The Borgias 2.03
First of all, a general rant which doesn't just apply to The Borgias, or rather, the fandom of same. In the last month or so, it has become virtually impossible to be online and not get spoiled. I hate being spoiled, I really do, and I try to avoid it as best I can. I still could not help getting spoiled for something that happens in this episode, the third, before even the first episode of this season was broadcast because people everywhere forgot such a thing as lj cuts existed. The same applies to some Doctor Who stuff, though I backed away hastily enough upon realising I was reading an uncut review/rant, and possibly the next Star Trek film, though I really hope not. Then there was a casting spoiler for Elementary. Now when it comes to casting, I usually don't see "such and such has been cast for show X" as a spoiler per se, and I've done posts like that myself - except, you know, when the person in question has been cast as someone whose state of being is a plot point on the show in question. Some people were thoughtful enough to hide the casting spoiler beneath a cut. Others weren't. I minded.
Iron Man III will be released in Germany tomorrow. As of now, this moment, I'm still unspoiled. I would really like to make it through the last 24 hours in that state, but I'm not counting on it. It's as if the collective bar of consideration towards people who DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED has been lowered to a state of near non existence recently, and I'm probably either preaching to the choir or talking in vain posting this on my journal, but do you mind not doing that? Because I mind. I really do.
Despite still not being keen on Operation Fanserviccy Incest, I must admit this episode does a better job showing the characters emotionally get to the point where sex happens than the last one did. I also approve of the fact that tied into this is a showcase for Lucrezia's intelligence, because she spots at once that a French alliance won't just balance the Neapolitan alliance her marriage provides but will, in the long term, make it superfluous. (Historically, this is why husband No.2, the unfortunate Alfonso, got offed by Cesare, though obviously this show will provide other reasons as well. More about that in a minute.) And that she's upset about the Cesare & France thing not just because of what Cesare emotionally means to her but because that means his interests and her interests will no longer be one and the same politically and that could have consequences.
Early on I had a frown on my face because I thought the show was taking the easy way by making Alfonso lacking in any initiative or guts (because, as I said, Alfonso is one of history's inevitable casualties, and thus there has to be an emotional lead-up to his murder), thus wasting the opportunity for great conflict, because, again, historically Lucrezia was very fond of her second husband, emphatically did not want him to be killed, and that was the most serious crisis of relationships between her brother and herself there was (though eventually they ended up being close again). If Alfonso is presented as a nonety and Lucrezia has no reason to feel something positive for him, there is no drama. But then we got the scene where Alfonso yells at Ferdinand, and I got some hope back that she show won't make that mistake.
Meanwhile, Cesare getting into a "anyone not for us is against us" mind frame and starting to see Alfonso as a liability makes complete emotional sense for Cesare. And as I said, this time the emotional lead-up for incest works for me, both because of the Naples-France events and because Lucrezia frames it in such a way that rejecting her sexually would be the ultimate rejection and betrayal, and he does love her best. Though he also loves finally getting a shot at worldly, non-clerical power. Note Cesare agrees with Rodrigo on the whole France thing, including the part where he's supposed to get himself a bride there as part of the annulment versus alliance deal.
Ferdinand inviting Caterina Sforza and the rest of the hostie Romagna lords for the wedding may not be historical but is a thoroughly approved show twist and excuse for a) another excellent Caterina and Cesare scene (I must admit I have shippery "best enemies" feelings regarding these two) and b) a first direct confrontation between Caterina and Rodrigo, which I absolutely loved. Gina McKee and Jeremy Irons did a lot with minimal dialogue and just an exchange of looks and gestures. Let me just squee again about the choice of Caterina as main antagonist for this season!
This entry was originally posted at http://selenak.dreamwidth.org/893937.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.
Iron Man III will be released in Germany tomorrow. As of now, this moment, I'm still unspoiled. I would really like to make it through the last 24 hours in that state, but I'm not counting on it. It's as if the collective bar of consideration towards people who DO NOT WANT TO BE SPOILED has been lowered to a state of near non existence recently, and I'm probably either preaching to the choir or talking in vain posting this on my journal, but do you mind not doing that? Because I mind. I really do.
Despite still not being keen on Operation Fanserviccy Incest, I must admit this episode does a better job showing the characters emotionally get to the point where sex happens than the last one did. I also approve of the fact that tied into this is a showcase for Lucrezia's intelligence, because she spots at once that a French alliance won't just balance the Neapolitan alliance her marriage provides but will, in the long term, make it superfluous. (Historically, this is why husband No.2, the unfortunate Alfonso, got offed by Cesare, though obviously this show will provide other reasons as well. More about that in a minute.) And that she's upset about the Cesare & France thing not just because of what Cesare emotionally means to her but because that means his interests and her interests will no longer be one and the same politically and that could have consequences.
Early on I had a frown on my face because I thought the show was taking the easy way by making Alfonso lacking in any initiative or guts (because, as I said, Alfonso is one of history's inevitable casualties, and thus there has to be an emotional lead-up to his murder), thus wasting the opportunity for great conflict, because, again, historically Lucrezia was very fond of her second husband, emphatically did not want him to be killed, and that was the most serious crisis of relationships between her brother and herself there was (though eventually they ended up being close again). If Alfonso is presented as a nonety and Lucrezia has no reason to feel something positive for him, there is no drama. But then we got the scene where Alfonso yells at Ferdinand, and I got some hope back that she show won't make that mistake.
Meanwhile, Cesare getting into a "anyone not for us is against us" mind frame and starting to see Alfonso as a liability makes complete emotional sense for Cesare. And as I said, this time the emotional lead-up for incest works for me, both because of the Naples-France events and because Lucrezia frames it in such a way that rejecting her sexually would be the ultimate rejection and betrayal, and he does love her best. Though he also loves finally getting a shot at worldly, non-clerical power. Note Cesare agrees with Rodrigo on the whole France thing, including the part where he's supposed to get himself a bride there as part of the annulment versus alliance deal.
Ferdinand inviting Caterina Sforza and the rest of the hostie Romagna lords for the wedding may not be historical but is a thoroughly approved show twist and excuse for a) another excellent Caterina and Cesare scene (I must admit I have shippery "best enemies" feelings regarding these two) and b) a first direct confrontation between Caterina and Rodrigo, which I absolutely loved. Gina McKee and Jeremy Irons did a lot with minimal dialogue and just an exchange of looks and gestures. Let me just squee again about the choice of Caterina as main antagonist for this season!
This entry was originally posted at http://selenak.dreamwidth.org/893937.html. Comment there or here, as you wish.