years. That's whole epoche.
Tiberius was more like her political tool, his entire life until Pizo/Germanicus affair. And that was it.
Others ? Absolutely not (though I found Livia's last words to Claudius touching).
Fassbender - Mara - Blanchett - Phoenix