Season 3 Episode 5
This is another solid episode of The Borgias. I felt the slow motions were not necessary, but they did not distract from the dark core of this story, the madness of Bianca, Duchess of Mantua, portrayed by Melia Kreiling. She was just a minor character, just another beautiful woman the Pope bedded, yet with this episode, she became an affecting tragic figure.
Lucrezia Leaves Her Baby
Lucrezia has an emotional farewell with Baby Giovanni, whom she is leaving with her parents. I keep getting distracted with the thought that this poor child still has not grown. The creative team really should have remembered to age Baby Giovanni even just a bit.
Lucrezia is escorted into Naples by Micheletto. There is some talk about heart, just to emphasise how much Lucrezia misses her baby. Alfonso, clearly very happy to see his wife, lifts her from her horse. They greet the King of Naples. This is a much better welcome than the one Lucrezia got when she married Giovanni Sforza.
At a lavish banquet, the King gives a gracious toast, which Lucrezia throws back at his face by mentioning her child. The King says any child borne of the union between Lucrezia and Alfonso would be welcome; anyone else is best forgotten.
At a hunting party, Lucrezia is separated from the rest and meets an old woman, who warns her about poisonous mushrooms. Later, she asks Micheletto if he ever had a child. Micheletto says no. He gets a bit sentimental about Lucrezia's child. Lucrezia muses about who will succeed the King if he were to die. Micheletto says the King is strong and will be with them for a while.
At night, Lucrezia with a lamp goes looking for the poisonous mushrooms. Micheletto, who of course followed her, dissuades her from her plan and tells her to bid her time and to trust him. Listen to Micheletto, Lucrezia! She does.
At another hunting party, Micheletto and the King find themselves alone by a lake. The King wonders which the boar fears more, his arrow or the lake. Apparently, his uncle the late King Ferrante had the lake filled with lampreys, which are flesh-eating and which look like eels. The lampreys are for the ones King Ferrante hated the most. Micheletto says it is an original idea; the King says not really, it was from Seneca. I wonder what the Borgias told the King about Micheletto. Would the King be this chatty if he knew Micheletto to be a low-born assassin?
Anyway, the King hits the boar with an arrow, and the poor beast falls into the lake. Micheletto sees his chance to cheer up Lucrezia and pushes the King into the lake. The other hunters, including Alfonso, hear the King's screams. They rush to the lake but are too late.
As the body of the late King is brought back into the castle courtyard, Micheletto asks Lucrezia about Seneca. Lucrezia mentions Vedius Pollio, about whom Seneca wrote, and his pool of lampreys (according to Wikipedia, Vedius Pollio fed the servants who displeased him to his lampreys). Lucrezia wonders if she should bring her child to this theatre of cruelty; Micheletto says at least now, the choice is hers.
Caterina and Her Allies
At Forli Castle, Rufio tells Caterina that the Duke of Mantua will not join them. He did, however, make a contribution to their cause --- the insanity of his wife.
Caterina meets with members of important Italian families and persuades them to join her in a union against the Borgia pope. I have a girl crush on Gina McKee's Caterina. She manages to exude power just by standing there waiting for her bird to return to her. Her Caterina is the perfect adversary for Cesare; they are both smart, ruthless and sexy.
The men are not thrilled with the idea of a woman leading them, though she is the most powerful among them, as she points out. She says the papal army is weak; Juan Borgia was defeated outside her gates. One of the men points out that Cesare is not Juan. Caterina, perhaps recalling their sexy times, admits Cesare has 'vigour' but does not think the Pope trusts him with the papal army. The men decide they will keep their counsel until Cesare returns from France.
Cesare in France
Cesare gets a not so nice welcome in France; the archbishop who greets him calls him 'the bastard son of a Borgia pope.' Cesare, however, finds Machiavelli there. Machiavelli is just about to leave, but he stays long enough to give Cesare some fashion advice (stick to black). He also tells Cesare the King of France desires not just Naples but Milan as well. Why is Machiavelli helping Cesare?
Cesare is introduced at court but is largely ignored by the King until he mentions the golden word: divorce. The Queen also briefly speaks to Cesare about finding a wife among her ladies.
At a dance, the archbishop tells Cesare the Queen is barren. In exchange for an annulment, the archbishop details what the Borgias can expect --- a bride for Cesare, ancient French titles, an Order of the Golden Rose, and French support for the Pope's Italian adventures. Cesare wants an army that can cut through Italy. He also calls the archbishop 'Cardinal.' He then joins the dancing.
Cesare finds himself dancing with the Queen, who is not nice to him. She recommends Charlotte D'Albret to Cesare, whom she apparently hates. Cesare and Charlotte discuss, quite practically, their expectations in marriage. Cesare wants a title, an heir and a dowry. Charlotte wants a child, too, but she does not think she can live in Rome. Cesare tells her she will not have to. She asks jokingly if they are married already. Cesare lifts her and spins her. Aw, they like each other.
At a French hunt, the King tells Cesare, in exchange for an annulment, he can have Charlotte, a duchy and the Order of the Golden Rose. He cannot, however, give Cesare an army. Cesare dangles Milan. The King is shocked but obviously interested.
An angry Queen of France, who probably has just been told her marriage is to be dissolved, yells at Cesare and slaps him several times. Charlotte, who is sitting nearby, giggles. Cesare is all charm, they kiss, and Charlotte says she will marry him. The two of them sh@g and there is some talk of mutual satisfaction.
Cesare and Charlotte are married. By their marriage bed, Cesare drinks wine before taking off his shirt. The ladies of the court, who are present, giggle; I can only assume this is a nod to Cesare's fangirls. Heh. The newlyweds get under the covers, giggling. Charlotte asks Cesare about love, Cesare lies, Charlotte knows he lied and is cool with it. I like them together. They are two practical souls who take what joy they can from life.
Later, Cesare is seen with the French army. He finally got what he most wanted.
Bianca
This episode does not get into the fallout, if there was any, from the Duke of Mantua's very public denunciation of the Pope's relations with his wife. The Pope, however, spends much of the episode trying to convince Bianca to go back to her husband.
The lovers bathe, and the Pope tells Bianca that scandal is the prerogative of kings; he is a Pope and has a church to run. 'I am the lily of the valley and the king has brought me to his chambers,' Bianca says. Later, Bianca leaves the sleeping Rodrigo and walks into little Giovanni's chambers. She tries to pick up the baby but the nanny returns.
Bianca tells the Pope, who is still trying to get her to leave, that he is sad because his children left. She then says he does not have to be sad any longer because she is with child. Rodrigo seizes this as a reason for Bianca to go back to the Duke. Bianca says her husband asked her to abort the child, who is the Pope's, but she could not.
While sharing a meal, Rodrigo tells Bianca that if she will not return to her husband, he will send her to a convent. She repeats her 'lily of the valley' line and stabs a knife at the table. Melia Kreiling is selling Bianca's madness really, really well.
Bianca is examined by a doctor, who says she is not pregnant. She was with child, it was cut cruelly out of her; the event unhinged her. Rodrigo must not be an attentive lover, then; surely, the operation left scars. Rodrigo wonders what is best for her soul. The doctor suggests tranquillity and prayer. Bianca heartbreakingly smiles from the bed.
Bianca eats enthusiastically and speaks of her nonexistent child. Rodrigo gently, worriedly, tells her she has not slept in days. He embraces her. Two nuns come, and Rodrigo tells Bianca they are for the good of her eternal soul. They will take her to a house beyond the hills of Rome.
As the nuns lead Bianca away, she breaks from their grasp and runs. She locks herself inside Giovanni's chambers and finds a knife there. Rodrigo and the nuns run after her. Rodrigo breaks down the door. Bianca is standing by Giovanni's bed. When she turns to face Rodrigo, he sees that she has cut her neck.
Cardinal Sforza arrives and instructs the nuns to leave and not speak a word to anyone about what happened. Rodrigo is on the floor, cradling Bianca in his arms. Cardinal Sforza tells the Pope to let him handle this.
Cardinal Sforza and the Duke of Mantua discuss the annulment when they notice something dripping from the floor above. They go up and find Bianca in a tub, a case of suicide, according to the Cardinal. Cardinal Sforza blames the Duke as the man who drove her to it, and tells him to beg forgiveness.
Show: The Borgias (Showtime)
Season: Three
Episode Title: The Wolf and the Lamb
Episode Writer: Neil Jordan
Episode Director: Kari Skogland
Original Air Date: May 12, 2013
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