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The Borgias Review: Oh Brother Who Art Thou?

Critic's Rating: 3.5 / 5.0
3.5

After a week off for Memorial Day, The Borgias returned with an installment that worked much like a setup episode for things to come.  Other than Lucrezia’s betrothing process coming to a conclusion, “Truth and Lies” was filled with stories that remained just on the edge of arriving to the party.

Like a number of chapters in this second season, a major theme running through the hour was that of feuding brothers.  Not only did Juan and Cesare’s ongoing battle continue to heat up, but it seems like Lucrezia – with the help of her mother – might have created another brotherly feud between her two related suitors.

Rodrigo Borgia Picture
(Jonathan Hession/SHOWTIME)

While it has been nice to see Lucrezia’s strength and confidence develop over the course of this season, I wasn’t nearly as interested in what those bros were up to as I was watching Juan and Cesare square off, the former get booted from command, and the latter commit his act of mercy on Catharina Sforza’s son.

After having said all that, I’m still not complaining about that passionate sex scene between Lucrezia and brother number two.  Also, it will probably be fun seeing how that entire situation plays itself out as the season comes to an end.  Will the two brothers begin hating each other like Juan and Cesare, or will they come to some sort of an understanding?

Just as one Borgia’s confidence continued to rise, another’s could not be much lower at this point.  For as awesome as Juan was when he thought he was on top of the world as the leader of the Papal armies, he was just as incredible after losing in battle, limping around with a wounded leg, and basically getting removed from his command by the Pope.

The Pope, meanwhile, proved once again why there were so many questions about this show in the early going.  Jeremy Irons, for as critically acclaimed an actor as he is, has had some of the most ridiculously over the top scenes of this series’ first two seasons.

This time around it was when he got all hot and bothered in complaining to Vanozza about Lucrezia’s situation.  Between his ridiculous accent, and how he kept going on and on, it just didn’t seem realistic or well acted.

Looking on the horizon, it is very exciting to anticipate what might be coming next from Della Rovere and his new child friend.  The boy finally removed the current taster from his post, so all he has left in Rovere’s plan would be to take out the man himself…Rodrigo Borgia…Pope Alexander.

I can’t wait to see how the second season of The Borgias comes to a conclusion.  What about all you TV Fanatics?  What did you think of this week’s installment?  And what was your favorite moment from “Truth and Lies?”

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