The Borgias (2011 TV series)

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The Borgias
GenreHistorical drama
Created byNeil Jordan
Written byNeil Jordan
David Leland
Guy Burt
Starring
Theme music composerTrevor Morris
Country of origin
  • Canada
  • Ireland
  • Hungary
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes29 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Neil Jordan
  • Jack Rapke
  • Darryl Frank
  • John Weber
  • Sheila Hockin
  • James Flynn
  • David Leland (second season)
  • Michael Hirst (first season)
Production locationHungary[1]
CinematographyPaul Sarossy
Running time48–58 minutes
Production companies
Original release
Network
ReleaseApril 3, 2011 (2011-04-03) –
June 16, 2013 (2013-06-16)

The Borgias is a

television series created by Neil Jordan
; it debuted in 2011 and was canceled in 2013.

The series is set in

Juan. Colm Feore also stars as Cardinal della Rovere (later Pope Julius II).[2]

It premiered on April 3, 2011, at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime in the United States and 10 p.m. Eastern (UTC−04:00) on Bravo! in Canada,[1][3] and received its first major television network premiere on June 21, 2011, on Canada's CTV Television Network.[4] The second season premiered on April 8, 2012. On May 4, 2012, Showtime ordered a third season of 10 episodes, which premiered on April 14, 2013.[5][6]

On June 5, 2013, Showtime canceled the series, a season short of Jordan's planned four-season arc for the series. The cancellation was implied to be due to the expense of production, with plans for a two-hour wrap-up finale also scrapped.[7][8] A fan campaign was started in an attempt to convince Showtime to revive the series.[8] On August 12, 2013, it was announced that the two-hour series finale script would be released as an ebook, after it was determined that a movie would be too expensive to produce.[9]

Plot overview

The series follows the rise of the Borgia family to the pinnacle of the

Juan. Upon winning the election, Rodrigo Borgia becomes Pope Alexander VI, which then thrusts him and his family deep into the murky heart of politics in fifteenth-century Europe: from shifting loyalties within the College of Cardinals
to the ambitions of the kings of Europe to the venomous rivalries between the noble families of Italy at the time.

Meanwhile, enraged by his loss of the election to Borgia, Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere travels across Italy and France, seeking allies to depose or kill Alexander: this would force another papal conclave and race for Pope which della Rovere is convinced he would win without Borgia to oppose him.

The series also follows the complicated sibling relationships between Cesare, Juan, and Lucrezia. Between Cesare and Juan, there is deep rivalry, with jealousy and resentment on Cesare's side; inferiority and aggression on Juan's. Juan's descent into addiction, illness, malice, and madness in the second season leads to a shocking confrontation between him and Cesare which forever changes the family. Between Cesare and Lucrezia, there is an abiding intimacy and closeness which finally delves into incest in Season 3, as the show's take on the persistent rumors about the real-life siblings. Their youngest sibling, Gioffre, is a minor player in the first season, not seen at all in the second, and does not become a major plot point until the third and final season.

The show also addressed Lucrezia's first and second marriage, her illegitimate child, the affair between Alexander VI and Giulia "La Bella" Farnese, the rise of

Bonfire of the Vanities and eventual burning for heresy
.

The series cancellation prevented the death of Pope Alexander VI and the succession of Pope Julius II from being explored, and the downfall of Cesare Borgia.

Cast

Main cast

Supporting cast

  • Ronan Vibert as Giovanni Sforza: The Lord of Pesaro, picked as the husband of Lucrezia by the pope in exchange for support from the Sforza clan. A cold and beastly man, he rapes Lucrezia repeatedly at the beginning of the marriage. He breaks his leg after falling off a horse thanks to a scheme by stable boy Paolo out of love for Lucrezia. The household staff all hate him and several of them side with Lucrezia and aid her in her affair with Paolo. He betrays the alliance with the Borgias by refusing to support them against the impending French invasion. He is later publicly humiliated by the Borgias, who convene the College of Cardinals to have his marriage to Lucrezia annulled on the grounds of impotence. When Sforza denies the charges, the Pope declares that he must prove it before the College and two prostitutes are brought in. Sforza, unable to bear the humiliation, declares that he is impotent and is sent from Rome in disgrace. Later, after making snide comments about Lucrezia to Cesare, who is on a visit to Forli to negotiate peace with his cousin, Caterina Sforza, Cesare attacks and kills him, igniting a war between the Borgias and Caterina.
  • Edward Akrout as Yves d'Allegre (c. 1450 - battle of Ravenna, 1512) was an outstanding French captain who became known in the early Italian Wars (1494-1512).
  • Steven Berkoff as Girolamo Savonarola: An influential priest in Florence who is eventually killed for preaching against the corruption in the Church and the leadership of the Borgias.
  • Johannes Burchard: The Vatican Master of Ceremonies and a scholar with impeccable expertise on canon law
    . To keep his position (and life), Johannes remains deliberately ambiguous about his loyalties, at times assisting both Pope Alexander VI and his enemies in their scheming.
  • Augustus Prew as Alfonso II of Naples: The eldest son of King Ferdinand I of Naples. His father was old and senile, leaving himself as the effective ruler of Naples. In the series, he is eventually tortured to death by King Charles VIII, who blamed him for the plague that swept Naples, and his body is placed in his father's gruesome "Last Supper" as Judas Iscariot. However, the historical Alfonso fled to a Sicilian monastery, dying non-violently in 1495
  • Luke Pasqualino as Paolo: The young servant of Giovanni Sforza. He is outraged by his master's treatment of Lucrezia and sabotages Sforza's saddle, causing his master to suffer a serious injury. He and Lucrezia later have an affair, and he fathers a child with her. He helps her escape from the Sforza household, which cost him a violent whipping from his master. He travels to Rome to search for her, naively befriending a prostitute whom Juan Borgia employs to follow him. With the help of Cesare and Micheletto, he is reunited with Lucrezia and his child for one night. Shortly after he is murdered by Juan, who hangs him to make it look like a suicide. Lucrezia is heartbroken by his death and forces her father to give Paolo a Christian burial, while also having her revenge on Juan for Paolo's murder.
  • Derek Jacobi as Cardinal Orsino Orsini (fictional character): One of the cardinals who plotted against Pope Alexander, he is poisoned to death at the instruction of Cesare Borgia.
  • Ruta Gedmintas as Ursula Bonadeo/Sister Martha: A noblewoman who engaged in a passionate extramarital affair with Cesare. Upon discovering Cesare killed her husband she becomes a nun and was thereafter known as Sister Martha. She is killed when the Convent of Saint Cecilia is destroyed by Charles VIII, on his way back to France after retreating from Rome. Her death fills Cesare with vengeance, and he leads a band of mercenaries to raid and destroy the French army, ultimately destroying their entire war machine.
  • Elyes Gabel as Prince Cem (Djem or Jem): A rival to the Ottoman throne, who was banished by his half-brother, the Sultan. Pope Alexander accepted the Sultan's offer to host Cem in exchange for financial reward. The handsome and good-hearted young man easily wins over the Borgias, especially Lucrezia. It is heavily implied that Cem and Lucrezia fall in love, but do not consummate their relationship. Cem was eventually killed by the Borgias, who used the much more substantial reward offered by the Sultan for Cem's death, in order to pay for Lucrezia's dowry.
  • Montserrat Lombard as Maria, a maid in the Orsini Palace during Giulia Farnese's stay there who is willing to testify on her indiscretions with the Pope and pays the price for it.
  • Emmanuelle Chriqui as Sancha of Aragon: The illegitimate daughter of the King of Naples. When a marriage to the Borgias was proposed, Juan refused to marry her due to her illegitimacy. She was married instead to Joffre, but Juan became struck by her beauty and began an affair with her.
  • Vernon Dobtcheff as Cardinal Julius Verscucci (fictional character)
  • Bosco Hogan as Cardinal Piccolomini
  • David Bamber as Theo: The estranged husband of Vanozza Cattaneo who was forced aside and barred from her life by Rodrigo Borgia prior to becoming pope. He lives on a remote farm the pope bought him but visits Vannozza during Lucrezia's first wedding. Cesare is civil but Juan beats him, for which the Pope severely chastises him. He is rumored to have fathered one of the Borgia children, which Juan suspects is him.
  • Peter Sullivan as Ascanio Sforza: A powerful cardinal who becomes vice-chancellor in a deal with Rodrigo Borgia to elect Borgia as pope. Sforza becomes a trusted confidant and henchman to the Borgias carrying out many duties that maintain their power and wealth.
  • Julian Bleach as Niccolò Machiavelli: A senior official in the Republic of Florence and adviser to the Medici family, he carefully considered the offers of alliance by Cardinal della Rovere and Cesare Borgia. Della Rovere pushes for Florence to give free passage of the French army on their way to Rome. He was upset when the Medicis yield hopelessly to the demands of the King of France in the face of total destruction of Florence by the French armies. He later allies with Cesare, providing advice on the matter of Savonarola and the location of Medici gold transports for Cesare to steal.
  • Duke of Milan
    , also known as "il Moro," who seized the throne and imprisoned his own nephew in the process. Despite an alliance of the Sforzas and the pope, he allowed the French army free passage through Milan on the way to Rome.
  • Michel Muller as Charles VIII: King of France and commander of one of the most feared armies in Europe, Charles is a modernizing military leader who, in contrast to his theatrical opponents, conducts warfare with ruthless efficiency. He claimed the throne of Naples, and was enticed by Cardinal della Rovere to pursue this objective in return for deposing Pope Alexander. Insecure about his height and looks, he was charmed by the clever and beautiful Lucrezia Borgia on his way to seizing Rome, and later talked into an alliance by the pope, who agreed to recognize him as King of Naples. After discovering that Naples has been devastated by plague, he has Prince Alfonso II killed, but ends up catching the plague himself.
  • Micheletto
    . The two briefly resume a passionate and intense romance, but Augustino's betrothal to a baker's daughter deeply hurts Micheletto.
  • David Lowe as the French Ambassador to Rome.
  • Prince of Salerno
    : He arrived in Rome as suitor to Lucrezia, who chose to marry him as a second husband.
  • Thure Lindhardt as Rufio: A student of the art of death, he is Caterina Sforza's ruthless assassin. He is sent to Rome by his patron to bring about the Borgias' downfall, and he tries to enlist Cardinal Sforza's help in doing so. At the end of season 3 with the Sforzas defeated Rufio is hired by Cesare.
  • lampreys
    .
  • Cyron Melville as Cardinal Farnese in Season 3. He is Giulia Farnese's brother that is made a cardinal through his sister's intervention with the Pope. He manages the papal finances.
  • Pilou Asbæk as Paolo Orsini in Season 3.
  • Francesco Gonzaga
    .
  • Sforza
    family.
  • Jemima West as Vittoria, a young girl who disguises herself as a boy in order to be apprenticed as an artist.
  • Joseph M. Kelly as Ferrante of Naples.
  • Harry Taurasi as Piero de Medici.
  • Luke Allen-Gale as Fredirigo.
  • Abraham Belaga as Vitelezzo Vitelli.
  • Björn Hlynur Haraldsson as Gian Paolo Baglioni.
  • Keith Burke as Gian Galaezzo.
  • Michael Poole as Pope Innocent.
  • Joseph Macnab as Prospero Colonna.

Pinturicchio is mentioned as a painter of Giulia Farnese in season 1, episode 2.

Production

The series is an international co-production, filmed in Hungary, and produced in Canada.[1] Filming in Hungary mainly took place at the Korda Studios in Etyek, just west of Budapest.[20]

Jordan had tried to direct a film about the Borgia reign for over a decade, and the project had many times come close to fruition, with stars such as

Rodrigo Borgia's papacy (1492–1503).[citation needed
]

For the role of Rodrigo Borgia, Jordan turned to Academy Award winner

anti-heroes. The actor initially had second thoughts about his suitability to play someone historically described as an obese, dark-complexioned Spaniard, but Jordan wanted him to focus on the aspects of the character's obsession with power and life, which the actor could play to the hilt.[citation needed
]

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
19April 3, 2011 (2011-04-03)May 22, 2011 (2011-05-22)
210April 8, 2012 (2012-04-08)June 17, 2012 (2012-06-17)
310April 14, 2013 (2013-04-14)June 16, 2013 (2013-06-16)

The first season consists of nine episodes; the premiere encompassed two episodes, with the remaining seven episodes being first-aired each week following. The second season consisted of ten episodes, the first half of which were written by show creator Neil Jordan, whereas the latter half was written by noted English writer-director David Leland, who joined the series' staff as co-showrunner and producer and directed its last two episodes.[21] The finale of season 2 was written by Guy Burt, who also helped storyline the season. Season 3, the show's final season, again consists of ten episodes, four of which were written by Burt, while the other six, including the final episode, were again written by Jordan.

Reception

The show's first season received generally favorable reviews in the United States, scoring 66 out of 100 based on 25 critics on Metacritic.[22] Robert Bianco of USA Today said, "... seen from a safe distance, captured by a sterling cast led in marvelous high style by Jeremy Irons, and presented with all the brio, flair and sumptuous design TV can muster, the infamous family is almost addictively entertaining".[23] Linda Stasi of the New York Post gave the season a 3.5/4 rating, remarking "'The Borgias' (the series) makes The Tudors look like a bunch of amateurs with bigger lips."[24]

However, it was met with a more mixed reception in the United Kingdom. Rachel Ray of The Daily Telegraph called Irons' performance "disappointingly undiabolical". She added that the show is "for history buffs, not for viewers looking for another Godfather".[25] Sarah Dempster of The Guardian mocked the show's dialogue and visual style: "The ridiculousness mounts. The opening double bill features impromptu palazzo brawls between priapic gadabouts in bejewelled codpieces ("Back to Spain, Borgia!") and flocks of miffed cardinals gliding along darkened corridors like motorised pepperpots".[26] Sam Wollaston recalled the 1981 BBC miniseries of the same name, which had been widely panned, and said there was "more thought to this [2011] version, and attention to character. And Irons is proper".[27] The Independent's Holly Williams praised Irons, but said elsewhere, "the acting and script feel about as substantial as a communion wafer. With power struggles, sex, assassinations and sibling rivalries, it should, at least, be racy and fun. Yet the storyline often feels curiously ungripping".[28]

The second season's premiere was met with much more positive reviews, and holds a Metacritic score of 81/100, based on six reviews.[29] Curt Wagner of RedEye has stated, "Based on the first four episodes of the new season, I'd say Jordan has figured things out. The Borgias still overflows with delicious intrigues, sex and deadly politics, but it now has an energy and constant forward momentum the first season lacked."[30] Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter has stated, "Borgias retains the intrigue and conniving family politics that made season one such a pleasure ride, but it all has more snap now, with Jordan spinning the plates with aplomb."[31]

Awards and nominations

The Borgias garnered 16 Emmy nominations throughout its run, and won three: twice for Outstanding Costumes for a Series (2011 & 2013) and once for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music (2011).[32] The excellence of the costume design on the series was further recognized by the Costume Designers Guild, which twice nominated The Borgias for the Excellence in Period Television award (2011 & 2013).[33][34]

Jeremy Irons was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 2012.[35]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Sex. Power. Murder. Amen. Sinful Drama The Borgias Premieres April 3 on Bravo!" (Press release). CTV. March 11, 2011. Archived from the original on March 24, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  2. ^ "Bravo! and CTV's The Borgias Lands Legendary Actor Sir Derek Jacobi" (Press release). Bell Media. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2011.
  3. ^ "The Borgias Premieres April 3 on Bravo!" (Press release). CNW Group. March 14, 2011. Archived from the original on May 4, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
  4. ^ "The Borgias Coming to CTV". The FiveEight.com May 9, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2011.
  5. ^ Seidman, Robert (January 12, 2013). "Showtime Announces Premiere Dates for 'Nurse Jackie,' 'Dexter' (Returning Early) 'Ray Donovan,' 'Homeland,' 'Masters of Sex' & More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  6. ^ Bibel, Sara (May 4, 2012). "'The Borgias' Renewed for a Third Season by Showtime". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved January 12, 2013.
  7. ^ Ausiello, Michael (June 5, 2013). "Showtime Officially Cancels The Borgias – Find Out How It Was Supposed to End". TVLine. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Mellor, Louisa (June 20, 2013). "Save The Borgias Campaign Gains Momentum" Archived November 29, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. Den of Geek. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  9. ^ Cornet, Roth (August 12, 2013). "Two-Hour Borgias Finale Script To Be Released As E-Book". IGN. Retrieved August 12, 2013.
  10. ^ "Rodrigo Borgia/Pope Alexander VI". The Borgias. Bravo!. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  11. ^ "Cesare Borgia". The Borgias. Bravo!. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  12. ^ "Lucrezia Borgia". The Borgias. Bravo!. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  13. ^ "Vanozza dei Cattanei". The Borgias. Bravo!. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  14. ^ "Giulia Farnese". The Borgias. Bravo!. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  15. ^ "Juan Borgia". The Borgias. Bravo!. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  16. ^ "Micheletto". The Borgias. Showtime. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  17. ^ "Gioffre Borgia". The Borgias. Showtime. Archived from the original on October 9, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  18. ^ "Cardinal Della Rovere". The Borgias. Bravo!. Archived from the original on July 30, 2012. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  19. ^ Björling , Sanna Torén (August 10, 2012). "'Det är inte synd om mig för att jag får etnoroller'" ['I'm Not Sorry I Get Ethnic Roles']. Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  20. ^ "The Borgias Set Visit: Hungary Hungry for Film Business". Calgary Herald. November 8, 2011. Archived from the original on January 7, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2011.
  21. ^ Whitney, Hilary (July 2, 2011). "theartsdesk Q&A: Writer/Director David Leland: The Leading Film-maker on a Career Made in Eighties Britain". Retrieved June 16, 2012.
  22. ^ "The Borgias: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  23. ^ Bianco, Robert (April 1, 2011). "A Scandalous Good Time with 'The Borgias'". USA Today. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  24. ^ Stasi, Linda (March 31, 2011). "Family Values". New York Post. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  25. ^ Ray, Rachel (April 4, 2011). "The Borgias, Showtime: US TV review". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on January 12, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  26. ^ Dempster, Sarah (August 12, 2011). "The Borgias: Epic Silliness". The Guardian. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  27. ^ "TV Review: The Borgias; Britain's Hidden Heritage". The Guardian. August 14, 2011. Retrieved December 22, 2011.
  28. ^ Williams, Holly (August 14, 2011). "The Borgias, Sky Atlantic, Saturday". The Independent. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  29. ^ "The Borgias Season 2". Metacritic.
  30. ^ Wagner, Curt (2012). "TV review: Sex, violence, schemes--'The Borgias' is back". chicagotribune.com.
  31. ^ Goodman, Tim (April 4, 2012). "The Borgias: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  32. ^ "The Borgias=Emmy Awards & Nominations". www.emmys.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
  33. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Costume Designers Guild. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  34. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Costume Designers Guild. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  35. ^ "Golden Globe Awards for 'Borgias, The'". www.goldenglobes.com. Retrieved February 20, 2020.

External links