Season 2 Episode 6
This is the recap I neglected to write last year, when I was working on Season Two recaps of The Borgias. I truly wish I had been able to recap The Borgias in proper order. In any case, it was lovely to rewatch an episode of this series again.
Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent; it is also an opportunity for Rodrigo to make a public show of his penitence following the events of the previous episode, when a lightning hit a church, causing its roof to collapse and killing several people. He kneels in front of a poor peasant woman and washes her feet. Amongst the crowd is Cardinal Della Rovere, Antonello, and another priest. Cardinal Della Rovere calls the Pope's actions, 'a new theatre.'
Yet, even privately, Rodrigo is consumed with thoughts of his sins. Alone at the confessional, Rodrigo murmurs, 'To whom does the Pope confess, oh Lord. Who will hear his sins, wash them clean, so that he may live again in your favour? Ah. The great silence.' Rodrigo's meditations are interrupted with the arrival of Cesare, who urgently seeks confession as well.
Cesare tells his father he committed the sins of murder and lust, against Giovanni Sforza and with Caterina Sforza. In a flash the penitent Pope is gone; in his stead is practical, ruthless Rodrigo. He hurriedly mutters the words of absolution, then continues to berate Cesare outside the Confessional. He says Cesare has started a war. Cesare begs to be released from his Cardinal's robes and be given command of the papal army; he promises to bring Caterina Sforza back to Rome in chains. Rodrigo brushes this off and says Lucrezia must marry again, because the family needs an alliance.
Cesare presents the knife coated in Giovanni Sforza's blood to Lucrezia. 'What does it say of us, brother, that you promise me this, and I would accept?' Rodrigo joins them and, when the marriage of Lucrezia is brought up, Lucrezia vehemently rejects it.
Rodrigo seeks Vanozza's assistance on the matter of Lucrezia's marriage, and appoints her ambassador to meet with potential suitors. Lucrezia agrees to look at the suitors, but rejects all of them. The sixth suitor is Calvino Pallavicini of Genoa, but Lucrezia is more interested in his younger brother Raffaello.
Rodrigo sends Cesare to Florence to deal with Savonarola; the friar is to be told to stop preaching, then be charged with heresy, then excommunicated, then burnt. As a side project, Cesare decides to steal a horde of Medici gold that is being moved. Because of Savonarola's preachings, Florence is no longer safe for the Medicis, who take refuge in Rome. Machiavelli informs Cesare of the movement of gold. Cesare manages to steal this gold, with the help of the men Micheletto recruited in Episode Four. Cesare means to use the gold to fund a campaign against Forli. He shows Rodrigo the waggons of treasure and once more begs his father to release him from his Cardinal's robes. Rodrigo refuses and says Juan is coming home. Upset, Cesare says he will be attending to the church's business in Florence.
Strays
■ Prior to sending Cesare, Rodrigo first sends Cardinal Sforza to Florence to offer Savonarola the Cardinal's hat. Savonarola rejects this.
■ Cardinal Della Rovere is giving Antonello increasing amounts of cantarella to get the young man's body more resistant to the poison. The Cardinal also points out the Pope's taster, Brother Bernardino.
■ Rodrigo decrees that the Curia fast together on sardines throughout Lent.
■ Savonarola claims he hears the voice of God.
■ Rodrigo described Giovanni Sforza's murder to Vanozza as an 'unfortunate incident.' - 'He fell into a knife that Cesare happened to be holding.'
■ Machiavelli helps Cesare, even to the detriment of his master Piero de Medici.
■ Giulia, Vanozza and Lucrezia blackmail the Cardinals into funding a new house for the poor.
■ For a few moments, Cesare is hopeful about finally being free of his Cardinal's robes. He tells Micheletto that when the papal army is in his charge, Micheletto will wear armour and be his captain. Micheletto's respnse: 'No. I was born in the shadows. I feel that is where I should remain.'
■ With Piero de Medici asking for Rodrigo's protection in Rome and help in dealing with Savonarola, Rodrigo declares that the Medici bank will be reformed into the Vatican Bank.
Quotes
Cardinal Sforza: 'His Holiness is going through a period of sanctity, penance. It will pass.'
Cardinal Sforza: 'They are women. Women are dangerous.'
Cesare: 'Trust me. My name is Borgia.'
Show: The Borgias (Showtime)
Season: Two
Episode Number in Season: Six
Episode Number in Series: Fifteen
Episode Title: Day of Ashes
Episode Writer: David Leland
Episode Director: John Maybury
Original Air Date: May 13, 2012
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