The interplay of political struggles and personal conflict is a near constant presence in The Borgias. In this episode, it becomes more prominent as Lucrezia, to service her father's political needs, marries Giovanni Sforza. Scattered throughout the episode are explanations, seamlessly woven into the story, of the geo-political situation of the time. Italy as we know it now did not yet exist. Naples was a grand kingdom, claimed by both France and Spain. Florence was controlled by the Medicis, a wealthy banking family, yet was also a potential hotbed of religious and social uprising thanks to the passionate preachings of the friar Savonarola.
Generous to his children, Rodrigo likes to play the fond father, as long as it is not inconvenient to him and his plans. He pushed Cesare to be cardinal, deaf to his son's strenuous objections. He showily praises Lucrezia's wedding dress, yet wordlessly walks away when she tearfully pleads for Vanozza, a 'commoner' and former courtesan, to be allowed to attend her wedding. In a tense show of the son publicly challenging the father, Cesare brings Vanozza to the wedding banquet. With Giulia's quiet persuasions, Rodrigo grudgingly acknowledges Vanozza and gives permission for her to join the dancing.
Standing barely outside the Borgia family drama is Giovanni Sforza, Lucrezia's new husband. Insulted at having to marry a lady he deems of unacceptably low birth (his insult compounded by the bawdy show Juan commissioned for the wedding banquet), he takes his anger out on Lucrezia on the first night they share as man and wife. Lucrezia's ill treatment in the hands of her husband is in stark, heartbreaking contrast to the night before that, when Cesare tenderly lifted her sleepy form from the banquet table and carried her to her bed.
On the eve of his sister's departure from their home, Cesare meets Ursula Bonadeo, the beautiful, unhappy wife of a proud nobleman who deemed it fitting to insult Cesare's mother to his face. I really liked Ruta Gedmintas in The Tudors, but after Ursula gossipped about her husband to Cesare, whom she just met, then parted with a 'Liberate me,' I found myself getting turned off by the character.
Cesare, however, has other things on his mind apart from his New Love Interest, like sending a spy with a scarred face and a begging bowl, whom Micheletto found for him, to watch Cardinal Della Rovere in Florence. The good cardinal wants to persuade France to invade Italy and seat him on the papal throne, and wishes Florence to do nothing whilst the French armies march. Cardinal Della Rovere also meets with Savonarola, who tells the cardinal of his vision of a great army from the north, with canon, invited into Italy by a cleric in red. Savonarola also has a vision of Rodrigo's death. His conscience bothered by the thought of blood spilt at his urging, Cardinal Della Rovere goes to confession. The 'priest' is the Borgia spy, and when the cardinal realises this, he stabs the man in the eye.
Generous to his children, Rodrigo likes to play the fond father, as long as it is not inconvenient to him and his plans. He pushed Cesare to be cardinal, deaf to his son's strenuous objections. He showily praises Lucrezia's wedding dress, yet wordlessly walks away when she tearfully pleads for Vanozza, a 'commoner' and former courtesan, to be allowed to attend her wedding. In a tense show of the son publicly challenging the father, Cesare brings Vanozza to the wedding banquet. With Giulia's quiet persuasions, Rodrigo grudgingly acknowledges Vanozza and gives permission for her to join the dancing.
Standing barely outside the Borgia family drama is Giovanni Sforza, Lucrezia's new husband. Insulted at having to marry a lady he deems of unacceptably low birth (his insult compounded by the bawdy show Juan commissioned for the wedding banquet), he takes his anger out on Lucrezia on the first night they share as man and wife. Lucrezia's ill treatment in the hands of her husband is in stark, heartbreaking contrast to the night before that, when Cesare tenderly lifted her sleepy form from the banquet table and carried her to her bed.
On the eve of his sister's departure from their home, Cesare meets Ursula Bonadeo, the beautiful, unhappy wife of a proud nobleman who deemed it fitting to insult Cesare's mother to his face. I really liked Ruta Gedmintas in The Tudors, but after Ursula gossipped about her husband to Cesare, whom she just met, then parted with a 'Liberate me,' I found myself getting turned off by the character.
Cesare, however, has other things on his mind apart from his New Love Interest, like sending a spy with a scarred face and a begging bowl, whom Micheletto found for him, to watch Cardinal Della Rovere in Florence. The good cardinal wants to persuade France to invade Italy and seat him on the papal throne, and wishes Florence to do nothing whilst the French armies march. Cardinal Della Rovere also meets with Savonarola, who tells the cardinal of his vision of a great army from the north, with canon, invited into Italy by a cleric in red. Savonarola also has a vision of Rodrigo's death. His conscience bothered by the thought of blood spilt at his urging, Cardinal Della Rovere goes to confession. The 'priest' is the Borgia spy, and when the cardinal realises this, he stabs the man in the eye.
Strays
■ Giulia gave Lucrezia lessons in kissing.
■ Concerned that Cardinal Della Rovere may ally with France, Rodrigo decides to strengthen their relationship with Spain. The Spanish king wants papal blessing for his country's conquest of the New World, and Vatican support for Spain's claim to Naples.
■ We get to see Machiavelli (Julian Bleach) for the first time in this episode.
■ Vanozza's ex-husband Theo was apparently paid off by Rodrigo; the pope bought Theo's farm for him. When Cesare walks in on Vanozza and Theo dining, Cesare does not seem pleased to see Theo. Here, and in Cesare's other scenes save for those with Lucrezia, there is an undercurrent of danger in him.
■ Sprezzatura - 'the effortless display of grace'
■ Concerned that Cardinal Della Rovere may ally with France, Rodrigo decides to strengthen their relationship with Spain. The Spanish king wants papal blessing for his country's conquest of the New World, and Vatican support for Spain's claim to Naples.
■ We get to see Machiavelli (Julian Bleach) for the first time in this episode.
■ Vanozza's ex-husband Theo was apparently paid off by Rodrigo; the pope bought Theo's farm for him. When Cesare walks in on Vanozza and Theo dining, Cesare does not seem pleased to see Theo. Here, and in Cesare's other scenes save for those with Lucrezia, there is an undercurrent of danger in him.
■ Sprezzatura - 'the effortless display of grace'
■ I am not, and have never been, part of the large contingent of The Borgias fans who 'shipped' Cesare and Lucrezia --- I never wanted them to be l0vers --- but the chemistry between Francois Arnaud and Holliday Grainger, cast as brother and sister, is exquisite torture. I hope they work together again on another project.
Quotes
Giulia: 'All things are permissible in our dreams.'
Cesare: 'What Eden have they torn you from?'
Cardinal Della Rovere: 'Can one sin for the greater good?'
Cardinal Della Rovere: 'Can one sin for the greater good?'
Show: The Borgias (Showtime)
Season: One
Episode Number in Season: Four
Episode Number in Series: Four
Episode Title: Lucrezia's Wedding
Episode Writer: Neil Jordan
Episode Director: Simon Cellan Jones
Original Air Date: April 17, 2011
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