Creators:
Neil JordanComposer:
Trevor MorrisCast:
Jeremy Irons, François Arnaud, Holliday Grainger, Peter Sullivan, Sean Harris, Joanne Whalley, Lotte Verbeek, Colm Feore, David Oakes, Gina McKee (more)VOD (2)
Seasons(3) / Episodes(29)
Plots(1)
The Borgias is the sordid saga of one of the most remarkable and legendary families in history. Set in 15th Century Italy at the height of the Renaissance, this acclaimed series chronicles the corrupt rise of patriarch Rodrigo Borgia (Jeremy Irons) to the papacy, where he proceeds to commit every sin in the book to amass and retain power, influence and enormous wealth for himself and his family. But with absolute power comes even more powerful enemies who will stop at nothing to see him toppled. (Paramount Home Entertainment)
(more)Reviews of this series by the user Necrotongue (33)
The Borgias (2011)
The series is one of my favorite HBO "history" series, alongside Rome and The Tudors. Even in this case, the creators didn't let themselves be too bound by the actual events and bent history according to their needs. But that’s what I’ve come to expect of HBO, and I don’t let it ruin my overall impression. Plus, all the more reason for me to look for deviations from historical events, so I might even educate myself in the process :-) As a bonus, I was served various hypocritical church practices, so all the more reason to be satisfied.
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Season 1 (2011) (S01)
After the first season, I'm satisfied. It’s true that the creators failed to make me excited, there were a few dull moments and even the better episodes felt like something was missing for me to give a higher rating, but it was decent entertainment most of the time.
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The Poisoned Chalice (2011) (S01E01)
Even though I'm not exactly a fan of religion, I found the pilot quite entertaining. Though, some parts, like the crowning of the new pope, dragged on a bit too long.
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The Assassin (2011) (S01E02)
The second episode didn’t disappoint. The church prelates were up to their usual scheming and wealth-chasing, and it was thoroughly entertaining. If the creators had leaned even more into showcasing the vices of these high-ranking clergymen, I might’ve bumped it up to five stars.
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The Moor (2011) (S01E03)
I really enjoyed this episode, just like the last two. The creators did a great job weaving in Torquemada's influence on European migration, and the politically motivated wedding added a nice touch to the plot. It might not be a five-star episode, but it definitely earned a solid four stars from me.
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Lucrezia's Wedding (2011) (S01E04)
This episode had the rebellious cardinal traveling through the Italian states, landing in Florence, which I loved because we got to see Niccolo Machiavelli. Unlike the usual church schemers, I really like his character. The plot kept a nice, steady pace, and even Lucrezia's wedding didn't slow things down.
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The Borgias in Love (2011) (S01E05)
Even though there was a noticeable shift from church intrigues to the love lives of the Borgia family, I didn't feel the need to lower my rating. The episode balanced things well, keeping the romantic moments to a tolerable level and avoiding overly passionate dialogues. Plus, the conspiracies brewing were just as juicy as those in the Vatican, making it a solid watch overall.
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The French King (2011) (S01E06)
The creators got so caught up in various love affairs that they sidelined or completely sacrificed all the interesting plot points. For the first time, I actually got bored at times, and that's definitely not a good sign.
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Death, on a Pale Horse (2011) (S01E07)
The seventh episode shed the unnecessary baggage from the last episode. The plot picked up pace, the events started moving, and Machiavelli was back to his scheming best. I was thoroughly entertained again. It was a significant improvement compared to the previous episode.
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The Art of War (2011) (S01E08)
Even though this episode was heavy on dialogue, I still enjoyed it. The brave defenders of faith were highly entertaining, especially in their interactions with the Pope. I also got a kick out of gonfaloniere Juan Borgia, who proved himself to be a "genius" tactician and really brightened up my day.
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Nessuno (Nobody) (2011) (S01E09)
The season finale was pretty well done. What amused me the most was the Pope's total victory in his undeclared war against the cardinals. The other events and conversations didn't disappoint me either, making it a solid conclusion to the season.
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Season 2 (2012) (S02)
Even the second season had its dull moments, but I was more annoyed by some illogicalities in the siege of Forli. But that’s about it for my complaints. I was quite satisfied with this season otherwise, so I don’t want to nitpick. The second season managed to keep up the high standard. I enjoyed it, and I’m obviously looking forward to the next one.
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The Borgia Bull (2012) (S02E01)
I wasn't particularly impressed; it felt like the creators stuck to their usual formula. The most interesting part was the pope discussing the need for revenge on all traitors. However, the story then veered off in a different direction, which didn't really do it any favors. 4*-
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Paolo (2012) (S02E02)
Surprisingly, I enjoyed the second episode more than the first, despite my worries about the romance taking over again. Thankfully, that didn't happen. The plot had a solid pace and kept me engaged throughout. Definitely deserving of four stars.
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The Beautiful Deception (2012) (S02E03)
I had an absolute blast! The Vatican was bustling with joyful intrigue, the Sforzas made their allegiance clear, and Lucrezia's vindictive side grabbed my attention in all the right ways. Much more than her romantic mode. I bumped the rating up to five stars, mainly thanks to Potemkin's artillery.
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Stray Dogs (2012) (S02E04)
The creators finally upped the ante with some cohesive action, and it made a noticeable difference in the plot's energy. I particularly enjoyed the Pope's intrigues. The only slight letdown for me was the typical off-screen battles. While I get it's a budget constraint, it's still a bummer to miss out on all the important fights.
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The Choice (2012) (S02E05)
The momentum keeps going strong. While I appreciated the action in the previous episode, this time it was the scheming that really stood out to me — both by the Pope and against him. The dialogues in Forli were also a highlight for me. Another five stars from me for this one.
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Day of Ashes (2012) (S02E06)
Maybe I got spoiled by the previous episodes, but there was just something missing that kept me from giving this one a full five stars. It felt like it lacked the pace that I had grown accustomed to.
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The Siege at Forli (2012) (S02E07)
The urological/surgical procedure with a detailed explanation was perfect, but the siege of Forli left me a tad disappointed. It wasn't just the obviously tight budget that bothered me, but rather a string of minor inconsistencies throughout.
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Truth and Lies (2012) (S02E08)
The eighth episode was actually quite solid. With the intense rivalry and scheming between brothers taking center stage, along with the anti-Papal maneuvers thrown into the mix, there was never a dull moment. Everything unfolded at a satisfying pace, and I particularly relished the intricate maneuvering around Lucrezia's potential marriage. Overall, it left me pretty content. 4*+
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