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 (3)
Seasons(3) / Episodes(29)
Plots(1)
The Borgias is a complex, unvarnished portrait of one of history’s most intriguing families. Oscar®-winner Jeremy Irons stars as Rodrigo Borgia, the cunning, manipulative patriarch of the Borgia family who ascends to the highest circles of power within Renaissance-era Italy. The series begins as Rodrigo (Irons), becomes Pope Alexander VI, propelling him, his two Machiavellian sons Cesare and Juan, and his scandalously beautiful daughter, Lucrezia, to become the most powerful and influential family of the Italian Renaissance. (official distributor synopsis)
(more)Reviews of this series by the user Necrotongue (33)
World of Wonders (2012) (S02E09)
The plot may have dipped a bit compared to the previous episode, but it was still far from uninteresting. I couldn't help but chuckle at the crucible scene — it felt like a much-needed wake-up call for those priests who still haven't figured out how to do some soul-searching.
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The Confession (2012) (S02E10)
Once again, the creators nailed it. Rodrigo's evolving mental state was a fascinating journey to follow, and honestly, after everything he's been through, who could blame him? The plot maintained a nice, steady pace, the atmosphere was on point, and that ending... well, let's just say it left me itching to dive right into the next season.
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Season 3 (2013) (S03)
Fortunately, the third season didn’t represent a drop in quality, as is often the case, so I won’t look for reasons to quibble. The creators focused in greater detail on the character of Cesare Borgia, his ambitions, and the darker side of his nature. I was also amused by Machiavelli's allusions to “The Prince” and insights into the soul of an assassin. Season 3 was definitely not a waste of time.
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The Face of Death (2013) (S03E01)
A delightful surprise. The creators seamlessly continued the storyline from the second season (which, let's be honest, was the only way to go), and they crafted an episode with top-notch atmosphere, solid tension, and surprisingly, plenty of action. It all came together so well that I found myself thoroughly enjoying every minute, eagerly awaiting what comes next.
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The Purge (2013) (S03E02)
The quality took a bit of a dip, despite the abundance of plotting. If the creators had stuck to those intrigues the whole way through, I'd easily give it five stars. But alas, they veered off into dissecting romantic relationships, slowing down the pace of the story.
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Siblings (2013) (S03E03)
I don't want to nitpick too much because I'm genuinely enjoying the series, but those wedding episodes just didn't grab me. The creators seemed to be scrambling to salvage it with a touch of incest towards the end. Personally, I don't mind if a brother and sister genuinely care for each other and aren't causing any harm, they should be free to enjoy their bond. 4*-
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The Banquet of Chestnuts (2013) (S03E04)
Unfortunately, this episode left me feeling a bit lukewarm, like a rerun of the previous one. At times, it even felt like I was watching Game of Thrones. While some parts were solid, the medieval peep show took up way too much screen time that could've been put to better use. 4*-
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The Wolf and the Lamb (2013) (S03E05)
The episode showed some improvement. I really enjoyed Cesare's diplomatic mission in France — if the whole episode had followed that vibe, it would have been great. Unfortunately, the focus on the Pope and Bianca dragged the quality down a bit.
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Relics (2013) (S03E06)
I was torn between three and four stars for this episode. In the end, I settled on a weak four. I was expecting some juicy Vatican intrigue, but instead, we got a new, pretty dull alliance and uneventful negotiations with the Jewish delegation. Not exactly what I was hoping for. 4*-
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Lucrezia's Gambit (2013) (S03E07)
The seventh episode was definitely more satisfying than the last, even though Lucrezia in Naples was responsible for most of the political maneuvering. Three stars should be enough for this one.
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Tears of Blood (2013) (S03E08)
I couldn’t help but think of that Blackadder episode where Edmund becomes the Archbishop of Canterbury and starts trading holy relics. The takeaway? A true believer has to buy into the biggest nonsense and follow the herd. Still, it was pretty entertaining. 4*+
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The Gunpowder Plot (2013) (S03E09)
This episode didn't blow me away or keep me on the edge of my seat, but it also didn't bore me. You could definitely tell they were laying the groundwork for the series finale, which slowed it down a bit.
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The Prince (2013) (S03E10)
I realized how much I missed some good military action. So, I really enjoyed the conquest of Forli, even if some parts were unintentionally funny. But what really got me was the final scene. It felt like something straight out of a psychological thriller.
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