The Borgias Recap 'The Siege at Forli'

Season 2 Episode 7

This is the episode that contains one of the most famous lines in The Borgias, Caterina Sforza's gloriously defiant declaration of 'TEN MORE SONS!' Yes, I know I am skipping Episode Six. I will write it as soon as I find my notes on it.

The Return of Juan

Juan is back from his exile in Spain and gives Lucrezia a panther. If there is a metaphor here, it is totally lost on me. Juan also introduces Rodrigo to cigarros, and to Don Hernando de Caballos, a veteran of the Siege of Granada.

Juan acts like a changed man in front of Rodrigo. He tells his father he is devoted to his wife, who is carrying his child. He also refuses wine and drinks only water. Rodrigo instructs his favourite son to take the Papal Army and lay siege to Caterina Sforza's castle in Forli.

Juan is shown urinating painfully, then with a doctor, who produces an instrument that is to be inserted to Juan's privates to help cure his unnamed illness. That thing looks like it belongs to King Ferrante's torture chamber. 

The Juan-led Papal Army marches to Forli with Don Caballos, who points out the great danger of Forli's canons and encourages Juan to speak to Caterina Sforza. It is slightly irritating how Rodrigo seems to have sent his son to Forli without a plan to deal with the canons. After all, it was not too long ago that Rome itself was menaced by French canons. Rodrigo is fully aware of their destructive capabilities. Whatever happened to Cesare's plans to build canons for the Papal Army? Rodrigo is also aware that Caterina is but one Sforza; there are many more of their family, including Ludovico Sforza, who has an army of his own. Did it never occur to Rodrigo, reputed to be a great strategist, that Caterina's cousins might help her out in a pinch?

Anyway, Caterina, looking like an awesome warrior queen, rides out with her son Benito and other attendants to meet Juan and his entourage. Caterina laughs at Juan's threat to confiscate her lands. Also, I think Caterina is still upset about Cesare killing her beloved cousin Giovanni. Just as the two warring parties were to separate, Juan gives a signal, and a soldier from the Papal Army directs an arrow at Benito's horse. Benito falls and is quickly taken by Juan's soldiers. Caterina has no choice but to ride back inside her castle and leave her son, whom Cesare once warned must never be sent to war, in the hands of the eager-to-please-Daddy Juan.

Inside Juan's tent, Juan asks Benito how old he is. The poor boy is only 15. There is some sass about 'How much does you mother love you?' between the two boys, then Juan threatens Benito's privates with torture. The way Juan described it made me think he was planning on giving Benito a taste of the 'treatment' he has been getting because of his illness. Anyway, Juan's plan was to torture Benito and make Caterina watch. Oh dear. This is not going to end well.

Inside Forli, Caterina's canons cannot batter the Papal Army because they are out of range. Caterina says they must wait for Ludovico's army to arrive. Benito is brought to the middle of the battlefield and tied to a wooden contraption. Juan eggs him to call out for his mother. Don Caballos questions whether the torture of Benito is a noble act. Uh, I do not think Juan is particularly concerned about nobility at this point. He just wants to defeat Caterina and please Daddy.

Caterina tells her General that if her son must die, so be it. Cold. She orders Juan, who was momentarily unshielded, shot with an arrow. Juan is hit on the leg. He limps toward Benito and cuts off the boy's finger. He yells at Caterina that for every arrow that hits his men, he will take a finger off Benito, then he will cut off the boy's head. 

Later, Juan, atop his horse, taunts Caterina and threatens to hang Benito. Caterina climbs atop her battlements, reaches for her skirts, and shows her privates. 'You can take my son. But do you see? Here! I have the means to produce TEN MORE SONS! And they will hunt you down and send you to your grave!' Caterina, I worship you. 

Just then, Ludovico Sforza's army arrives and attacks the Papal Army from behind. Juan orders Benito killed. Don Caballos releases Benito from his ropes and gallops away with him. Juan flees on a horse but a canon fire hits it, and Juan falls to the ground. Juan takes flight on foot. The soldiers of Forli gallop out of their castle. What remains of the Papal Army are surrounded by two Sforza armies. Daddy will not be pleased.

Florence

Cesare is in Florence with Micheletto and Machiavelli, supposedly dealing with Savonarola, I suppose by watching him burn stuff. 

Anyway, while hanging at Machiavelli's house, Machiavelli tells Cesare of the approach of Ludovico Sforza's army. Cesare first asks if a messenger can reach and warn Juan in time, then gives in to the boy inside of him upset at not being Daddy's favourite, and decides to leave Juan to his fate. Cold, Cesare. You and Caterina make fantastic, sexy adversaries.

The 1497 Bonfire of the Vanities is recreated here, with Savonarola presiding over the burning of books, works of art and perhaps even Machiavelli's stuffed owl (earlier, he gave it to the kids who drew chalk at his door). Savonarola taunts Cesare and Machiavelli. After the two walk away, Savonarola finds Micheletto behind him with a cross of ash on his forehead. Savonarola looks mightily creeped out by Micheletto.

Lucrezia's Boys

Lucrezia tells the Pope she wants to meet with Calvino Pallavicini, but when she does she immediately approaches Raffaello. I have a lot of love for Lucrezia, but I dislike her in this episode. Anyway, Lucrezia gives the panther to Calvino as a gift. 

Lucrezia's maid follows Raffaello and reports his movements to her mistress. Lucrezia fakes an interest in painting and sneaks up on Raffaello's retreat. They kiss. A wind blows Raffaello's drawings; one of them is of Lucrezia.

Later, Vanozza guesses that Lucrezia has the hots for Raffaello who, as the second son, is not the preferred suitor.

Much later, Rodrigo scolds Lucrezia for her indecision. Lucrezia finally says, 'Sell me to the highest bidder.' This is the point when I should feel for Lucrezia. What she endured with Giovanni Sforza was horrendous. Now, she must marry again against her will. Yet, there is something about Lucrezia in this episode that made me not feel my usual sympathy for her.

Della Rovere

The good cardinal is still training his would-be Borgia assassin. He also warns a Dominican friar that Savonarola must temper his words. Yup, not much happens on his front.

Show: The Borgias (Showtime)
Season: Two
Episode Number in Series: 16
Episode Number in Season: Seven
Episode Title: The Siege of Forli
Episode Writer: David Leland

Episode Director: Kari Skogland

Original Air Date: May 20, 2012