I just wanted to say that I love the series, but I do think that the history should be checked before the put it on TV. In Season 1 Episode 8, a Cardinal speaking with the French King by the water, makes reference of three popes. One of those popes was Pope John the XXIII, who was actually born in 1881- died 1963. this is not good since the Borgias takes place in the late 1400's

ckelly

Renaissance and Machiavellian in all its glory. No separation of corrupt church and state from this bittersweet era. Jeremy Irons makes a likable evil ruler who is clever and ruthless. Godfather for the century

The cast is great, especially Jeremy Iron, playing the Pope, and Francois Arnaud, who's Cesare. I bought the season on DVD and watched it within a week. And while the facts are stretched a bit, the main parts are true. The only thing is that some episodes are pretty fast paced.

What an outstanding depiction of power cloaked in religious edifice that is the Catholic church at the height of its political significance! The anti-hero, played by Jeremy Irons, instantly has you rooting for him as he out-plots his power hungry rivals. When he proves capable of committing the heinous deeds necessary, he simply invokes the religious façade that they collectively depend on to stifle any outbursts of religious hypocrisy. The whole series is deeply satisfying.… Expand

The borgias as a tv show reveals the secrets of the most important family (originally spanish family) of rome in 15th century. I personally interested in borgia family (spanish borja) so called crime family. First season now complete and if must admit that so far, story proceeded paralel to the fact which was really happened in 15th century. I also enjoyed the amazing performace of Jeremy Irons (as pope) and François Arnaud (as son of pope, cesare borgia). Anyone interested in historical stuff should give at least a try for this show.… Expand

The Borgias is a show that, by it's placement on a subscriber network like Showtime, and it's focus on intirgue and sex and death, must be compared to the Tudors. I am safe to report 4 episodes into the first season (which, unless there are mighty changes a-coming, has seemed to have shown the gambit of what this first season intends to bring us in manner of light/dark tones and general plot delivery), The Borgias have already far outpaced even the best moments of The Tudors.

I believe this is in part due to the fact that simply put, Jeremy Irons from his first moment on screen as the soon-to-be-pope Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia so totally fills the role that he looks appropriate, if perhaps a bit lean for a papal figure of the time. However, his delivery, carriage, and mannerisms all are so enveloping as to erase any doubt by the midpoint of the opening episode. While this show does take historical liberties like the Tudors, it does not go nearly as far and they are mostly to add to the show, not to simply make it more marketable. So for those who are more intimately familiar with the zeitgeist of Machiavellian Italy and Cesare Borgia in particular might at first be a bit startled by his apparent complexity and depth. This becomes obvious from the get-go as Cesare is cast (not only in an eldest brother role, one that he was not in real life) as the double-edged foil to his somewhat immature (both too cruel and yet not cruel enough) brother and his menacing (and oh how he menaces) and scheming father.

What I find so enthralling is that this show, after 4 episodes, has not given any sort of Singular Answer to the question of why, when by the end of the first episode Rodrigo Borgia is made Pope Alexander VI, the most powerful man in the Christian world, that is only the very tip of the iceberg. Sure, there is simple greed and ambition, but by a few episodes in you begin to realize that Pope Alexander VI is simply a man who cannot be defined like some sort of Gargamel, constantly searching for one singular end. Rather he clearly has many motivations, not all of which are even clear to his own family or even possibly, himself.

So far, the historical cameos have been magnificent. The Medici's main scene so far (hopefully they will be returning, central historical figures that they are) was wonderful, to mention one. The architecture is also given a historical amount of detail for the most recognizable vistas that is an aesthetic pleasure (for those of you who have played Assassin's Creed II, this will seem like the live version of the stages) and also serves to ground the series, making you not want to look to the corner of every moving shot to see if you can see daylight behind the sets.

Luckily for the series, the 11 year papal reign of Alexander VI has no shortage of drama to draw upon, and since it began in the auspicious year of 1492, glib historical references can (and I am sure, given the first 4 episodes, will continue to be) be peppered in regularly for bit sized chunks of humor and levity, which this show is able to provide at times.

Overall this series seems to have done (and left itself enough room to continue to be able to do for many seasons to come) the best job of a historical drama from definitively pre-industrial times. Yes, it is clearly a cheerier, less hairy, more attractive version of the past, with mild edits to keep the plot aerodynamic, but it is still stunning none-the-less, and deserves the highest of praise.… Expand

I watched the premere of The Borgias and was underwhelmed, but not completely turned off by the show. I found the acting to be adequate, though at times, a bit stale. There's an interesting dynamic within the Borgias family - the way each member handles Rodrigo's rise to pope-dom, and each member's role in securing/safeguarding that coveted seat. I found that dynamic to be the most interesting of the show as a whole, and I want to see how that plays out in the next episodes. Strangely enough, the show is intriguing, yet it is flavored with a typical murder, betrayal and espionage storyline that can be seen from a mile away. This is true even in light of the fact that major liberties have been taken in developing the Borgias story for this show. Everything is obvious - nothing is hidden from the viewer's vision, so there's no guessing over who likes who, who's plotting against who, etc. All in all, I like the show, but it does not leave me in wonder about what I just watched. It's one of those shows that you can watch once and get all that there is to get from it.… Expand