The Borgias

[broberfett]

I wasn't as hooked on this as other shows on cable like Dexter, The Tudors, Spartacus, or even the new Camelot. I paused it several times to do other things. I do want to know more about their history though, so I will keep watching. I refer to Colm Feore as the Lord Marshall while I'm watching. I'm also sadly reminded of the Dungeons and Dragons movie because of the costumes. There is such a contrast to when Irons acts well and when he acts like a total ass and doesn't even try.

 

[startrekwatcher]

Finally got around to watching it tonight and I wasn't that crazy about it. It has fantastic movie quality production and costumes but something about it just isn't grabbing me. Oh well I'm desperate to find a show I can enjoy watching on a weekly basis so I'm willing to give anything a shot but unless I start hearing that it gets better or is more of what I might be interested I think I'll be passing on it.

 

[timothy]

okay it will a sunday night program . and there is a new episode tommarrow . IT will be a 9 episode season I am going to record the entire season and then watch it .
that's how did V and I am doing it with the last half of the event and the finale 10
of stargate u . from what I have seen in previews and what I have read on winkipedia
it will be a interesting show. I might check out the books .

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Odd show. Jeremy Irons and the guy who plays Cesare are interesting, but the family drama is fairly snoozy. And all that squicky stuff with Cesare and Lucretzia...how far would even Showtime go with that, I wonder?

I like the parallel story with Colm Feore as Cardinal Google-the-Name...lessee, Della Rovere...and Savonarola and Machiavelli are interesting additions to the mix. Colm Feore looks like someone from a Da Vinci portrait, I can almost visualize the guy, it's driving me nuts!!!

The conflict between Pope Alex and Della Rovere doesn't seem very interesting, just two guys squabbling for power. A bunch of jerks screwing over each other isn't really the basis for a compelling story. But still I'll keep watching this just because there aren't any other historical epics with fancy costumes on TV.

 

[Shurik]

I like the show so far, the third and the fourth episodes were much better than the first two. Jeremy Irons is great, it's nice to see him in something good for a change ...

And all that squicky stuff with Cesare and Lucretzia...how far would even Showtime go with that, I wonder?

It indeed looks like Cesare's feelings for Lucrezia are a bit stronger than just brotherly love ...
How far - I imagine it won't go as far as HBO went with Game Of Thrones

 

[Checkmate]

The story doesn't get really interesting until later in the timeline. What we're seeing now is all set-up for what they become. It might not have been the best choice for an audience suffering from A.D.D., but the payoff should be good if the show lasts long enough.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

It's not ADD (I watched six seasons of Lost quite happily, thank you very much ) but any story needs to have some relatable character to root for. I thought Cesare was going to be that character, but they made him too eager an assassin too early on for that. Not sure what the game plan is now. I'm not that interested in this period of history to just keep watching to see events unfold.

 

[Agent Richard07]

The way that guy is going at it with Lucrezia, it's clear that he enjoys marital duties a great deal. She on the other hand is not enjoying it. And who can blame her? If that guy were on top of me grunting and groaning and thrusting away like a pig, I'd be crying too, and doubly so, since I'm a straight guy.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

This show is worth watching for Jeremy Irons, Francois Arnaud (Cesare), and the pretty buildings and costumes, but otherwise it's pretty disappointing.

The writing is clumsy (Cesare's relationship with the damsel in distress is a throwback to some weepy Victorian novel) and sometimes verges on unintentional comedy (Lucretzia and the sheep-counting, yerg...maybe a better actress who didn't come across as such a drip could have pulled that off, but why should actors have to fight the writing like that?)

The stableboy comes from the Keanu Reeves school of acting, which wouldn't matter for this show - he's the kind of character who doesn't last long - but for reasons that still confound me, he's been cast as young Bill Adama for Blood & Chrome. Somehow I can't see that featherweight beating a Cylon to death with a flashlight.

Bring on the French surrender monkeys! Hopefully some good old fashioned mayhem will provide cover for hokey writing and bad acting.

 

[Aeolusdallas]

The first episode was slow but it picks up. The production values are just amazing. All of the actors are pretty good so far. Even the bit players. Jeremy Irons is of course great and the guy that plays Cesare is really good.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

We're on ep 4 or so now, and I'm getting antsy. Hurry up and start a war, Frenchies! So far, this show is mediocre melodrama interspersed with soft-core porn, which isn't interesting unless they toss Lucretzia and Ceasare in the sack together. That's the trouble with doing things for shock value alone, you need to keep upping the ante because the shock value in sex scenes for cable is long, long gone and now it's about as interesting as watching the characters eat dinner.

Some of the actors are very sketchy. The girl playing Lucretzia, the guy playing Juan...the stableboy comes off as a zombie and the ugly French king is a truly terrible actor. Is it really that hard to find a short, ugly actor?

 

[timothy]

season finale this sunday, then marathon. will have all nine on dvr.from what I have read and seen in trialers.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The season wrap up was okay, I guess. Good enough to come back next season. Honestly, my DVR spazzed out in the middle of it and didn't capture the dialogue for a big chunk. I found it just as watchable mute, in fast-forward. Not really a good sign for any show.

I hope the jealous hubby kills the stableboy before next season starts because I'm not sure how much more of his "acting" I can stand.

 

[Harvey]

The stable boy is the one playing Adama on the BSG prequel, right? I hope he stays alive so they have to recast that role.

 

[Dream]

The stableboy comes from the Keanu Reeves school of acting, which wouldn't matter for this show - he's the kind of character who doesn't last long - but for reasons that still confound me, he's been cast as young Bill Adama for Blood & Chrome. Somehow I can't see that featherweight beating a Cylon to death with a flashlight.

Oh man, I might have to watch this show after all...

 

[Shurik]

The season wrap up was okay, I guess. Good enough to come back next season. Honestly, my DVR spazzed out in the middle of it and didn't capture the dialogue for a big chunk. I found it just as watchable mute, in fast-forward. Not really a good sign for any show.

I hope the jealous hubby kills the stableboy before next season starts because I'm not sure how much more of his "acting" I can stand.

There's one more episode left ...

 

[Temis the Vorta]

The stable boy is the one playing Adama on the BSG prequel, right? I hope he stays alive so they have to recast that role.

I didn't think about that. Damn, they should make his character Pope! Then he'd be the main character and B&C will be safe (although I'm sure they'll find other ways to frak it up.)

This ep felt like the season finale, I never pay any attention to that stuff anymore. My DVR does my thinking for me now.

 

[Agent Richard07]

I'm catching up on the show now. I finished 1x07 last night and it's getting good. When the show started, I thought it was a 9-part mini series. I didn't know it was supposed to be an ongoing series, so it getting another season came as a surprise.

Oh, and Emanuelle Chriqui was another welcome surprise.

 

[Temis the Vorta]

Just saw the ending. I dunno, this whole show seems strangely flat and unconvincing. I'll spoiler code a few things in case some folks are still playing catchup:

Spoiler: final episode of the season

I can only assume the plot twists with Della Rovere and Lucretzia's hubby are based on historical fact, because they seem like odd attempts to shoehorn elements into the story that just don't work, or which required better setup.

Would the Borgias really allow Della Rovere to live after what he's done? Trying to recruit him to their side is absurd. They should have figured out long before now that his motive was genuine disgust at the corruption of the Borgia family, and there's no way to lure him to their side. Send the cheesecutter guy after him. Considering that he was responsible for a horrific massacre, he deserves to have his throat slit anyway.

Why would Lucretzia's husband ever "confess" to impotence, considering what a detriment it would be to him, not just in Rome but trying to rule his realms back home. That sort of thing could badly undermine his authority, given the mores of the time. It'll also ruin his future marriage prospects. Doesn't he want an heir? Even if he does marry, suspicion will always haunt his legitimate children.

He was portrayed as smart enough to know all this, and never portrayed as being so prim and proper that he'd balk at fucking a prostitute in front of an audience if the alternative was a far greater public humiliation that could threaten his position in society. That whole scene just didn't ring true.

 

[Aeolusdallas]

Just saw the ending. I dunno, this whole show seems strangely flat and unconvincing. I'll spoiler code a few things in case some folks are still playing catchup:

Spoiler: final episode of the season

I can only assume the plot twists with Della Rovere and Lucretzia's hubby are based on historical fact, because they seem like odd attempts to shoehorn elements into the story that just don't work, or which required better setup.

Would the Borgias really allow Della Rovere to live after what he's done? Trying to recruit him to their side is absurd. They should have figured out long before now that his motive was genuine disgust at the corruption of the Borgia family, and there's no way to lure him to their side. Send the cheesecutter guy after him. Considering that he was responsible for a horrific massacre, he deserves to have his throat slit anyway.

Why would Lucretzia's husband ever "confess" to impotence, considering what a detriment it would be to him, not just in Rome but trying to rule his realms back home. That sort of thing could badly undermine his authority, given the mores of the time. It'll also ruin his future marriage prospects. Doesn't he want an heir? Even if he does marry, suspicion will always haunt his legitimate children.

He was portrayed as smart enough to know all this, and never portrayed as being so prim and proper that he'd balk at fucking a prostitute in front of an audience if the alternative was a far greater public humiliation that could threaten his position in society. That whole scene just didn't ring true.

They highlighted how prim and proper he was several times on the show.