BEST TV SHOW YOU'RE NOT WATCHING: THE BORGIAS
Road Runner Original
Jillian Smolinski, RR.com Original
Published - Apr 13 2013 08:22PM EST
History's most infamous crime family will return to Showtime for a third season on Sunday, April 14. The Borgias, which is set around the turn of the 16th century, follows the triumphs and tragedies of the scandalous Borgia family as they struggle for power and wealth. Jeremy Irons stars as the ruthless and scheming Rodrigo Borgia, who ascended to the head of the Roman Catholic Church using questionable means to become the devious and corrupt Pope Alexander VI. Throughout his reign, Pope Alexander is a faced with great opposition, including the College of Cardinals, who plot to destroy him and his family. Alexander's greatest rival, the rich and powerful Cardinal Della Rovere (Colm Feore), will stop at nothing to take him down.
The Borgias starring Jeremy Irons airs on Showtime Sundays at 10:00 pm ET.
Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI
Oscar Winner Jeremy Irons presents an impressive and tragic character study, Rodrigo Borgia/Pope Alexander. He plays the role in a way that allows us to understand Pope Alexander’s ambition and thirst for power without underestimating the love that he has for his children. Sure he’ll use his children to get ahead, but at the end of the day everything he does is for his family. You’ll love to hate and hate to love Irons as the deeply flawed Holy Father.
Talented Ensemble Cast
Irons is joined by a talented ensemble cast that includes Francois Arnaud as the morally ambiguous son Cesare Borgia. Arnaud gives a heart-breaking performance of Pope Alexander’s son that is dripping with sincerity and desperation. Although he’s a murderous cardinal, Cesare is devoted to his entire family and is tortured by his sins.
Holliday Grainger is Rodrigo’s only daughter, Lucrezia Borgia. Lucrezia is a woman who knows how to get what she wants from everyone and anyone using her beauty and her body. She has a complex relationship with her brother Cesare that borders on incestuous.
David Oakes gave a fantastic portrayal of Juan Borgia, Pope Alexander’s prodigal son whose acts of self-destruction ultimately lead to his untimely end in season two.
Aidan Alexander is the yet-to-be corrupted innocent baby of the Borgias clan, Gioffre. Then there is Pope Alexander’s greatest nemesis Cardinal Della Rovere, played by Colm Feore.
The Production Values are Stunning
This papal camp-fest has enough blood, gore, sex, violence, and intrigue to rival any premium cable series. But perhaps the best thing about The Borgias is the world showrunner Neil Jordan created. The sets are breathtaking, the costumes are exquisite and the cinematography is as beautiful as it is powerful. When you watch The Borgias, you feel as if you’ve traveled to another time and place. It’s as though you’ve stepped into the rich and compelling Renaissance-era Italy and all its glory.
A Look Ahead
Showtime released an official teaser for season three entitled “Father, Son, Unholy Spirit” to build momentum and get fans talking about the upcoming season. Season 2 ended with a cliffhanger with Pope Alexander being poisoned. Will he or won’t he survive? History shows that the Pope will live six years longer than his son Juan, who died last season. The show does follow actual historical events more often than not. Plus, was there ever really any doubt that Jeremy Irons would return for another season? What is The Borgias without its patriarch after all?
After two seasons of flirting and skirting around the issue, it looks like Cesare and Lucrezia may finally cross the line into incestuous territory. Will they or won’t they? The promos certainly make it look that way. That is if Caterina Sforza (Gina McKee) doesn’t get in the way. You’ll just have to tune in to the season three premiere on Sunday night to find out what’s in store for the Borgias clan.
Jillian Smolinski, RR.com Original
Published - Apr 13 2013 08:22PM EST
History's most infamous crime family will return to Showtime for a third season on Sunday, April 14. The Borgias, which is set around the turn of the 16th century, follows the triumphs and tragedies of the scandalous Borgia family as they struggle for power and wealth. Jeremy Irons stars as the ruthless and scheming Rodrigo Borgia, who ascended to the head of the Roman Catholic Church using questionable means to become the devious and corrupt Pope Alexander VI. Throughout his reign, Pope Alexander is a faced with great opposition, including the College of Cardinals, who plot to destroy him and his family. Alexander's greatest rival, the rich and powerful Cardinal Della Rovere (Colm Feore), will stop at nothing to take him down.
The Borgias starring Jeremy Irons airs on Showtime Sundays at 10:00 pm ET.
Jeremy Irons as Pope Alexander VI
Oscar Winner Jeremy Irons presents an impressive and tragic character study, Rodrigo Borgia/Pope Alexander. He plays the role in a way that allows us to understand Pope Alexander’s ambition and thirst for power without underestimating the love that he has for his children. Sure he’ll use his children to get ahead, but at the end of the day everything he does is for his family. You’ll love to hate and hate to love Irons as the deeply flawed Holy Father.
Talented Ensemble Cast
Irons is joined by a talented ensemble cast that includes Francois Arnaud as the morally ambiguous son Cesare Borgia. Arnaud gives a heart-breaking performance of Pope Alexander’s son that is dripping with sincerity and desperation. Although he’s a murderous cardinal, Cesare is devoted to his entire family and is tortured by his sins.
Holliday Grainger is Rodrigo’s only daughter, Lucrezia Borgia. Lucrezia is a woman who knows how to get what she wants from everyone and anyone using her beauty and her body. She has a complex relationship with her brother Cesare that borders on incestuous.
David Oakes gave a fantastic portrayal of Juan Borgia, Pope Alexander’s prodigal son whose acts of self-destruction ultimately lead to his untimely end in season two.
Aidan Alexander is the yet-to-be corrupted innocent baby of the Borgias clan, Gioffre. Then there is Pope Alexander’s greatest nemesis Cardinal Della Rovere, played by Colm Feore.
The Production Values are Stunning
This papal camp-fest has enough blood, gore, sex, violence, and intrigue to rival any premium cable series. But perhaps the best thing about The Borgias is the world showrunner Neil Jordan created. The sets are breathtaking, the costumes are exquisite and the cinematography is as beautiful as it is powerful. When you watch The Borgias, you feel as if you’ve traveled to another time and place. It’s as though you’ve stepped into the rich and compelling Renaissance-era Italy and all its glory.
A Look Ahead
Showtime released an official teaser for season three entitled “Father, Son, Unholy Spirit” to build momentum and get fans talking about the upcoming season. Season 2 ended with a cliffhanger with Pope Alexander being poisoned. Will he or won’t he survive? History shows that the Pope will live six years longer than his son Juan, who died last season. The show does follow actual historical events more often than not. Plus, was there ever really any doubt that Jeremy Irons would return for another season? What is The Borgias without its patriarch after all?
After two seasons of flirting and skirting around the issue, it looks like Cesare and Lucrezia may finally cross the line into incestuous territory. Will they or won’t they? The promos certainly make it look that way. That is if Caterina Sforza (Gina McKee) doesn’t get in the way. You’ll just have to tune in to the season three premiere on Sunday night to find out what’s in store for the Borgias clan.
The original article can be found on www.rr.com at: http://www.rr.com/tv/topic/article/rr/51528047/84013911/Best_TV_Show_Youre_not_Watching_The_Borgias#
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