Season 2 in my mind is more settled and more consistent than the patchy (with a little bit of a slow start) but very promising Season 1. Namely because the dialogue and pacing improved by quite some way in the second season, when they could be issues in the first. Up to this point, Season 2 hasn't had a bad episode (don't consider any episode in Season 1 bad either), actually loved all of them equally.
"The Siege at Forli" continues the continually high standard, with so many things that can't be faulted. It may not have the emotion of a couple of the previous Season 2 episodes, namely the climax of "The Choice" (and of the suceeding episodes "The Confession"), but the entertainment value and intensity is in full force. Likewise with the intrigue. It's an eventful episode, but doesn't in my mind feel rushed or overstuffed.
Did feel that despite the charming chemistry that everything with Lucrezia and Raffaello seemed on the underdeveloped side.
Also, although showing a degree of progression the Della Rovere subplot did generally feel rather dragged out in the second season, feel the same here although it doesn't feature too heavily.
Other than those, "The Siege at Forli's" strengths outshine them and they are nearly ignorable because the good things are so good. The return of Juan is hardly wasted, his role dominates the episode actually. The good news is that Juan is an interesting enough character to justify that, he is even more detestable than before, everything with Caterina is just brutal and David Oakes relishes that. The action scenes are tense and pretty graphic and one of the episode's clear highlights is Savonarola's "bonfire of the vanities" scene which has the ability to shock. There is also some welcome entertainment value too to balance all that out, on this front this is one of the funnier episodes. The opening scene is very amusing, and everything with the cigars equally amuses and doesn't get tired too early. The dialogue is thought provoking and doesn't sink into melodrama too much, this is an aspect that's come on a lot since 'The Borgias' first began. Lucrezia's wit shines most.
Caterina again lives up to her "Tigress of Forli" nickname, and Gina McKee is both radiant and cunning but also vulnerable in her chemistry with Oakes. Sean Harris shows the ability to be chilling but not overtly and remarkably subtle, namely through the eyes. Machiavelli is fun, Jeremy Irons' underused comic timing is put to good use and the writing for Lucrezia has thankfully, despite threatening to, not gone backwards, viewers will be relieved now that the character has since undergone a significant character growth. Other than Juan, the character that made the biggest impression on me was Savonarola, as well as being quite frightening an Uncle Fester-like Steven Berkoff has an absolute ball here and it is so much fun to watch.
Visually, "The Siege at Forli" is spot on. The costumes are just exquisite, especially those of Lucrezia and Giulia, and the scenery and interiors have the wow-factor, namely the interiors of the Sforza Castle. The photography captures those qualities beautifully. The music still has the beauty and intensity that were present in the previous episodes. Meanwhile the opening titles sequences and main theme still give me the chills. one of my favourite opening titles sequences of all time (film and television). The main theme is incredible, the sheer intensity, grandeur and drama (already sending chills down the spine and induces goosebumps before the episode's even begun) makes it one of my favourite main themes for any show.
In conclusion, incredibly well done. 9/10
"The Siege at Forli" continues the continually high standard, with so many things that can't be faulted. It may not have the emotion of a couple of the previous Season 2 episodes, namely the climax of "The Choice" (and of the suceeding episodes "The Confession"), but the entertainment value and intensity is in full force. Likewise with the intrigue. It's an eventful episode, but doesn't in my mind feel rushed or overstuffed.
Did feel that despite the charming chemistry that everything with Lucrezia and Raffaello seemed on the underdeveloped side.
Also, although showing a degree of progression the Della Rovere subplot did generally feel rather dragged out in the second season, feel the same here although it doesn't feature too heavily.
Other than those, "The Siege at Forli's" strengths outshine them and they are nearly ignorable because the good things are so good. The return of Juan is hardly wasted, his role dominates the episode actually. The good news is that Juan is an interesting enough character to justify that, he is even more detestable than before, everything with Caterina is just brutal and David Oakes relishes that. The action scenes are tense and pretty graphic and one of the episode's clear highlights is Savonarola's "bonfire of the vanities" scene which has the ability to shock. There is also some welcome entertainment value too to balance all that out, on this front this is one of the funnier episodes. The opening scene is very amusing, and everything with the cigars equally amuses and doesn't get tired too early. The dialogue is thought provoking and doesn't sink into melodrama too much, this is an aspect that's come on a lot since 'The Borgias' first began. Lucrezia's wit shines most.
Caterina again lives up to her "Tigress of Forli" nickname, and Gina McKee is both radiant and cunning but also vulnerable in her chemistry with Oakes. Sean Harris shows the ability to be chilling but not overtly and remarkably subtle, namely through the eyes. Machiavelli is fun, Jeremy Irons' underused comic timing is put to good use and the writing for Lucrezia has thankfully, despite threatening to, not gone backwards, viewers will be relieved now that the character has since undergone a significant character growth. Other than Juan, the character that made the biggest impression on me was Savonarola, as well as being quite frightening an Uncle Fester-like Steven Berkoff has an absolute ball here and it is so much fun to watch.
Visually, "The Siege at Forli" is spot on. The costumes are just exquisite, especially those of Lucrezia and Giulia, and the scenery and interiors have the wow-factor, namely the interiors of the Sforza Castle. The photography captures those qualities beautifully. The music still has the beauty and intensity that were present in the previous episodes. Meanwhile the opening titles sequences and main theme still give me the chills. one of my favourite opening titles sequences of all time (film and television). The main theme is incredible, the sheer intensity, grandeur and drama (already sending chills down the spine and induces goosebumps before the episode's even begun) makes it one of my favourite main themes for any show.
In conclusion, incredibly well done. 9/10
