Season 3 Episode 4
If you watched the third episode of the third season of The Borgias, then you know Cesare and Lucrezia already crossed the Targaryen/ Lannister line. At the risk of angering Cesare/ Lucrezia shippers, I must make a confession --- I never really wanted these two to get together. From the very first episode of this series, I noted the at times sweet, at times smouldering chemistry between Francois Arnaud and Holliday Grainger. Despite this, I did not want the show to 'go there.' I thought the tragedy of the Borgia siblings would be their unfulfilled passion, made exquisitely torturous by the chemistry between the two young leads.
Anyway, on her wedding night, Lucrezia walked into her brother's room and told him only a Borgia can love a Borgia. It was a scene I did not want to happen, but I thought it was done in the best possible way. Kudos to the show's creative team, and the actors.
Moving on to the recap...
Cardinal Farnese
This episode opens with Pope Alexander making Giulia Farnese's brother Alessandro (Cylon Melville) a Cardinal. History buffs, take note --- Alessandro Farnese will go on to become Pope Paul III, and serve from 1534 to his death in 1549.
Cardinal Sforza gives the newly-minted Cardinal Farnese his assignment --- to try and bring some order to the Vatican finances. Cardinal Sforza had few lines in this episode, but his presence was felt even in his absence.
The Pope later visits the hard at work Cardinal Farnese, who protests at Rodrigo's insinuations and insists he did not ask his sister to demand the position for him. The Pope tells Cardinal Farnese he should make his report on the Vatican finances directly to him and not through the other Cardinals.
Cardinal Farnese may have gotten his position through his sister, but he seems to take his job seriously. It is late at night and Giulia visits him. He says the Vatican accounts are 'lies and confusion' and asks for Giulia's help in making sense of the numbers. Giulia, as we may recall, has experience in this from the previous season.
While looking into the report on the Vatican accounts, Rodrigo recognises Giulia's handwriting. Cardinal Sforza and the papal guards bring a hastily dressed Giulia to the Pope late at night. Once alone, Rodrigo berates her for doing the work rather than her brother. Giulia protests that she only helped her brother. She promises the Pope to help him figure out how to ensure the loyalty of the Consistory.
There are inter cutting scenes of Caterina Sforza meeting with her Micheletto (all right, Rufio) and Giulia meeting with the Pope. Caterina and Giulia both come to the conclusion on what most frequently gets men in trouble. Caterina has allied with Gonzaga, the Duke of Mantua, whose lovely wife was one of the Pope's conquests. Giulia proposes a banquet for the Cardinals that will be chronicled. This chronicle will ensure the Cardinal's loyalty to the Pope.
Cardinal Versucci
In the previous episode, Cardinal Versucci (Vernon Dobtcheff) took his revenge on the Pope by stealing a large chunk of the Vatican's riches before leaving. Here he walks in tattered garments and well-worn sandals, executing his version of redistributing wealth. He goes to a religious house and hands a nun a document, wealth that used to belong to this house, taken by the Vatican, now given back. Away from the pomp and ceremony of Rome, the Cardinal seems closer to peace.
Cesare, when told by the Pope of what Cardinal Versucci did, is angry. Rodrigo, however, just laughed and said the coffers would be replenished. He then ordered Cesare to teach Cardinal Versucci the error of his ways.
Of course Cesare passed on the order to Micheletto. Does he have any other unquestionably loyal, hyper competent servant? Does he need another?
The object of Micheletto's hunt struggles to walk. The first time I watched The Borgias, I barely paid attention to his character. Now, Cardinal Versucci's journey is kind of breaking my heart.
Micheletto finds the house where Cardinal Versucci is staying. Through the boy who answered the door, Cardinal Versucci asks Micheletto to meet him at dusk at the old Roman baths. Micheletto must be certain the Cardinal is not going to run, because he did not push his way into the house to kill the Cardinal right then and there. Perhaps Micheletto is just as certain that he can find the Cardinal wherever he may go.
Cardinal Versucci is charitable as well as true to his word --- he waited for Micheletto at the bath. In the presence of Death himself, as I often think of Micheletto, Cardinal Versucci takes initiative and kills himself, but not before Micheletto could inform him that the Pope laughed upon learning what he did to the Vatican coffers.
Rodrigo
The Pope gets a visit from an envoy from Venice, who informs him that the Turks have been attacking trade convoys and raiding coastal towns. Cardinal Sforza quietly stands in the background while the Pope promises to give the problem some thought.
At a banquet with bankers and merchants, The Pope promises to wage a 'holy war' against the Turks. After his speech, however, proclamations regarding papal levies to fund the 'holy war' are read. Rodrigo wasted no time in replenishing the coffers.
Rodrigo also sends Cesare off to France. Cardinal Sforza informs him the Duke of Mantua requests an audience.
Lucrezia
Rodrigo and Cesare run into Lucrezia, whom the fond father calls a 'blushing bride.' Awkward.
King Ferdinand II of Naples (Matias Varela) asks Alfonso how Lucrezia was in bed. The creep asked for details. Alfonso is forced to admit the marriage was not consummated.
Alfonso later tries to consummate his marriage, but it is clear Lucrezia is not interested. She suggests they be like brother and sister, and if Alfonso knew that happened between Cesare and Lucrezia, he might happily agree to this. Lucrezia almost confesses with a 'something more happened' but stops herself.
The Pope and Cesare meet with the King of Naples, who informs them Alfonso and Lucrezia have yet to do the deed. The expression on Cesare's face when the Pope thunders 'If it is unconsummated, then whose fault is that?' is priceless. The King demands to witness the consummation. Dude, you are sick. Also, I may think the character is a creep but Matias Varela's performance is very good. Cesare is furious but he offers to tell Lucrezia.
Lucrezia is heartbreaking here. She calls Cesare weak, shameless. If she were a man, she says, she would have killed the King. To suit her father's plans, Lucrezia as a teenager was married off to Giovanni Sforza, an experience that effectively ended her childhood. Now, she is married again, to a boy she is fond of but not attracted to, and must endure fresh humiliation to preserve her father's latest alliance. She rails against Cesare, who kisses and silences her.
Lucrezia prepares for her ordeal with her mother Vanozza. I do believe Lucrezia will make someone pay for this night.
The audience for the consummation are Cesare and the King of Naples, separated from Alfonso and Lucrezia by a thin curtain. Lucrezia first ensures that Alfonso, who is probably as uncomfortable as she is, is focused on her and not paying attention to his lecherous relative. Then, her eyes bore on Cesare, and stayed with him until they finish.
Lucrezia and Cesare discuss Cesare's possible marriage to a French princess. Cesare seems intent on moving on, tells Lucrezia what happened between the two of them belongs in the past. Lucrezia's 'Come back soon' is my favourite in Holliday Grainger's strong work in this episode. Three words, and she managed to convey Lucrezia's weariness, her disappointment, her lingering love for her brother, her confusion and uneasiness about the future, even some of her simmering anger.
The Banquet
Giulia warns her brother not to go to dinner with the Cardinals that night. Gee, I wonder why.
The title of this episode is derived from this next scene. The historical account of the Ballet of Chestnuts (written by Johann Burchard, which states that it was Cesare who arranged the banquet) is subject to dispute. In this series, it is Giulia Farnese who plays hostess to the Cardinals and some very fetching nuns who turn out to be ladies of the night. First, the Cardinals bid on the nun's clothing, then the scene devolved into an o@!# involving chestnuts creatively picked up off the floor. The entire scene is chronicled and, I do not know if I just missed him, but I do not think Cardinal Sforza is in this scene.
While the debauchery is going on, the Pope gets a visit from the Duchess of Mantua. It would be unfair for the Pope to spend the night alone when most of the Cardinals were getting laid, right? Outside his palace, the Duke of Mantua tells Rufio his wife's insanity is his contribution to Caterina Sforza's war.
The following morning, the chastened Cardinals listen to the chronicle of their adventures. Message delivered and received.
Later, the Duke of Mantua asks the Pope for an annulment, the reason being his wife's infidelity with His Holiness himself.
I enjoyed this episode. The pacing was excellent. Lucrezia broke my heart, and so did Cardinal Versucci. Giulia shined in this episode because it was her intelligence and her own brand of ruthlessness that was highlighted, not her beauty (though she is a beauty) or her relationship with the Pope. Cardinal Sforza hovered over the episode, an unfailingly competent retainer to the Pope but an unpredictable and intriguing presence nonetheless. I especially loved Rodrigo's smooth way of replenishing Rome's coffers; it was a welcome demonstration of his strategic mind.
There has been some criticism over the banquet which I feel is justified. Confronted by an overtly sexual auction, not one of the Cardinals present protested. Not one of them was shown leaving, or even disgusted, when the o@!# commenced. Are we to believe that all Cardinals of the time were cool with such activities? This is, of course, just a TV show, and one that, according to history experts, has taken quite a number of liberties. I do not have reservations over the way the banquet was presented because it is not in keeping with history. As I pointed out earlier, even the historical record is disputed. I have reservations over it because it feels like a missed opportunity. A Cardinal who takes his vows seriously would be interesting to watch amidst ladies of the night dressed as nuns and Cardinals bidding on their clothing. How would other Cardinals react the moment even one of them walked out in protest? How would Giulia handle the possible unravelling of her plan? Also, this scene made me wonder if there are other religions or religious orders whose high-ranking members were portrayed in scenes like this on TV or film.
Overall, though, this is a tight, well-executed episode. We can only hope for more.
Show: The Borgias (Showtime)
Season: Three
Episode Title: The Banquet of Chestnuts
Episode Writer: Guy Burt
Episode Director: Jon Amiel
Original Air Date: May 5, 2013
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