And will watch again. For me, no expert in anything but my trade. In content and context. And I felt pain at finishing it.
But , it pulls you into these lives, times and Cesare has you rooting for his accomplishments, from his on spot cunning. The last episode brought tears for both their ending. I hope anyone here can refer any others on this excellent level? I find I have exactly the same perspective as ExUrbe; too much accuracy would make the story unwatchable.
For me, the biggest inaccuracies I notice are the teeth. In NEARLY all these types of shows, teeth are 21st century white at a time when having any teeth left past the age 30 was remarkable.
Do I want to watch my heroes and heroines with nasty teeth? No, accuracy be damned. Our perception of attractiveness has changed, and I am not insulted when actors conform to modern definitions in order to relate how comely their characters were perceived by their contemporaries. The positives of both far outweigh negatives…which for me are all due to the medium itself.
I think his work is competent and dynamic. Somewhat reminiscent of another pair of Johns: Huston and Hurt. This article, and all the posts following have cleared up quite of a bit of my questions. I noticed immediately the question of which brother was older. I also questioned the pine cone in the square.
Thanks for those tidbits. They do help bring flavor. I have enjoyed many other series and mini-series from this period, and surrounding periods. But also other historical periods…but for the same reasons Rome Spartacus Camelot Vikings.
I think neither Borgia or The Borgias are over-the-top in regards to sex and violence. Contrarily, I would say that I prefer those elements being included somewhat graphically…as an historical lesson. I had not even considered the inverted logging saw as a method of torture until I saw it here. If the camera were to pan away and just include some sounds of anguish, it would be left to the imagination of the viewer, which has an entirely 21st century view of torture.
These types of scenes are not taken to the lengths of graphic horror movies or pornography…though viewer discretion is advised. So, if you are offended by the explicitness of these scenes, you are free to exercise your discretion and choose another show that fits within your values. Xena must have lived to be years old to interact with the characters she meets.
I still watch because I became a fan of Lucy Lawless after watching Spartacus series. Forget the fact that they paint Leonardo as a swash-buckling action hero. I am an Italian from Rome and I must really say that The Borgias series have made the Roman and Napoletan atmosphere way more spectacular, credential, stronger than Borgia series where you cant feel that real Roman air and urbanism.
And one other major element that I felt was very poor in Borgia series where chosen faces for the historical figures. I study art all my life and I am well educated about the looks of people from that period. Plus here and there you can also hear accents in The Borgias, not only in Borgia. But I dont agree that you should compare historicity of these both series, ofcourse The Borgias have many fictional moments, but that is a necessity, even in the great HBO series Rome they had to put some fictional stories to have a certain linear structure of the story, because in history you cant never follow ones persons story but seeing many other elements at once and that makes the view very confusing in a video.
Maybe Iam criticizing Borgia series too harshly but I just feel that they miss the overall energy of people and Rome and possibly its mostly about the chosen actors that dont convince me and they have a lack of energy in their roles.
Which is a shame and paradox when most of the actors in Borgia are Europeans. I played as extras soldier in Borgia in the Pragues studio and I saw that most soldiers were Czech people and using czechs as Romans is like using a scandinavian man as an African man, they are soo different in their mentallity that not even acting would be that convincing.
American would do much better as an Italian than a czech person. Its about the energy thats all wrong. Thank you very much for such an informative post! It was eloquent, witty and extremely interesting. I thought it was very good. I thought it was pretty good, not outstanding but not poor either. I think it was very understated and controlled.
That made me feel a little rocky in the first episodes, which may be what is making some people feel uncomfortable with the acting? Once I got used to it I thought the acting was above par for TV. Thank you for your informative article. I must say that I was a huge fan of the Showtime series.
And I understand that was such a large budget comes better actors, costumes, sets, writers etc. But the acting on BFF is some of the worst I have ever seen. I have looked at the series often for the last three years trying to get past the first 20 minutes of episode one season one. I always find myself turning it off due to frustration with the poor acting. So today I stopped watching episode one and moved onto the second one. I have to tell you even though they may have elaborated more on history etc.
The acting just sucks. But I will try based on your review. Keep blogging. I first watched the Showtime Borgia when it came out. I just discovered the European version and find it far superior than the SHO version. I too enjoy history and found that the European version was more accurate, and believable. I was surprised however that the European version suggests that Juan was dispatched by his sister….
Finally I have been binge watching the European version often viewing 8 hours at time…. Thanks Netflix. Having watched The Borgias religiously as new episodes were released on Sky Atlantic I can safely say that it gave me just the tasting I needed to spark an interest into the threats, debauchery, and everything else that goes with the delights of the Renaissance period. It was only recently, after finally cracking down on picking up the history books again, I realised that my craving for more was still not satiated, and after a search on Netflix — it seems I have indeed been sated!
One thing I will say though, is thank you for confirmation of my suspicions regarding the differences between the two shows, as well as clearing up some questions of my own!
I like the Euro one better. The shooting is very dark, which may put some people off, especially in season 1. I think they were trying to get the feel of the time, with no electric light, but not sure it makes for the best TV. But despite that, the story and development were far better. The script was also far superior, although a bit wordy at times. The sets were less fancy, but felt more realistic, so you felt like you were in the time period, which is more unto me than a fancy, perfect set.
The acting was good, too, better than the American version, I found. Parts of the show are funny. In season 1 of the Euro version, Cesare is like a tortured teenager, not sexy, etc.
But his character development is much better, and he gets more attractive starting in season 2. Thanks for the blog. Just finished all 38 episodes and loved every minute…..
Thanks to all with such interesting input! However, the story and characters are completely different. I think the Showtime one is a bit wishy washy to be honest. The BBC one is more in keeping to what I had read about the family, whereas this later version I did not recognise much at all and was a tad disappointed. Oliver Cotton makes a superb Cesare in my opinion and well worth watching.
Oh my. What an incoherent stream of consciousness here. D Have you even read the article you comment on? At least you could have googled how to write the name of Giulia Farnese properly…. Tastes may differ, surely. Because you know, any single episode of this series contains more true historical facts, characters and details than all 3 seasons of The Borgias put together. Why do you waste hours of your life watching anything you cannot neither understand nor enjoy, and then make yourselves ridiculous by writing absurd and ignorant comments?
Oh, please deliver me from this terrible oppressive marriage, help me Cesare. The two men duel, DUEL! Oh, you killed mu husband, you murdered him!
Go be a nun you stupid woman, I am sick of your moaning! I do remember being frustrated by that subplot myself. It just felt very ahistorical, not the actions or reactions either a Renaissance man or a Renaissance woman would take or have in such a situation. I had hoped they would make her more active and in control of her life. Loved the analysis. I am just finishing up the first season of Borgias: Faith and Fear.
His performance is like an American Pope. Thats quite an assumption youve got there mate. I, for one, am certainly not american. I was reading the Wikipedia article on Carlo Gesualdo, and was reminded of the example you used here about Orsini killing his wife when he finds her in the arms of another man, and how this was considered a perfectly acceptable reaction by the mores of the time.
The court found him innocent of any crime. Within 4 years he had married again, this time the niece of the Duke of Ferrara. The accent was totally jarring, as was the delivery. I wanted to like it. I enjoyed knowing that there would be more of the historical characters featured. Sumana Harihareswara said:. But the key stories, and how history influences the characters and situations, ring true to me. I loved the in-depth descriptions you give here along with your personal reasoning, all well stated.
The idea that for all of our past, humans have been cordial and honorable and even sexually inactive but tender when it happens all seemed ludicrous to me so I for one prefer a more realistic telling of past events and lifestyles even if some depictions are too difficult for me to watch.
Thank you again for not just stating which is a bit more historically realistic of the two mentioned shows but also for fully explaining the reasoning behind your statements so that people cam clearly see which wpuld be better suited for their personal tastes, your writing is superb and I hope to read many more enlightening posts from you. As far as the negative comments some have made, a Queen using the floor as a toilet for example, it clearly shows those who respond with personal attacks or obvious outrage are just taking life too personally, who cares is a Queen or a President or whomever in the past relieved themselves in a hallway or their reasoning for doing so, it has no bearing on how good a leader someone was or what their country fought through to get where they are in the world, as we all know, most kingdoms and countries and leaders of all past generations have likely done if not historically proven horrific things to others including ,any of their own citizenship.
Sky Simone said:. The contrast in the 2 shows is massive. Not relevant to my compare, but a comment all the same, the cast of the Showtime version are much more attractive. Actors playing Cesare and Lucrezia are absolutely stunning. The guy playing Cesare in the Netflix version is hideous..
How are we to know which is more historically accurate? It seems a LOT of the teachings or writings on Lucrezia are based on rumors.. Was she sleeping with her father? Was she sleeping with her brother? Showtime presents Lucrezia as an absolute whore, making out with her father, climbing into his bed, and having professed incestuous love for her brother Cesare. The foreign version has more detail and information about the election of this pope, whereas the Showtime version glossed over this and I thought it began with him already being pope?
So far in the foreign version there has been nothing of the noblelady that became a nun. Lucrezia has also expressed that she wants to be a nun.
Showtime he is a violent rapist, and she claims he never consumated the marriage to get an annulment. The netflix version he is a kind man who loves her, and his first wife died but he cannot get it up.
I am trying to figure out if Cesare really had a son he sacrificed to get his dad elected, or if at least there were rumors that he did, or if it is totally made up by the show… anyone know? Yet somehow, I find myself binging it. Leni said:. I really love this blog entry. The way you describe both series is entertaining as well as informative. I read this article a few years ago, and some of the comments about how to adapt history into something watchers can relate true was truly influencial for me.
I would love to make this article available in my language. Would it be ok for me to translate and publish your article for non profit of course with proper credits to you and a link to your website? Best regards, Kal. Click here to cancel reply. Search for: Search. The Borgias is auteur television at its best. That is how he wrote the proposed two-hour finale, with the pope dying and no one willing to hear his confession. He is now returning to movies, keeping up hope he could still make the proposed Borgias two-hour finale, maybe as a feature.
Jordan serves as executive producer, writer and director of select episodes. Episode guide. Play trailer Crime Drama History. Creator Neil Jordan. Top credits Creator Neil Jordan. See more at IMDbPro. Episodes Browse episodes. Top Top-rated. Trailer The Borgias: The First Season. The Borgias: The Second Season. The Borgias. Photos Top cast Edit. Sean Harris Micheletto as Micheletto. HuffPost Personal Video Horoscopes. Follow Us. Terms Privacy Policy. Part of HuffPost Entertainment.
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