Apparently the BBC has heavily edited it - to the point that the first two episodes were merged into one (i.e. around half of the first two episodes were deleted). If you want to watch the full series in Britain or Australia (who bought the BBC version) you need to get a copy of the original HBO version.

First off, Steven Saylor, the author of the highly regarded Roma Sub Rosa series of detective novels set duting the First Century BCE and the fall of the Roman Republic, commented that he was pretty taken with the series until they got to Cleopatra. He really went off on those episodes. See http://www.stevensaylor.com/HBORome.html

If anyone wants a good and very readable history of the period addressed by the show, one that focusses on the politics rather than the battles, may I suggest Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic, by Tom Holland, $10.20 + shipping from Amazon. I found it to be a fascinating discussion of the political aspects of the period. Another is Swords Against the Senate: The Rise of the Roman Army and the Fall of the Republic, by Erik Hildinger, $18.95 + shipping from Amazon. This one is not quite as easy reading,. but it is superb history.