Season 2 Episode 9
This is another packed episode of The Borgias. It opens with Lucrezia waking up in her bedroom, with the panther she had given to Calvino Palaviccini near her bed. The panther is still caged, of course, and it is not amused. I think it is echoing my feelings for Lucrezia in the last few episodes.
Calvino Palaviccini tells the Pope that he cannot marry his daughter. Rafaello steps in and presents himself as the brother offering marriage. Rodrigo rants about Rafaello being the second son, which I find amusing because of how much Rodrigo favours his second son. Cardinal Sforza cuts the ranting with news of Brother Bernardino's death.
Still royally irritated, Rodrigo bursts into Vanozza's house and yells for her. Rodrigo knows his daughter more than I thought, because he has deduced that Lucrezia slept with Rafaello. Vanozza admits to advising Lucrezia to marry Calvino and take Rafaello as a lover. Lucrezia interrupts her parents' argument and says she would have married Calvino but, if she followed her heart, she would have married neither brother. This is a short scene, but I love Holliday Grainger's work here. Her words and her stance carried Lucrezia's subdued pain.
Savonarola
In Florence, Cesare, Machiavelli and Micheletto traipse through the ashen remains of Savonarola's bonfire of the vanities. Cesare wonders out loud how the people of Florence, who had a good life, still hang on to Savonarola's every word despite being deprived of the life they were accustomed. Machiavelli says that if Cesare can understand that, he will have the key to bring down Savonarola. Break the spell, Cesare says, break the man. In the background, Micheletto sits on a chair, seemingly trying to catch ash in the air. Heh. Micheletto is too precious.
Back in Rome, Cardinal Sforza offers to be the Pope's taster until a suitable replacement for Brother Bernardino is found. This is the kind of thing that makes Cardinal Sforza an awesome character --- you never know whether he is being dutiful or cunning, or kind. One could snark that he knows the food will be safe because he will not poison the Pope while he is taster. He could also have a servant taste the food before he tastes it himself. This could be his way of further ingratiating himself to the Pope. This could be a genuine offer, borne out of faith in a Higher Power, if not in Pope Alexander Sixtus himself. One simply does not know, which makes Cardinal Sforza one of the most fascinating characters in this series.
Rodrigo says he will personally vet the potential tasters. He then turns Cardinal Sforza's attention to another matter --- the excommunication of Friar Savonarola. He tells the Cardinal the basilica is to be prepared for the ceremony.
In Florence, Cesare, Macchiavelli and Micheletto still strive to find how to beat Savonarola. There are people heading to the burning of a woman, whom they accuse of being a witch. Machiavelli says that Savonarola understands people's fears, and that the friar trades in miracles. If Cesare could show him to be wrong, he would burn.
Cesare interrupts Savonarola's preaching. In his red Cardinal's robes, Cesare declares the message of excommunication. Savonarola mocks Cesare for being the Pope's bastard son. For the nth time, I really wish the show pointed out more that priests, even Popes, who have children are not uncommon at this time. Cardinal Della Rovere, later Pope Julius II, himself had children, one of whom survived to adulthood (Felice Della Rovere). I do not believe this would have distracted from the drama; rather, it might even have enriched the story.
Anyway, Savonarola does not recognise the Pope's power and says his authority comes from a higher being. This is exactly what Cesare wanted him to say. Cesare wants to put this to the test in a trial by fire; if Savonarola could walk through fire untouched, Cesare would follow him into the flames. With shouts of encouragement from the people, Savonarola agrees.
There are inter cutting images of the ceremony of excommunication in Rome, and the trial by fire in Florence. As Savonarola walks between burning piles of wood, his robe catches fire. Cesare mouths 'Burn.' Savonarola, on fire, falls to the ground. His most loyal followers gather to help him. The crowd chants 'Betrayer!' Savonarola is taken inside a church. Cesare, victorious, tells Micheletto to get Savonarola and take him to Rome.
Cesare gets back to Rome with news of his victory in Florence, and finds his father dealing with a near insensible Juan. Cesare tells Rodrigo Savonarola has been disgraced, and will confess in Rome after being put through the rack. Rodrigo is all glass-half-empty, and says Savonarola must be seen to be guilty. The friar must sign his confession, then be put to fire.
Savonarola, who arrives in Rome in a cage, knows that torture awaits him. Micheletto tells Cesare the friar is a bear, and will not break.
Antonello
Cardinal Della Rovere dispatches Antonello to the Pope with orders to present himself as a Franciscan. The Cardinal gives the young creepy poisoner a bottle of cantarella.
Cardinal Sforza, who seems to do everything for the Pope, says he has reduced the applicants for taster to three. Now this is very suspicious. The first guy has dirty hands; of course Rodrigo did not like him. The second guy is a Dominican; Rodrigo knows certain members of the Dominican order are not fond of him, and may be extra wary of them since he just had Dominican Savonarola excommunicated and ordered tortured. The third guy is Antonello who, with his evident fervent faith and clean hands, is clearly Rodrigo's only choice. Is Cardinal Sforza in on the assassination? Has he heard whispers of it, though is not actively involved? Did he get a whiff of ill intent when he saw Antonello, and decided to give him this sensitive post and watch what happens? We do not know, and again I can but express my love for the character that is Cardinal Sforza.
Lent is over, the Cardinals are eager to feast, yet the Pope says he will continue fasting, and requests sardines and water. There is a lot of awkwardness on the table. Cardinal Versucci offers to join the Pope in continuing to fast.
Inside the Pope's chambers, Giulia Farnese creeps in and rattles off the Pope's achievements to get him in the mood. She also mentions that little Giovanni, Lucrezia's child, needs to be baptised. Later, Rodrigo goes to Lucrezia, who is playing with Giovanni, and tells her of the baptism. This is weird. This is Lucrezia, who refused to eat, refused to feed her crying and ill baby, to give her lover Paolo a Christian burial. She understands lust and is free in her affections, she is in many ways a woman ahead of her time, yet she remains devout to Christian traditions. Her fear for Paolo's soul was real. It does not make sense that she would be remiss in ensuring her own child be baptised as soon as possible. Lucrezia would have badgered the Pope for a baptism. It would not have been left to Giulia to remind the Pope of it. Anyway, this episode needed an excuse for a party, and since what happens afterwards was so well done, I will stop complaining.
Cesare is the godfather of little Giovanni. Since the Pope is supposedly still fasting, Antonello pours the cantarella in a jug of water. However, the Pope asks for wine instead and Antonello spills the poisoned water. Rodrigo declares he is finished with fasting.
Juan
Juan, who seems to be having trouble urinating, has a conversation with little Juan. That's right, this scene really happened. Later, while smoking opium, he declares his suspicions of an improper relationship between his brother and sister.
The second season has been good at showing that Cesare and Lucrezia are a double act against Juan. However, I do not recall any set up to Juan thinking his brother and sister are lovers. Juan's musings seem to have come out of nowhere. Also, unless I blinked and missed it, it was not shown that anyone heard Juan (this would have been in nice conjunction with the 'No one is listening' line). It would have been a nice twist if the rumours about Cesare and Lucrezia's improper relationship began with Juan's idle mutterings while under the influence of opium.
At the baptism party, Juan is a mess while everyone has a good time. He is nasty to his mother, too. A happy Lucrezia shows her father her gift to him --- women and children in white dancing to what is called the Angels and Virgins dance. The Pope watches with Lucrezia, Vanozza and Giulia. Cesare watches with the other cardinals. Juan is alone with his sword.
Cesare approaches Juan, and of course Micheletto is nearby. Cesare again taunts Juan with 'Ten more sons.' Juan says it was a foolish insult that cost Caterina her son's life. So, he is done pretending this whole thing never happened. Cesare laughs and says Benito is alive. He proceeds to detail how Don Caballos brought Benito to Rome, and how the Sforza boy told his story to the Pope. This must be breaking the fibre of whatever humanity Juan has left; his relationship with his father is one that he truly values.
Juan gets aggressive with Cesare and immediately, Micheletto is on alert. We do not see it, but it is safe to assume Micheletto already has one hand on a weapon, ready to slay to save the master he chose. Juan taunts Cesare about wanting his life, his sword, of being stuck in a cleric's robes. 'I am the light of his life,' he says of his father. I think he wishes this were still true. After Juan leaves, Cesare and Micheletto exchange a look.
Juan goes to Lucrezia and Giovanni, who have left the party and are in a room. Lucrezia is clearly still angry at Juan; she brings up Paolo. Juan says everything he has done has been for the good of the family; in his warped mind, he truly believes this. Juan also says that had it not been for Rodrigo's fondness for Giovanni, he would have tossed the baby at the Tiber at birth. Lucrezia points out that they are all bastards. Juan counters that they are Borgia bastards, and that is the difference. Juan takes the baby and dangles him off a balcony. Cesare witnesses this; Juan lets Lucrezia take the baby. There is a stare down between the brothers.
The Pope is dancing at the party. Outside, the dancers in white run around the fountain as Juan watches.
Lucrezia angrily asks Cesare about poison; Cesare points out their father loves Juan. Their conversation is interrupted with the appearance of Rodrigo. Later, Rodrigo tries to calm Cesare down, though Cesare insists Juan will drag the whole family to ruin with him.
Outside, the giggling girls are still dancing, and are now chanting, 'Ten more sons.' I think the 'Ten more sons' chant is part of Juan's hallucination. When the girls see him, they run off, but Juan grabs the last girl and violates her. He makes the girl say 'Ten more sons' as he chokes her. Micheletto intervenes and grabs Juan by the throat.
Ever practical, Micheletto asks Juan where he intends to put the body. Juan threatens the expert assassin feebly. Micheletto kindly educates him on killing and tells the young hot-headed Borgia he is pressing on the wrong spot. Juan finally lets go of the girl, and Micheletto lets go of Juan.
With the party still ongoing, Micheletto follows the limping Juan to the opium den. Micheletto tells Juan's opium contact to tell Juan his brother wishes to speak to him.
The limping Juan finds Cesare outside the opium den, and asks his older brother if he came to beg forgiveness. Juan charitably says Cesare is forgiven. The crazy thing is, I think Juan means this. For all their fighting, I think Juan never took the quarrel with Cesare to heart.
As the brothers walk, Micheletto kills Juan's opium contact, the one loose end.
Juan speaks of visions of himself and Cesare in harmony while under the influence of opium. He says he has been in pain for many years. He says he knows Cesare is in pain too, which Cesare admits. There is talk of ending pain, and Cesare stabs Juan.
Juan staggers backwards as Micheletto, Cesare's dark angel, approaches. Cesare declares, 'Only God forgives' before he stabs Juan a few more times. Cesare and Micheletto toss Juan's body into the Tiber.
Ah, Juan --- vain, often unintelligent, cruel, yet David Oakes portrayed him phenomenally, especially in the second season, so that he is never a caricature villain but a tragic figure who wove tragedy around him. He will be missed.
Show: The Borgias (Showtime)
Season: Two
Episode Title: World of Wonders
Episode Writer: David Leland
Episode Director: David Leland
Original Air Date: June 10, 2012
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