The Borgias 2.10 The Confession
In which the second season comes to a close, and Jeremy Irons and Francois Annaud should get all the awards.
First of all, something about the season in general. I don't think it was as well constructed as s1; you got the impression that they didn't quite know what to do with Giulia Farnese anymore, for example, Vittoria was introduced and then disappeared again (though she brought in some nice Renaissance motives), Juan's downward spiral was way too fast (or rather, there should have been more of a transition between where he was in s1 and where he started out in s2; within s2 and s2 only, the downward spiral worked, I suppose), the screen time for the Lucrezia vs the cardinals subplot when compared to the screen time for Lucrezia & her suitors subplot was in exact reverse to what I'd have liked. But there were also a lot of superb things I loved watching. Savonarola as an antagonist was handled just right; the repellent fanaticism and the way he ruled Florence on the one hand, but on the other the unbroken-to-the-end courage and strength. Caterina Sforza, introduced in two cameos in the first season, got screen time and characterisation a plenty in the second and also made for a fantastic character and foil to the Borgias. While her surviving cousin, Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, sneaked up on me. His relationship with Rodrigo is great; they trust each other as far as necessity takes and not further, but they have a healthy appreciation for each other's abilities (always did, see their conversation in the pilot when they make their original deal for Sforza's votes and the Vice Chancellor post), and methinks Ascanio sent the guards out when he thinks they may have recovered Juan's body in a moment of genuine compassion for Rodrigo. We got backstory and fleshing out of Micheletto beyond "loyal assassin", and accordingly he had his own stakes against Savonarola. Machiavelli's sardonic relationship with Cesare was a delight throughout.
The heart of the season, however, was the theme obviously set up in the season opener. Season 1 ended with what proved to be the last point of Borgia family unity and harmony, all of them sitting around Lucrezia and her newborn son. S2 opened with a Cesare and Juan spat and Rodrigo giving them the united we stand speech, which, this being tv, meant the family falling apart would be the red thread throughout, along with Cesare getting to the point of fratricide and the claimng of Juan's worldly offices and Rodrigo confronted with the fact that his children really have turned irrevocably against each other and that this is also his own fault. In the finale, all this came to fruit. Vannozza and Lucrezia each got great scenes which cast both of them in truth speaker roles (in relationship with Juan - Lucrezia of course also plays another role as Unexpected Spare Alfonso finally shows up), and the "will you marry me?" scene between Lucrezia and Cesare was wonderful (also a good example why I want the subtext in the show remain subtext; I love the relationship just like that, no more), but each and every one of the Rodrigo and Cesare scenes were the awesome highlights in what was already a superb episode. Because this is a show which uses Catholic ceremonies exceedingly well by connecting them emotionally to what's going on with the characters, in this episode, we get: the burning of Savonarola, and as I said in my last review, thanks, show, for not chickening out of showing our main protagonists responsible for it and showing the ghastly death as you did the earlier acts Savonarola was responsible for, Cesare confessing to Rodrigo (and the fact Cesare does this explicitly as a religious confession is important), Cesare finally shedding his clerical robes and Rodrigo's burial of Juan. The title of the episode relates to both confessions, the one Savonarola doesn't make but Cesare fakes to please his father, culminating in Rodrigo offering Savonarola forgivness and absolution and getting spat at with blood in return (important, this rejection of his papal authority with the blame and blood on his face as a result), and the confession Cesare does make, where he wants that absolution, which when their second conversation takes place Rodrigo may or may have not given but thanks to the seasonal poisoning plot finally coming to fruition can't because he's now the one spitting out blood. In this scene, Rodrigo is marked with earth as well because of his earlier burial of Juan - "the earth cries to me with the blood of your brother" comes to mind - but as opposed to God in Genesis, who says that to Cain, Rodrigo instead says that Cesare's sin is his sin because he made Cesare and Juan what they are/were. It's characteristic of Cesare that when Rodrigo says it was easier to favour Juan because Cesare is far more like himself and "a man is always harder on his own reflection", he hears this as Rodrigo saying he doesn't love him at all and replies with "Father, if I may not have your affection may I at least have your forgiveness?"
In the older Borgia biographies - the newe ones actually doubt that Cesare was the one who killed Juan - the death of Juan is seen as the power shift from Rodrigo to Cesare because not only did Cesare out of the the clergy and into the warrior career he wanted but because Rodrigo could not punish him, gained the emotional upper hand. (Again, the newer biographies tend to go with Rodrigo dominant throughout, pointing out that Cesare could not survive and maintain a power base on his own and collapsed at record speed after his father's death.) I was wondering whether the show would go with this interpretation when we saw Cesare demanding and getting the release of his vows, then organizing Lucrezia's betrothal and standing in as family head while Rodrigo sat vigil for Juan. He's certainly in charge there. But then, from the moment Rodrigo turns up after the burial at the betrothal, the emotional power shifts again, and their last scene together before the poison strikes positions them visually as equals, both sitting opposite each other at the table and looking at each other. (And such a superbly played scene, too!) Cesare at this point (thoug Unexpected!Alfonso has finally shown up, he's still an - agreeable - stranger to Lucrezia) is secure in Lucrezia's love, but he wants his father to love and forgive him as well, and as long as he wants that, he won't be able to be on his own, either.
Among many superb scenes, it's hard to single out another one, but the whole sequence earlier of Rodrigo burying Juan with Juan shifting back to the child he sees him at has to be mentioned. Jeremy Irons is so very, vey good in it.
I would complain that making Rodrigo's poisoning a cliffhanger is lame - because everyone knows he's not due to die yet - but it actually isn't, because it takes place in the middle of this incredibly intense scene between Rodrigo and Cesare, and thus the emotional cliffhanger isn't "will Rodrigo survive this poison" but "will Rodrigo, once he comes out of it, forgive Cesare?" Also it makes for neat wrapping up: the season opens and closes with a poisoning scene. In the opener, it was della Rovere, Cesare was the poisoner and he meant it as a power play and threat of intimidation, and in the closing scene, he has to see it happening to his father, filling his father's mouth with blood at the very moment he needs his father as the only one who can (both in the emotional and in the theological sense) forgive him. So: well done, show.
Speculation: this season had Juan getting historical Cesare's syphilis and part of his military role against Caterina Sforza, but Juan is dead now, and note that Vannozza's last appearance as truthteller isn't her scene with Rodrigo but her scene with Cesare, and at Lucrezia's betrothal with Alfonso d'Aragon (note the show is careful not to mention just who his parents were, because, awkward) no less, with Unexpected!Alfonso noting the intimacy between Lucrezia and Cesare. So it looks like this Alfonso will meet his historical demise at Micheletto's hands and on Cesare's orders. So my guess is that on the one hand next season will see Cesare ascendant in terms of military power, but on the other emotionally descendant because the one relationship he's always been secure in will be threatened. Whether Alfonso's death will happen at the end of the season or in the middle I have have no idea, but I hope for a middle death, because I love my dysfunctional Borgias and it'll be bad enough to fret about Rodrigo and Cesare during this hiatus. Fretting about Cesare and Lucrezia in the next one is just not on. Hence my hope for the middle with the reconciliation taking place in the s3 finale. Or something like that.
This entry was originally posted at http://selenak.dreamwidth.org/789341.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.
First of all, something about the season in general. I don't think it was as well constructed as s1; you got the impression that they didn't quite know what to do with Giulia Farnese anymore, for example, Vittoria was introduced and then disappeared again (though she brought in some nice Renaissance motives), Juan's downward spiral was way too fast (or rather, there should have been more of a transition between where he was in s1 and where he started out in s2; within s2 and s2 only, the downward spiral worked, I suppose), the screen time for the Lucrezia vs the cardinals subplot when compared to the screen time for Lucrezia & her suitors subplot was in exact reverse to what I'd have liked. But there were also a lot of superb things I loved watching. Savonarola as an antagonist was handled just right; the repellent fanaticism and the way he ruled Florence on the one hand, but on the other the unbroken-to-the-end courage and strength. Caterina Sforza, introduced in two cameos in the first season, got screen time and characterisation a plenty in the second and also made for a fantastic character and foil to the Borgias. While her surviving cousin, Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, sneaked up on me. His relationship with Rodrigo is great; they trust each other as far as necessity takes and not further, but they have a healthy appreciation for each other's abilities (always did, see their conversation in the pilot when they make their original deal for Sforza's votes and the Vice Chancellor post), and methinks Ascanio sent the guards out when he thinks they may have recovered Juan's body in a moment of genuine compassion for Rodrigo. We got backstory and fleshing out of Micheletto beyond "loyal assassin", and accordingly he had his own stakes against Savonarola. Machiavelli's sardonic relationship with Cesare was a delight throughout.
The heart of the season, however, was the theme obviously set up in the season opener. Season 1 ended with what proved to be the last point of Borgia family unity and harmony, all of them sitting around Lucrezia and her newborn son. S2 opened with a Cesare and Juan spat and Rodrigo giving them the united we stand speech, which, this being tv, meant the family falling apart would be the red thread throughout, along with Cesare getting to the point of fratricide and the claimng of Juan's worldly offices and Rodrigo confronted with the fact that his children really have turned irrevocably against each other and that this is also his own fault. In the finale, all this came to fruit. Vannozza and Lucrezia each got great scenes which cast both of them in truth speaker roles (in relationship with Juan - Lucrezia of course also plays another role as Unexpected Spare Alfonso finally shows up), and the "will you marry me?" scene between Lucrezia and Cesare was wonderful (also a good example why I want the subtext in the show remain subtext; I love the relationship just like that, no more), but each and every one of the Rodrigo and Cesare scenes were the awesome highlights in what was already a superb episode. Because this is a show which uses Catholic ceremonies exceedingly well by connecting them emotionally to what's going on with the characters, in this episode, we get: the burning of Savonarola, and as I said in my last review, thanks, show, for not chickening out of showing our main protagonists responsible for it and showing the ghastly death as you did the earlier acts Savonarola was responsible for, Cesare confessing to Rodrigo (and the fact Cesare does this explicitly as a religious confession is important), Cesare finally shedding his clerical robes and Rodrigo's burial of Juan. The title of the episode relates to both confessions, the one Savonarola doesn't make but Cesare fakes to please his father, culminating in Rodrigo offering Savonarola forgivness and absolution and getting spat at with blood in return (important, this rejection of his papal authority with the blame and blood on his face as a result), and the confession Cesare does make, where he wants that absolution, which when their second conversation takes place Rodrigo may or may have not given but thanks to the seasonal poisoning plot finally coming to fruition can't because he's now the one spitting out blood. In this scene, Rodrigo is marked with earth as well because of his earlier burial of Juan - "the earth cries to me with the blood of your brother" comes to mind - but as opposed to God in Genesis, who says that to Cain, Rodrigo instead says that Cesare's sin is his sin because he made Cesare and Juan what they are/were. It's characteristic of Cesare that when Rodrigo says it was easier to favour Juan because Cesare is far more like himself and "a man is always harder on his own reflection", he hears this as Rodrigo saying he doesn't love him at all and replies with "Father, if I may not have your affection may I at least have your forgiveness?"
In the older Borgia biographies - the newe ones actually doubt that Cesare was the one who killed Juan - the death of Juan is seen as the power shift from Rodrigo to Cesare because not only did Cesare out of the the clergy and into the warrior career he wanted but because Rodrigo could not punish him, gained the emotional upper hand. (Again, the newer biographies tend to go with Rodrigo dominant throughout, pointing out that Cesare could not survive and maintain a power base on his own and collapsed at record speed after his father's death.) I was wondering whether the show would go with this interpretation when we saw Cesare demanding and getting the release of his vows, then organizing Lucrezia's betrothal and standing in as family head while Rodrigo sat vigil for Juan. He's certainly in charge there. But then, from the moment Rodrigo turns up after the burial at the betrothal, the emotional power shifts again, and their last scene together before the poison strikes positions them visually as equals, both sitting opposite each other at the table and looking at each other. (And such a superbly played scene, too!) Cesare at this point (thoug Unexpected!Alfonso has finally shown up, he's still an - agreeable - stranger to Lucrezia) is secure in Lucrezia's love, but he wants his father to love and forgive him as well, and as long as he wants that, he won't be able to be on his own, either.
Among many superb scenes, it's hard to single out another one, but the whole sequence earlier of Rodrigo burying Juan with Juan shifting back to the child he sees him at has to be mentioned. Jeremy Irons is so very, vey good in it.
I would complain that making Rodrigo's poisoning a cliffhanger is lame - because everyone knows he's not due to die yet - but it actually isn't, because it takes place in the middle of this incredibly intense scene between Rodrigo and Cesare, and thus the emotional cliffhanger isn't "will Rodrigo survive this poison" but "will Rodrigo, once he comes out of it, forgive Cesare?" Also it makes for neat wrapping up: the season opens and closes with a poisoning scene. In the opener, it was della Rovere, Cesare was the poisoner and he meant it as a power play and threat of intimidation, and in the closing scene, he has to see it happening to his father, filling his father's mouth with blood at the very moment he needs his father as the only one who can (both in the emotional and in the theological sense) forgive him. So: well done, show.
Speculation: this season had Juan getting historical Cesare's syphilis and part of his military role against Caterina Sforza, but Juan is dead now, and note that Vannozza's last appearance as truthteller isn't her scene with Rodrigo but her scene with Cesare, and at Lucrezia's betrothal with Alfonso d'Aragon (note the show is careful not to mention just who his parents were, because, awkward) no less, with Unexpected!Alfonso noting the intimacy between Lucrezia and Cesare. So it looks like this Alfonso will meet his historical demise at Micheletto's hands and on Cesare's orders. So my guess is that on the one hand next season will see Cesare ascendant in terms of military power, but on the other emotionally descendant because the one relationship he's always been secure in will be threatened. Whether Alfonso's death will happen at the end of the season or in the middle I have have no idea, but I hope for a middle death, because I love my dysfunctional Borgias and it'll be bad enough to fret about Rodrigo and Cesare during this hiatus. Fretting about Cesare and Lucrezia in the next one is just not on. Hence my hope for the middle with the reconciliation taking place in the s3 finale. Or something like that.
This entry was originally posted at http://selenak.dreamwidth.org/789341.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.