Season 3 Episode 7
Micheletto Has A Boyfriend
Micheletto gets shown around Milan by a good looking boy named Pascal (I think we met him in the previous episode). I was spoiled about this development before I even saw this episode so, by the time I watched it, I was filled with nothing but dread. Oh, Micheletto. Be careful with that heart some people think you do not have. Anyway, after some loving in Leonardo da Vinci's quarters, Micheletto finds a nifty weapon with a sight.
Later, back in Rome, Micheletto sees his erstwhile Milanese lover in the market. He threatens Pascal, then takes the boy back to his place, where a fully nekkid Micheletto lays down the law.
Before Micheletto leaves on another trip with Cesare, he totally tells Pascal where he left some money. Micheletto is all gruff and mumbly and whatever, but he admits he would like it if Pascal were around when he returns. Oh Micheletto.
Pascal is Caterina's spy, of course. Rufio visits him, and even asks if Pascal has fallen for Micheletto. Rufio says he is there to smell Micheletto's odour, and that one day they will meet. I hope so. Is it bad of me to look forward to Micheletto killing Rufio? I have no problem with the actor's performance, by the way, Thure Lindhardt is excellent. It is the character that bugs me. I feel that Rufio was created precisely as a counterpart to Micheletto. Cesare has his dark shadow and so his adversary, Caterina, must have one, too. It is too, well, obvious.
Caterina, naturally, needed assistance in her war against the Borgias. Rather than create a new character, I would have preferred it if Benito Sforza was developed into his mother's competent second. Benito started off as a non-soldierly type, but he was shown to have steel in him during his torture, imprisonment, and subsequent trip to his release with Cesare and Micheletto. I thought he came off as almost frighteningly intelligent. Benito showing himself as an able strategist would surprise even his mother, though not Micheletto, who long scented the danger in the kid.
Anyway, going back to Rufio and Pascal, we find out that they are using a book code to communicate.
The Consequence of Disobeying Cesare
The King of France arrives in Milan and is met by Cesare; he is not pleased that Ludovico Sforza is alive. The King promises to hold Milan in the name of the Pope.
His work in Milan sort of finished, Cesare returns to Rome with Micheletto. He is met by a messenger boy who leads him to the palace of Cardinal Costanzo (I now know the name of Cardinal 1). Inside, Cesare and Micheletto find the disobedient Cardinal by the stairs, weak from the plague, with Caterina’s golden box near him. The Cardinal tells Cesare to burn down the palace; Cesare, in an act of mercy, throws the Cardinal a blade.
Rodrigo arrives on horseback to find Cardinal Costanzo’s palace on fire. He starts to berate his son, who explains about Caterina’s plot to send the Pope a message with plague. Rodrigo, angry about Milan and how Ludovico Sforza escaped, tells his son that Sforza is willing to hand over Caterina’s son Benito in exchange for his own safe passage. It was Cesare’s occasional BFF (yes, I know occasional BFF is contradictory, but then BFF tends to get used a lot improperly anyway, and here I am using it with a mixture of sarcasm and wariness) Machiavelli who delivered this message. What a piece of work Ludovico is. That is his blood, who just gave him a good turn by warning him of Cesare’s advance to Milan. Anyway, Rodrigo wants both Ludovico and Benito hauled in chains to Rome.
Lucrezia’s Gambit
Lucrezia plays nice with Alfonso, and tells him she has always wanted to be loved by a prince who could be king one day. For Lucrezia, this is not about hungering power; this is about ensuring her safety and that of her son’s. Alfonso, however, is third in line to the throne of Naples, and the poor boy has no interest in that kind of power.
Because she cannot rely on her husband, Lucrezia takes matters into her own hands and invites one of the claimants to the throne, Raphael, to play chess. Raphael tells Lucrezia in no uncertain terms that when he is king, there will be no place for little Giovanni in Naples. Lucrezia pulls the ‘I’m the Pope’s daughter’ card before walking away.
Lucrezia then meets with the other claimant to the throne, Raphael's half-brother Federigo. Federigo is friendly, even sympathetic to Lucrezia's troubles regarding Baby Giovanni. He says he has his dog eat off his own plate for fear of poison. Lucrezia says the Pope may withhold investiture to a king whose character is under question.
Federigo's poison fears seem to come true when Lucrezia finds his dog Sebastian dead. Federigo himself is gasping for breath. Lucrezia thinks the poison may be cantarella and sends her husband for a doctor. Lucrezia then tries to save Federigo's life the same way she did her father's in the opening episode of the season. However, when the doctor arrives, he quickly diagnoses the poison as galerina and administers a different treatment. While Federigo still gasps for breath, Lucrezia accuses Raphael of attempting to murder his brother.
At night, Lucrezia goes to the forest to meet with the old lady witch. After payment, the old lady admits to giving powder whose name I did not catch to Prince Raphael. In a later meeting, Raphael insists the old lady lied. Lucrezia gives him two option: (1) pursue the crown and suffer a reputation as a murderer or (2) relinquish the throne and retire comfortably, with his reputation intact. Raphael points out a third option, killing both Lucrezia and Federigo. He then says he will take the second option, if only to watch Lucrezia realise her folly. Huh. For a hard man in a hard time, Raphael gave up his throne so easily. Sitting on a throne at that time does not only mean power, it means survival, too. Raphael had no guarantee that his brother, once in power, would not have him killed. Also, why is reputation suddenly so important? An old king of Naples had a creative torture chamber and a thoroughly grotesque supper table. It is true the Pope may refuse investiture to the king who irritated his beloved daughter, but for how long? At the very least, Raphael could have fought Lucrezia longer.
In any case, Federigo is crowned King of Naples. Lucrezia thinks she won.
My compliments to Luke Allen-Gale as Federigo and Jamie Blackley as Raphael; they were both fantastic in their roles.
Rodrigo’s New BFF
Has Rodrigo ever had a BFF? I don’t think so. Cardinal Sforza does not count. Anyway, Rodrigo discusses Constantinople with his new BFF, Mattai. Mattai has an idea on how to destroy the Turkish fleet, in exchange for the Pope’s favour to the Jews in Rome.
Rodrigo also has dinner with Vanozza, who tells him Giulia has a new suitor she wants to introduce to him.
Cesare
Cesare spends some time with his mother, and they discuss Lucrezia, who complains of being watched constantly in Naples. Vanozza says Lucrezia loves Alfonso, and Cesara wonders if he is the only one Alfonso disappoints. Heh. Vanozza says Lucrezia wants power through Daddy's papal investiture.
Cesare then meets with Machiavelli, who tells him where to find Ludovico and Benito Sforza. This is a short scene but, Signor Machiavelli, always a pleasure.
Uncle and nephew arrive at the quarry with no escorts; Ludovico tells Benito they are there to meet forces loyal to the Sforzas who will escort Benito home to his mother. The two of them are quietly surrounded by Cesare's forces.
Micheletto gives Cesare that gun with sight he found in Leornardo da Vinci's chambers earlier. It is Micheletto who hits Benito with an arrow and kills the boy. Ludovico protests that the arrangement he made was to capture, not kill his nephew. He then demands his safe passage. Micheletto tosses him a piece of paper, which fools Ludovico. Cesare shoots him in the head.
Back in Rome, Giulia presents her new boy toy to Rodrigo, who is not impressed with him being a poet. Cesare arrives with news that he executed the Sforzas, which angers Rodrigo. Cesare says it is what the King of France wanted. Rodrigo is furious and wonders who he can trust and rely on. Cesare says, why, him, of course, because the Pope has no alternative. I can only imagine how tired Cesare must be of constantly trying to prove himself to his father while never fully earning his trust.
Show: The Borgias (Showtime)
Season: Three
Title: Lucrezia’s Gambit
Episode Writer: Neil Jordan
Episode Director: David Leland
Original Air Date: May 26, 2013
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