Season 3 started off absolutely brilliantly with "The Face of Death", a season premiere that was on par with the show-high-point standard of the previous season's finale "The Confession" (a must see for primarily in my mind the single best scene of 'The Borgias', Juan's burial). The next episode "The Purge" was also of a very high standard if a slight disappointment in comparison, it would though have been very tough following on from an episode with an opening scene so powerful.
The third episode "Siblings" is also not quite as great as "The Face of Death" but improves on "The Purge". It is a great episode of 'The Borgias', with so many exceptional things, and is a very high quality episode by television standards as well. It is also one of the show's most unique episodes and does stand out from the rest, and it's not just because of the unconventional relationship that caused quite a stir among fans on both sides six years ago and still talked about a lot (same goes for those that dislike the show as well, yes they are around).
Am not sure how many people will agree, but to me the relationship was sympathetically and tenderly handled, not easy to do with portraying unconventional love. And the chemistry sizzled more than most of the other chemistries on 'The Borgias' (yes just as much as the one between Rodrigo and Giulia, which boast some of the show's standout moments). Complete with one of the most powerfully intimate love scenes of any show to grace my television set, am not kidding. Will admit to not finding it a shock though, a large part of it being because when first watching 'The Borgias' it was spoiled for me before watching the episode. But also it didn't feel like it came out of nowhere, the two were always very close and he proved more than once that he would do anything for her (and the family), especially when Juan's loathsome behaviour grew worse.
It is not just that component that "Siblings" excels so well in. Caterina this season already shows signs of being the show's best opponent, she poses more of a threat than the previous ones and her role in the storytelling is advancing all the time without being rushed. Unlike Della Rovere's in the second season that was dragged out for most of the season. Ferdinand's contempt is one of the best portrayals of contempt seen by me in a long time either on film or television, my goodness it is cold and quite chilling. The portrayal of noblemen on the show had improved drastically over-time, much more real. Rodrigo as always is a delight, will never get enough of the relationship between him and Cesare, while the political intrigue intrigues as much as it should.
From start to finish, the production values are stunning, have always loved the costumes in particular. The music is beautiful and intense in equal measure, with the goosebump-inducing main theme and Cesare and Lucrezia's theme is a thing of beauty. The opening titles sequence is one of my favourites of all time. The writing has a wide mix of emotions and provokes thought, even if melodrama isn't entirely avoided, while the story is eventful and compelling throughout. The ever a joy to watch Jeremy Irons and darkly smoldering Francois Arnaud stand out of the cast, while Holliday Grainger has matured greatly and Matias Varela is suitably icy.
My only real complaint is that Alfonso seemed on the bland side to me and his hurt and anger didn't quite ring true.
Otherwise though, a great episode. 9/10
The third episode "Siblings" is also not quite as great as "The Face of Death" but improves on "The Purge". It is a great episode of 'The Borgias', with so many exceptional things, and is a very high quality episode by television standards as well. It is also one of the show's most unique episodes and does stand out from the rest, and it's not just because of the unconventional relationship that caused quite a stir among fans on both sides six years ago and still talked about a lot (same goes for those that dislike the show as well, yes they are around).
Am not sure how many people will agree, but to me the relationship was sympathetically and tenderly handled, not easy to do with portraying unconventional love. And the chemistry sizzled more than most of the other chemistries on 'The Borgias' (yes just as much as the one between Rodrigo and Giulia, which boast some of the show's standout moments). Complete with one of the most powerfully intimate love scenes of any show to grace my television set, am not kidding. Will admit to not finding it a shock though, a large part of it being because when first watching 'The Borgias' it was spoiled for me before watching the episode. But also it didn't feel like it came out of nowhere, the two were always very close and he proved more than once that he would do anything for her (and the family), especially when Juan's loathsome behaviour grew worse.
It is not just that component that "Siblings" excels so well in. Caterina this season already shows signs of being the show's best opponent, she poses more of a threat than the previous ones and her role in the storytelling is advancing all the time without being rushed. Unlike Della Rovere's in the second season that was dragged out for most of the season. Ferdinand's contempt is one of the best portrayals of contempt seen by me in a long time either on film or television, my goodness it is cold and quite chilling. The portrayal of noblemen on the show had improved drastically over-time, much more real. Rodrigo as always is a delight, will never get enough of the relationship between him and Cesare, while the political intrigue intrigues as much as it should.
From start to finish, the production values are stunning, have always loved the costumes in particular. The music is beautiful and intense in equal measure, with the goosebump-inducing main theme and Cesare and Lucrezia's theme is a thing of beauty. The opening titles sequence is one of my favourites of all time. The writing has a wide mix of emotions and provokes thought, even if melodrama isn't entirely avoided, while the story is eventful and compelling throughout. The ever a joy to watch Jeremy Irons and darkly smoldering Francois Arnaud stand out of the cast, while Holliday Grainger has matured greatly and Matias Varela is suitably icy.
My only real complaint is that Alfonso seemed on the bland side to me and his hurt and anger didn't quite ring true.
Otherwise though, a great episode. 9/10
