The Borgias : In the Time of Paradox
History never lie
Directed by Academy Award-winning director Neil Jordan starring Golden Globe Best Actor, Jeremy Irons, Francois Arnaud, Holliday Grainger, David Oakes, Sean Harris and Colm Feore bring you a crime family series, The Borgias.
The series narrates the story of Borgia family of Spain ruling the Rome in the 15th Century. The series delved on the Medieval period of Rome and magnify the situations on religion, politics, significant events and personalities — that matter up to this time — all things that shaped history. Moreover,the series’ center story is about Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia on his journey towards becoming Pope Alexander VI.
The Family
As Pope Alexander VI secured his papacy to rule the Catholic Church and Rome, his family supported him to life and death. His family his greatest contributors to all his victories. Pope Alexander VI has three sons, first, Cesare, who played a very important role in The Borgia family. He was loyal to his father and at the same time very close to his sister, Lucrezia. He joined the school of cardinals due to the persistent demand of his father. Cesare doesn’t to be cardinal, instead, to be the ruler of the Papal Army which Juan — who his younger brother — is the head. Juan is the second son, who safeguards his father’s security, also the Vatican as a whole — the holy throne. Lastly, the youngest, Geoffrey. Pope Alexander VI also has a daughter, Lucrezia, who uses her charm to expand his father’s prominence around the papal states and to fulfill his father’s plan by making Rome become under his supervision. His children played an important role in making all his visions come true. He keeps his family influential and united to make Rome strangle on their hands and make it the center of the world.
The Ambition
When a pope dies a new pope must be immediately elected to lead the walls of the Vatican and all the Catholic church. This throne plays an important role in all Catholic church, and it was described as the successor to St. Peter whom God gave the keys to heaven. That is why cardinals in this era aspire so much to hold the papacy that made them covered the holy halls of St. Peter with sinful tactics such as bribery, scandal, vote buying and even murder. Every candidate had its way to get rid of anyone who will be against on their way. Most losing cardinals unveils their bitterness, jealousy and their plans of revenge which also transpire in this series. In the story, one of the foes of the Borgias, who lost in the election ,Cardinal Guiliano Della Rovere described Pope Alexander VI as a very ambitious and dangerous man.
During Pope Alexander VI’s reign, him and his family were suspected of crimes : adultery, simony, selling positions inside the Vatican, theft, murder and incest. In the series it shows the intimate relationship between his son, Cesare and her daughter, Lucrezia . A cringing love affair yet reigns with emotions. Also, corruption is apparent wherein in the series the church used their power to corrupt devotees selling passports to heaven.
The Borgias portrays a lot of significant individuals from the Borgia family itself to most notable names in history like the Medicis, Niccolo Machiavelli, Charles VII of France, Caterina Sforza and much more. But just a reminder, don’t take this series too seriously cause some scenes doesn’t really appear on history yet it shows the real life in the Medieval age. The Borgias is not just filled with cinematics and theatrics, instead, it brings diversity with serious and dark themes shadowing greed, power, and scandals that some happened inside the walls of the Vatican and The St. Peter’s. All ripped from the pages of history mixed with a twisted storyline that relives and unveils the Medieval Rome.
Originally published at thoughtsiclebykim.wordpress.com on July 18, 2016.
