Review: The Borgias saved by Colm Feore, Joanne Whalley, Francois Arnaud

By April MacIntyre Apr 1, 2011, 20:01 GMT

Showtime Networks has ordered 10 episodes of a one-hour drama series based on the infamous Italian Renaissance family. This period drama is presented by The Tudors\' showrunner Michael Hirst. The Borgias were a prominent Noble family in Italy\'s days of yore, and Hirst at the wheel of the scribes will ensure that the drama will be loaded with plenty of intrigue, sexy affairs, and stunning costumes.   The cast of characters includes Rodrigo\'s ...more

High hopes were had for Showtime's 15th century Spanish family potboiler, "The Borgias," after their success of "The Tudors."

I was salivating for a period drama dripping with intrigue, sex and lots of Roman Catholic papal name dropping.  It took until episode three for me to care about this lavishly attended production that wallows and wanes a bit and wastes one of the finest actors around, Derek Jacobi, a scheming Cardinal who's life is ended early on.

Jacobi's run is ended by an early death in episode 2, just like that of riveting actor James Purefoy, cast as King Lot in Starz "Camelot," which airs tonight.  "The Borgias" writers 86ed someone worth watching for at least a few more episodes. 

The Borgias, as history buffs know, were the Italian muses for "The Godfather" author Mario Puzo. Puzo compared these Middle-ages Popes to Dons, full of treachery.

This dramatized version of “The Borgias” has a few things going for it, namely the crafts. The art department (set decorators, production designers, art direction), costume design and makeup, plus the locations are top-notch.

Patriarch Rodrigo (Jeremy Irons) became Pope Alexander VI in a political battle not seen since Al Gore and George Bush wrangled over dangling ballot chads in Florida.  Rodrigo is using any and all means to be elected pope. His Spanish heritage is hurting him in the Italian power base of the Roman Catholic church.
Rodrigo drafts son Cesare (Francois Arnaud) as a cleric, then as a Cardinal, to make things happen behind the scenes. Brother Juan (David Oakes) is made a soldier.

Thank the saints for Colm Feore! His Cardinal Della Rovere is so consumed with hatred for the Borgia clan, he makes his scenes pop with tangible venom.  Irons is well matched to his wife Vanozza, played beautifully by adept (and still gorgeous) actress Joanne Whalley.  Son Cesare (Arnaud) is a scene stealer by episode 3 and 4, and daughter Lucrezia (Holliday Grainger) so far (I have seen through episode 4) is so vanilla boring; I am hoping her traumatic wedding night / marital rape by Giovanni Sforza (Ronin Vibert) in episode 4 will knock some evil sense into her. Another player of note is the creepy assassin Micholetto played by Sean Harris. His commitment to serve Cesare is unwavering. His style is just like Jean Reno's in the film "The Professional," he can kill anybody with anything. He's very limber.

Trust me that I wanted to rave about this, but so far, episodes 3 & 4 saved what would have been a dismissed, dreary drama I would never have recommended. Glad they sent more than a few episodes for review. I look forward to seeing the rest of the series based on them alone.

Showtime  Time: Sunday, 9-11 p.m.