Live action TV
Description
Lucius Modestus is the central protagonist of Thermae Romae, a Roman architect living in the 2nd century AD during the reign of Emperor Hadrian. He comes from a family of bathhouse designers, continuing a proud tradition of building public baths, or thermae, for the citizens of Rome. Lucius is a skilled engineer and architect who excels at creating functional and aesthetically pleasing bath complexes, but he struggles with creative stagnation and the pressure of constantly generating new ideas to satisfy his clients and maintain his reputation.
His personality is earnest, dedicated, and proud of his craft. He takes his work seriously and experiences genuine distress when his designs are considered outdated or when he fails to meet expectations. This frustration drives him to seek relief at a public bath, where an unexpected incident triggers an extraordinary ability: whenever he is in a dilemma and submerges himself in water, he is transported through time to modern-day Japan. Initially bewildered by the strange environment and the flat-faced people he encounters, he soon recognizes the advanced bathing culture, technologies, and practices of Japanese sento and onsen. He interprets these innovations as the baths of a mysterious civilization and enthusiastically incorporates the concepts he observes into his own Roman projects, often using available materials and methods of his era to recreate them.
Lucius's primary motivation is to overcome his creative blocks and to fulfill the commissions he receives, which range from building an outdoor bath near Mount Vesuvius for the elderly Consul Lepidus to constructing private baths in Emperor Hadrian's villa and even healing baths for Roman soldiers during a campaign in Jerusalem. He is driven by a deep sense of professional duty and a desire to honor his family's legacy. His time-traveling experiences continually provide the inspiration he needs, though his adaptations are frequently imperfect, leading to both admiration and unintended consequences. These include the destruction of businesses, the end of his own marriage, and even arousing suspicion that he is Emperor Hadrian's homosexual lover.
In the story, Lucius serves as the link between ancient Rome and modern Japan, allowing the narrative to explore cultural comparisons and comedic misunderstandings. His key relationships include his friend Marcus Pietras, a marble sculptor who often assists in implementing Lucius's designs; Emperor Hadrian, who becomes a recurring patron and admirer of his work; and Consul Lepidus, an early client. Over the course of the series, Lucius undergoes noticeable development. He starts as a stressed and somewhat rigid traditionalist, but through his travels he gains a broader perspective on bathing, hospitality, and problem-solving. He becomes more open to unconventional ideas and learns to appreciate the simple but effective solutions found in Japan, such as outdoor bathing, indoor plumbing, and proper etiquette.
Notable abilities include his deep architectural knowledge and his capacity to observe, remember, and adapt complex modern bathing systems using only Roman technology. His time-travel ability is involuntary and triggered only when he is in a state of dilemma and sinks underwater. This ability consistently delivers him to exactly the kind of Japanese bathing environment that holds the solution to his current problem. Despite his professional successes, Lucius remains a relatable figure whose earnest reactions to the absurdity of his situation provide much of the series' charm.
His personality is earnest, dedicated, and proud of his craft. He takes his work seriously and experiences genuine distress when his designs are considered outdated or when he fails to meet expectations. This frustration drives him to seek relief at a public bath, where an unexpected incident triggers an extraordinary ability: whenever he is in a dilemma and submerges himself in water, he is transported through time to modern-day Japan. Initially bewildered by the strange environment and the flat-faced people he encounters, he soon recognizes the advanced bathing culture, technologies, and practices of Japanese sento and onsen. He interprets these innovations as the baths of a mysterious civilization and enthusiastically incorporates the concepts he observes into his own Roman projects, often using available materials and methods of his era to recreate them.
Lucius's primary motivation is to overcome his creative blocks and to fulfill the commissions he receives, which range from building an outdoor bath near Mount Vesuvius for the elderly Consul Lepidus to constructing private baths in Emperor Hadrian's villa and even healing baths for Roman soldiers during a campaign in Jerusalem. He is driven by a deep sense of professional duty and a desire to honor his family's legacy. His time-traveling experiences continually provide the inspiration he needs, though his adaptations are frequently imperfect, leading to both admiration and unintended consequences. These include the destruction of businesses, the end of his own marriage, and even arousing suspicion that he is Emperor Hadrian's homosexual lover.
In the story, Lucius serves as the link between ancient Rome and modern Japan, allowing the narrative to explore cultural comparisons and comedic misunderstandings. His key relationships include his friend Marcus Pietras, a marble sculptor who often assists in implementing Lucius's designs; Emperor Hadrian, who becomes a recurring patron and admirer of his work; and Consul Lepidus, an early client. Over the course of the series, Lucius undergoes noticeable development. He starts as a stressed and somewhat rigid traditionalist, but through his travels he gains a broader perspective on bathing, hospitality, and problem-solving. He becomes more open to unconventional ideas and learns to appreciate the simple but effective solutions found in Japan, such as outdoor bathing, indoor plumbing, and proper etiquette.
Notable abilities include his deep architectural knowledge and his capacity to observe, remember, and adapt complex modern bathing systems using only Roman technology. His time-travel ability is involuntary and triggered only when he is in a state of dilemma and sinks underwater. This ability consistently delivers him to exactly the kind of Japanese bathing environment that holds the solution to his current problem. Despite his professional successes, Lucius remains a relatable figure whose earnest reactions to the absurdity of his situation provide much of the series' charm.