The Borgias 1.3-1.5
You know, I actually think this is a pretty good, largely solid show? Far from perfect, but a good watch and…better with history than other things. But really, I think 80% of my enjoyment is completely shallow? I may let out a little sigh every time Giulia or Lucrezia shows up in a gorgeous outfit. Which is most of their scenes. Also, Cesare spends an awful lot of time running around in black leather for a cardinal.
Also, this show makes me multiship all over the place, which is a bit odd for me, given that I don’t actually consciously ship that much. But, currently, I ship Lucrezia/Giulia, Lucrezia/Cesare, Lucrezia/Francesca, kinda-sorta-I’m-so-glad-they-aged-her-about-a-decade-Giulia/Rodrigo, and I-think-this-is-actually-a-carryover-from-Cantarella‘s-triangle-of-Doom-Cesare/Michelotto. And, naturally, Sforza/Death. And possibly Vannozza/Me. (Joanne Whalley somehow got hotter in the last 25-ish years. I wasn’t sure that was possible.) Also, I currently like Lucrezia/Paolo and Ursula/Cesare, but that’s more the plotline of a woman in an awful situation using what resources are available to her to try to get out of it, and less with the character interactions, those there’s a chivalric/courtly aspect to Ursula and Cesare’s interactions so far that I appreciate. (Of course, since she’s a fictional character and nor an actual historical lover of his, I suspect they’re going to kill her before the end of the season.)
And they have already mentioned Sancha! I…really hope they keep her friendship with Lucrezia. I mean, they kept the Lucrezia/Giulia relationship (OMG do they keep it) but I am just so used to fiction automatically pitting any women who could have a rivalry against each other that I’m scared to hope. Actually, while I’m excited for Sancha, I’m also nervous? So far, with one exception (that one thing from the pilot) I’m pretty pleased with how the show is handling the women, but Sancha does go through all three Borgia brothers, and we know how things like that tend to go down.
But really, I’m not sure I’ve been then spoiled with women and women interacting in an English-language period drama since Downton Abbey. Well, except for Mists of Avalon and He Knew He Was Right but those are both a bit older. And short.
It needs more caterina Sforza, though. Granted, mostly just because I like Gina McGee, but still.
So, I know that most fictional versions of Sforza have him being utterly awful to Lucrezia, but I can’t remember how accurate that is? I know Cesare and Rodrigo get him out of her life the second he’s no longer politically useful, but I’m not sure if it was because he was a abusive, or if she just didn’t want to be married to him anymore.
But, as much as I hate their scenes, I adore Lucrezia plotting to at least improve her situation a little? Really, while everyone on the show does a really good job, I think I’m most impressed with Holiday Granger? She does an amazing job and combining innocence and naivete with cleverness and shrewd observations, and just a teeny bit of daddy’s ruthlessness.
But really, aside from Sforza, I think I love everyone, even if sometimes it’s just admiring their ruthlessness/machinations? I even like Juan! Which I have to think about, because I also want someone to punch him in the face half the time? (I suspect we’re going to get Sancha/Juan this season, and then have her move on to Cesare after he dies.)
Ok, who else thought Rodrigo was repressing the urge to go “well, actually…” when Joffre was all “Dad, I’d be happy to marry someone if it’ll help you out!” Also, LOLS at the excuse for info dumping. (But boy did I hate Rodrigo that episode.) In general, I think they actually do a really good job of having Rodrigo be very devoted to his children, and balancing that with his willingness to use them in his ambitions.
Also, I…may be crushing embarrassingly on Cesare right now. It started when he went “Oh, screw it” when he fetched Vannozza for the wedding party, and then kind of escalated. Especially when his taking out Ursula’s husband wasn’t about Epic Love Of Five Minutes, but “Dude, you insulted my mother and tried to humiliate her in public. At my sister’s wedding. My mom is way to awesome to care one bit about you, but that’s not the point. Also, you mistreat your wife, and I wouldn’t be cool with that even if I didn’t have the hots for her.”
Also, this show makes me multiship all over the place, which is a bit odd for me, given that I don’t actually consciously ship that much. But, currently, I ship Lucrezia/Giulia, Lucrezia/Cesare, Lucrezia/Francesca, kinda-sorta-I’m-so-glad-they-aged-her-about-a-decade-Giulia/Rodrigo, and I-think-this-is-actually-a-carryover-from-Cantarella‘s-triangle-of-Doom-Cesare/Michelotto. And, naturally, Sforza/Death. And possibly Vannozza/Me. (Joanne Whalley somehow got hotter in the last 25-ish years. I wasn’t sure that was possible.) Also, I currently like Lucrezia/Paolo and Ursula/Cesare, but that’s more the plotline of a woman in an awful situation using what resources are available to her to try to get out of it, and less with the character interactions, those there’s a chivalric/courtly aspect to Ursula and Cesare’s interactions so far that I appreciate. (Of course, since she’s a fictional character and nor an actual historical lover of his, I suspect they’re going to kill her before the end of the season.)
And they have already mentioned Sancha! I…really hope they keep her friendship with Lucrezia. I mean, they kept the Lucrezia/Giulia relationship (OMG do they keep it) but I am just so used to fiction automatically pitting any women who could have a rivalry against each other that I’m scared to hope. Actually, while I’m excited for Sancha, I’m also nervous? So far, with one exception (that one thing from the pilot) I’m pretty pleased with how the show is handling the women, but Sancha does go through all three Borgia brothers, and we know how things like that tend to go down.
But really, I’m not sure I’ve been then spoiled with women and women interacting in an English-language period drama since Downton Abbey. Well, except for Mists of Avalon and He Knew He Was Right but those are both a bit older. And short.
It needs more caterina Sforza, though. Granted, mostly just because I like Gina McGee, but still.
So, I know that most fictional versions of Sforza have him being utterly awful to Lucrezia, but I can’t remember how accurate that is? I know Cesare and Rodrigo get him out of her life the second he’s no longer politically useful, but I’m not sure if it was because he was a abusive, or if she just didn’t want to be married to him anymore.
But, as much as I hate their scenes, I adore Lucrezia plotting to at least improve her situation a little? Really, while everyone on the show does a really good job, I think I’m most impressed with Holiday Granger? She does an amazing job and combining innocence and naivete with cleverness and shrewd observations, and just a teeny bit of daddy’s ruthlessness.
But really, aside from Sforza, I think I love everyone, even if sometimes it’s just admiring their ruthlessness/machinations? I even like Juan! Which I have to think about, because I also want someone to punch him in the face half the time? (I suspect we’re going to get Sancha/Juan this season, and then have her move on to Cesare after he dies.)
Ok, who else thought Rodrigo was repressing the urge to go “well, actually…” when Joffre was all “Dad, I’d be happy to marry someone if it’ll help you out!” Also, LOLS at the excuse for info dumping. (But boy did I hate Rodrigo that episode.) In general, I think they actually do a really good job of having Rodrigo be very devoted to his children, and balancing that with his willingness to use them in his ambitions.
Also, I…may be crushing embarrassingly on Cesare right now. It started when he went “Oh, screw it” when he fetched Vannozza for the wedding party, and then kind of escalated. Especially when his taking out Ursula’s husband wasn’t about Epic Love Of Five Minutes, but “Dude, you insulted my mother and tried to humiliate her in public. At my sister’s wedding. My mom is way to awesome to care one bit about you, but that’s not the point. Also, you mistreat your wife, and I wouldn’t be cool with that even if I didn’t have the hots for her.”