Am immensely fond of 'The Borgias', a gorgeously produced, often powerfully scored, compelling and mostly well acted show, with many unforgettable individual scenes. Where the writing and pacing took half a season to settle but had mostly little problems with them when they did, though there were exceptions and there definitely could have been less of the Della Rovere subplot. Season 2 was a good deal better than the first season where it was more consistent in quality, not many seasons for a good number of shows where all the episodes are great.
Season 3 starts off with an electrifying bang in one of 'The Borgias' best episodes. Watching the previous season's finale "The Confession", one would think that this season opener would struggle to equal that episode's quality. Although there was not a bad episode of 'The Borgias' (personal opinion) beforehand, "The Confession" was in a completely different league to every other episode seen before, no matter how many impossible to forget scenes there were in the previous episodes. Struggle to equal this did not, for me "The Face of Death" was every bit on "The Confession's" level.
What immediately grabbed my attention and made my hairs stand up on the back of my neck was the opening, masterful and truly powerful in every way and a masterpiece of acting, character chemistry and editing. It saw everybody working together for a major cause, all on each others' side, and serving a big role in it, for pretty much the first time in 'The Borgias' where before there was continual tension in the family and one would never think everybody would work together in this way. We even see dubious characters being trusted in their role and their action, when before it would not have been heard of (i.e. Micheletto).
Everything about "The Face of Death" was captivating, especially the beginning but everything with the Sforzas intrigues and has tension, also advancing things and setting things up for what is about to come, without being dragged out. The way the Borgias care for each other and Rodrigo here and the lengths that are gone through to keep them protected is tense and touching. Much happens but it doesn't feel too much in terms of how much happens or the impact it has, to the point that it becomes exhausting. Rodrigo may be a scheming and deliberately inconsistent character, but hardly found myself rooting for his death (far from it, the show would feel very strange without him) as he is also a great one and always one of the more interesting ones.
While the episode is generally setting up for what is to come in the season, plot and characterisation advance and it doesn't feel like filler. All the performances are strong, with relatively underused characters from the previous season serving a major role here (i.e. Vanozza). Lucrezia has come on such a long way and while she was already starting to become more like the bat out of hell historical figure she is famous for last season that felt established in Season 3. Jeremy Irons and Gina McKee fare strongly here, as do Holliday Grainger and Joanne Whalley, but to me the best performance came from a darkly intense Francois Arnaud. Peter Sullivan also does a great job as the increasingly interesting Cardinal Sforza, who you are not sure whether to trust. The writing here shows the big improvement since the show began, something that grew throughout the show's run and a growth that doesn't stop here.
Visually, "The Face of Death" is top class. The opening ties with Juan's burial in "The Confession" as the best looking sequence of all the episodes of 'The Borgias', in every regard but particularly the editing. The sumptuous costumes and equally stunning interiors and scenery still remain and beautifully complemented as ever by the photography. The music is beautiful and intense, while placed appropriately and never being too loud, and the main theme for 'The Borgias' will never fail to induce goosebumps (not many shows evoke that reaction from me). The opening titles sequence is one of my favourites of all time, whether film or television, those images stay with you forever.
Concluding, 'The Borgias' is at the top of its game here. 10/10
Season 3 starts off with an electrifying bang in one of 'The Borgias' best episodes. Watching the previous season's finale "The Confession", one would think that this season opener would struggle to equal that episode's quality. Although there was not a bad episode of 'The Borgias' (personal opinion) beforehand, "The Confession" was in a completely different league to every other episode seen before, no matter how many impossible to forget scenes there were in the previous episodes. Struggle to equal this did not, for me "The Face of Death" was every bit on "The Confession's" level.
What immediately grabbed my attention and made my hairs stand up on the back of my neck was the opening, masterful and truly powerful in every way and a masterpiece of acting, character chemistry and editing. It saw everybody working together for a major cause, all on each others' side, and serving a big role in it, for pretty much the first time in 'The Borgias' where before there was continual tension in the family and one would never think everybody would work together in this way. We even see dubious characters being trusted in their role and their action, when before it would not have been heard of (i.e. Micheletto).
Everything about "The Face of Death" was captivating, especially the beginning but everything with the Sforzas intrigues and has tension, also advancing things and setting things up for what is about to come, without being dragged out. The way the Borgias care for each other and Rodrigo here and the lengths that are gone through to keep them protected is tense and touching. Much happens but it doesn't feel too much in terms of how much happens or the impact it has, to the point that it becomes exhausting. Rodrigo may be a scheming and deliberately inconsistent character, but hardly found myself rooting for his death (far from it, the show would feel very strange without him) as he is also a great one and always one of the more interesting ones.
While the episode is generally setting up for what is to come in the season, plot and characterisation advance and it doesn't feel like filler. All the performances are strong, with relatively underused characters from the previous season serving a major role here (i.e. Vanozza). Lucrezia has come on such a long way and while she was already starting to become more like the bat out of hell historical figure she is famous for last season that felt established in Season 3. Jeremy Irons and Gina McKee fare strongly here, as do Holliday Grainger and Joanne Whalley, but to me the best performance came from a darkly intense Francois Arnaud. Peter Sullivan also does a great job as the increasingly interesting Cardinal Sforza, who you are not sure whether to trust. The writing here shows the big improvement since the show began, something that grew throughout the show's run and a growth that doesn't stop here.
Visually, "The Face of Death" is top class. The opening ties with Juan's burial in "The Confession" as the best looking sequence of all the episodes of 'The Borgias', in every regard but particularly the editing. The sumptuous costumes and equally stunning interiors and scenery still remain and beautifully complemented as ever by the photography. The music is beautiful and intense, while placed appropriately and never being too loud, and the main theme for 'The Borgias' will never fail to induce goosebumps (not many shows evoke that reaction from me). The opening titles sequence is one of my favourites of all time, whether film or television, those images stay with you forever.
Concluding, 'The Borgias' is at the top of its game here. 10/10
