Critics made a big deal over this year being the end of the Sopranos… so much so that the demise of another acclaimed HBO show with a rabid fanbase seemed to fall between the cracks.

I’m talking about HBO’s Rome. The show was discontinued due to a combination of high costs and adequate ratings—similar to NBC’s situation with Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Still, for those who followed the show, the high production values and the compelling intrigue were a good reason to steal HBO from the cable company for a few months.

So why am I telling you this now? The second—and final—season DVD set ships tomorrow according to HBO’s website, so I just want people to see what the hype was about.

(Despite the subtitles, it’s actually in English.)