The Borgias – The sins of the father

The second season of The Borgias ends with a cliffhanger as the plot to poison Alexander finally succeeds, and he seems to be dying in Cesare’s arms just as he realizes his own culpability in turning his sons against each other. Both history and the nature of television tell us that it is not Alexander’s time to die, and I for one am glad. I want to see where Alexander’s evolution from evil Pope to pious, grieving father takes him in the future.

Alexander’s cry of pain upon finding the dead Juan is the culmination of his arc this season: at that moment, all his work for his family and to reconcile his two sons melted away. The reaction of his other children really makes the mistakes he made by favoring Juan, especially in relation to Cesare, all too clear. Alexander’s own offspring are now too cruel for him, and it was his upbringing that did it. The entire season has been building up to the confrontation over Juan’s body, which felt well-earned as a result. Alexander’s decision to bury Juan himself was also very moving — early on in the show’s run, I’d never have thought it could have earned these kinds of deeply-felt moments. Well done, show.

The two scenes between Cesare and Alexander are also very affecting. Alexander sees that Cesare’s sin is, ultimately, his own sin because Cesare did it for the family. He made his sons what they were, and Jeremy Irons‘ acting tells me this without the script saying a word about it until a few scenes later. So he agrees readily to Cesare’s being released from his vows. Alexander admits later that Cesare was too much like himself to get his favor over Juan. Also, it’s kind of fitting that fratricide is the sin that allows Cesare to finally finish with being a Cardinal. He seems poised to go his own way now, and was actually pretty officious in stepping into the role of head of the family temporarily.

Meanwhile, Savonarola will not break, even for Micheletto, who seems practiced in torture. Machiavelli, pragmatically, is not above giving Rome a fake confession if it needs one, and Cesare ultimately agrees with this advice. Savonarola’s last words damn Alexander, which seems prescient, given the circumstance the Pope finds himself in this episode. Alexander’s grief over Juan (whom he probably assumes died unconfessed) perhaps leads to his offer of mercy at the end, but Savonarola is not having it. He even rolls his eyes when Alexander walks up to the pyre to speak to him! Even a merciful Alexander can’t tolerate being spat upon.

I recently remarked that this has been the most satisfying of the shows I have been writing about on CliqueClack. It will always be over the top, but there is a genuine emotional core there now, and I look forward to Season 3.

Notes and Quotes:

• Lucrezia agrees to marry Alfonso of Aragon. He is related to the wife of the unseen-this-season Gioffre. This will be more important later, but spending the early part of the episode on it when we know there are more pressing matters is a bit underwhelming.
• Vanozza looked mostly weary after Juan’s death, and I am glad we got a scene of her and Alexander together, grieving. “There were times, many times, when I wished that he had not been born.” She must have seen early on what Juan would become.
• Cesare seemed to enjoy the burning a bit too much. He’s been hanging around Micheletto too long. Between that and his little “joke” about running off with Lucrezia, he may become more and more Juan-like without his brother around to check him; he no longer needs to prove he is better.
• Alexander: “Nanny,  think little Giovanni’s done a … you know.” Alexander is very cute with the baby, but I doubt even a loving Pope-Grandfather would change a diaper.
• Lucrezia, when Alfonso is speechless ro realize who she is: “Does he just make noises?”
• Savonarola: “With my last strength, I damn this unholy pope. I shout to the world the falseness of this confession!”
• Cesare: “I have taken upon my head the act that none other would dare commit, though its commission benefits all.”
• Vanozza: “So tell me, Cesare, what exactly are we celebrating: your sister’s betrothal or the death of your brother?” Unlike her lover, she doesn’t miss a trick regarding her children.
• Alexander: “We realize now that we have brought this upon ourselves … You are our own doing, and what you have done is our doing also. We brought you to this.”

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Clacked by Christina Furtado
on Jun 19, 2012 @ 08:31 EST5EDT