The Borgias – Family and alliances take center stage

Pope Alexander has a complicated relationship with God. Does he believe? I think he does, but that he will always put his family’s advancement first. Della Rovere calls Alexander’s penance theater, but the Church IS theater. Alexander understands that. That theatricality alone does not make him insincere.

Trying to get Savonrola the Borgia side is smart, but they don’t know what they are dealing with at first. Savonarola too believes, but unlike Alexander, he doesn’t think of the worldly advancement of his family. As severe as Savonarola was, he was also serious about disliking corruption … though he probably was into power, just in a different way than Alexander. Naturally, the next step is to try to stop Savonarola through excommunication and, if necessary, burning.

Ironically, Cesare’s actions against the Sforzas mean Lucrezia  must marry. Now her brothers have killed both her men; I suspect there will always be hints of incest with this show because of the rumors about the Borgias. Meanwhile, Lucrezia is worried about her lost innocence, but it’s too late to turn back and not be a full-blown Borgia. At least Vanozza can teach her how to keep some of her power. One theme this week is how the family’s actions keep getting in the way of the advancement of The Family. For royalty, including the Pope, alliances are all. Especially the Pope, since he is elected rather than born to it. Also, Alexander was of lower birth than most Italian popes. This is why we see the marriage plot, the attempts at friendliness with Savonarola, etc. Stealing from the Medici won’t help this cause any, though.

This week’s historical (in)accuracy: I can’t find that an earthquake did happen around that time  (correct me if I am wrong), but an earthquake would have been taken as a sign from God of the sinfulness of the people at this time and for years after. That was pretty much the case for anything people couldn’t explain (this is part of my dissertation, so don’t mind me going on about it a bit). The Florence scenes look really accurate since the old part of that city is largely unchanged from this era.

Notes and Quotes:

• First of all, welcome to my first Borgias blog! I am super nerdy about history (or “history,” such as it is) and costume dramas, so I hope this is the start of a beautiful friendship. This and all future posts should also be read with the understanding that I spend every episode thinking that François Arnaud is blisteringly hot.
• Taking the cardinals down continues. Sardines! — heaven forbid!
• Is Alexander right to trust Cardinal Sforza? He always seems shifty and he IS a Sforza.
• This season has spent some time showing how the Church’s actions affect real  people, which is something I appreciate. It’s not just all about infighting at high levels.
• Alexander, as his taster tries the sardines: “A poisoning would brighten the proceedings on an otherwise gloom-laden day, would it not?” Oh, with Della Rovere playing with poison, he needs to be less cavalier about this.
• Lucrezia, on Cesare giving  her the knife that killed Giovanni Sforza: “What does it say of us, brother, that you promise me this and I would accept?”
• Alexander’s delicate description of  Giovanni Sforza’s death to Vannozza: “He fell on to a knife that Cesare happened to be holding.” Vannozza: “Had I been there I would have helped push him on to the blade.” These kids get their fierceness from both sides.I love how he tries to mack on her and she reminds him of his Lenten vows.
• Alexander on taking Savonarola down: “Vengeance, you see, can wait… a lifetime if necessary.”
• Cesare when hiring robbers: “Trust me: my name is ‘Borgia.'”
• Savonarola on receiving his cease-and-desist orders: “I thank His Holiness, and tell him I will use it to wipe my ass!”
• Alexander on switching Juan and Cesare’s roles: “Would you have us make Juan a cardinal?” I kind of miss his intransigent stupidity, but it sounds like he will be back soon.

Clacked by Christina Furtado
on May 14, 2012 @ 12:54 EST5EDT