The Borgias

2012 • Showtime
4.6
457 reviews
TV-MA
Rating
Eligible
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Season 1 episodes (9)

1 The Poisoned Chalice
4/3/11
In the season one premiere, Rodrigo successfully bribes and intimidates his way into an election as Pope Alexander VI, making him the new leader of the Catholic Church.
2 The Assassin
4/3/11
The new Pope wastes no time consolidating power and balancing opposition to him in the College of Cardinals by elevating his children to high office.
3 The Moor
4/10/11
Rodrigo seeks funds through a profitable marriage for Lucrezia that will ally him with Milan. Micheletto is ordered to rid his patrons of the ongoing threat posed by Della Rovere.
4 Lucrezia's Wedding
4/17/11
Lucrezia's financially and politically motivated wedding to Milanese nobleman Giovanni Sforza is a disaster thanks to Juan's inappropriately bawdy play in his sister's honor, Cesare's brazen flirting with a married baroness, and the arrival of the Borgia children's illegitimate mother.
5 in Love
4/24/11
Alternately neglected and abused by her cruel husband, Lucrezia has an affair with Paolo, a handsome stable boy. Cesare strikes a bargain with Machiavell.
6 The French King
5/1/11
Della Rovere reaches France and strikes a bargain with its ruler to invade Italy and install him on the Papal throne in exchange for control of Naples. Rodrigo attempts to thwart the invasion through an alliance.
7 Death on a Pale Horse
5/8/11
The invasion by King Charles of France and Della Rovere proceeds with victory seemingly inevitable as the French sack the city of Lucca and the Italian powers flee to their banner.
8 The Art of War
5/15/11
The invaders capture a fleeing and pregnant Lucrezia as they march on Rome, but she charms King Charles and is allowed to persuade her brother Juan to withdraw his hopelessly outmatched defensive troops.
9 Nessuno (Nobody)
5/22/11
Abandoned by even his cardinals, Alexander meets King Charles with humility and saves his throne. Della Rovere despairs as Charles abandons him. Lucrezia safely gives birth to a son in a convent as the Borgias secure an annulment of her marriage and plot revenge on their enemies.

About this show

Oscar® winner Jeremy Irons stars in the epic Showtime Original Series THE BORGIAS, the explosive story of history's original crime family. Conspiring with his ruthless sons Cesare and Juan, and poisonously seductive daughter Lucrezia, the charismatic Rodrigo Borgia's reign as Pope Alexander VI embroils the Catholic Church -- and all of Europe -- in scandal. From Academy Award® winner Neil Jordan comes the compelling drama of the world's most powerful and notorious family.

Ratings and reviews

4.6
457 reviews
Betty Cosgrove
December 27, 2012
I watched all 9 episodes and was hoping the plot and dialogue would become more meaningful or create more suspense & intrigue. While the costumes are fantastic and the cast excellent, this production suffers unfortunately from uninspired script writing. I'm disappointed overall, but maybe because "The Tudors" has now "set the bar" for Showtime excellence. Sorry to conclude that this drama series pales greatly by comparison.
16 people found this review helpful
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Judy Weiss
January 13, 2013
I find the series entertaining but not very factual. Cesare was not such a passive behind the scenes murderer. I am a big fan of Jeremy Irons but he should not represent Alexander VI. I was looking forward to another Neal Jorden production and was left wanting.....
2 people found this review helpful
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Hey You
June 13, 2014
It tends to fall into the formula of "how many mostly nekkid ladies can we get in the first 10 mins" that many of these shows are plagued by (that is, trying to be shocking with less plot) at times, but over all, I'd still say it's above average. I'd give it 3.5 stars if I could.
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