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Season 1 – The Borgias

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – The Borgias Apr 2011 History Drama Crime Romance Play Trailer Watchlist
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76% Tomatometer 45 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
The Borgias, led by patriarch Rodrigo, are a family of outsiders from Spain who try to take over control of Renaissance-era Italy. Through the use of bribery, extortion and torture, Rodrigo rises up the ranks to become pope. Two of Rodrigo's children are used as pawns by being married off to members of rival families at a young age. Vanozza, Rodrigo's long-time mistress and mother of his children, and Giulia Farnese battle for the elder Borgia's affections. The story of the Borgias has inspired such works as Machiavelli's political treatise "The Prince" and Mario Puzo's "The Godfather."
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The Borgias — Season 1

The Borgias — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

It's deliberately paced and its characters might be too unpleasant for some, but The Borgias is a lush period drama with high production values and intrigue to spare.

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Critics Reviews

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Cady Lang TIME Magazine 05/20/2024
Filled with hedonism, betrayal, ruthless cruelty, and even murder, the show is a salacious historical romp through one of Italy’s most colorful chapters. Go to Full Review Brad Newsome Sydney Morning Herald 05/09/2019
It's rip-roaring fun with lashings of fancy-dress sex and violence as Neil Jordan...brings the notorious Borgia family to the small screen. Go to Full Review Brian Tallerico HollywoodChicago.com 12/28/2018
4/5
It's definitely a program that's impossible not to admire on a technical level and the multi-faceted work by Irons is always fascinating, but the two-episode premiere can get a bit bogged down in its Shakespearian aspirations. Go to Full Review Tom De Poto Newark Star-Ledger 12/29/2018
Somewhere, "The Godfather" author Mario Puzo is smiling. Go to Full Review Dan Owen What Culture 12/29/2018
2.5/4
There's enough good material to keep its sacrilegious fires burning. Go to Full Review Dustin Rowles Pajiba 12/28/2018
Neil Jordan puts a lot of focus on the story without doing so at the expense of the period setting and wardrobe, which ought to easily satiate the costume drama enthusiasts frill fix. It is truly a gripping opening. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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05/28/2021 Spännande och bra manus och skådespelare!!! See more Emilio T @MilloTPue 03/27/2021 Between 2.5 and 3 stars. It has good details, mainly in the cast and scenography, and the script is not bad (although quite great historical inaccuracies), but it falls in a rutinary exhibition of killings, instead of trying to create dramatic climaxes. See more 03/24/2020 Loved it! Jeremy Irons is a marvel to watch See more 07/07/2019 murder incest political intrigue this show is a historical drama based on the lives and rumours of the borgia family and it manages to do it better then Netflix See more 04/01/2017 The Borgias is not only a fun and suspenseful historical series but also an effective commentary on a wide spectrum of topics from religion to prejudice to human nature. See more 11/16/2016 Production design and directing is effective and detailed.. Congrats. The script is often yawningly clichéd, especially for Jeremy Irons. Performances are engaging except for Irons. OMG - he is so awkward. He makes a meal out of every sentence. Talk about over-stressing. I may not make it past SO2E04. Irons snaps me back into reality. Damn shame, Maybe he's been on stage too long, and can't cope with the camera performance. Bloody shock'n. See more Read all reviews
The Borgias — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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Neil Jordan

Creator

Jeremy Irons

Actor

François Arnaud

Actor

David Oakes

Actor

Holliday Grainger

Actor

Colm Feore

Actor

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Apr 3, 2011 The Poisoned Chalice Rodrigo Borgia schemes his way into becoming pope and elevates his sons into high offices. Details Episode 2 Aired Apr 3, 2011 The Assassin Rodrigo Borgia schemes his way into becoming pope and elevates his sons into high offices. Details Episode 3 Aired Apr 10, 2011 The Moor Rodrigo seeks funds through a profitable marriage for Lucrezia and charges a fee for safe haven; the Borgias host a Turkish prince. Details Episode 4 Aired Apr 17, 2011 Lucrezia's Wedding Lucrezia's wedding is a disaster; the Borgia children's mother arrives; Della Rovere seeks the aid of the Medici family. Details Episode 5 Aired Apr 24, 2011 The Borgias in Love Lucrezia has an affair with a stable boy; Cesare strikes a bargain with Machiavelli and takes action to rid Ursula of her husband. Details Episode 6 Aired May 1, 2011 The French King Della Rovere strikes a bargain with King Charles of France; Rodrigo attempts to thwart an invasion. Details Episode 7 Aired May 8, 2011 Death, on a Pale Horse The invasion of France proceeds; Giovanni Sforza is poised to join the battle; Leonardo da Vinci shares drawings and blueprints. Details Episode 8 Aired May 15, 2011 The Art of War The invaders capture a pregnant Lucrezia who charms King Charles; Pope Alexander VI awaits his fate. Details Episode 9 Aired May 22, 2011 Nessuno (Nobody) Alexander meets King Charles with humility; Charles abandons Della Rovere; Lucrezia gives birth in a convent. Details

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The Borgias — Season 1

The Borgias View more photos

Season Info

Director
Jeremy Podeswa, John Maybury, Neil Jordan, Simon Cellan Jones
Creator
Neil Jordan
Executive Producer
Neil Jordan
Screenwriter
Neil Jordan
Network
Paramount+ with Showtime
Rating
TV-MA (S|V)
Genre
History, Drama, Crime, Romance
Original Language
English
Release Date
Apr 3, 2011