As someone who gives The Young Pope 10/10 stars, it is sad that the New Pope is so vastly inferior to the point of being insulting to the viewer. The first episode of the New Pope was very good and in the spirit of the original series. The second and third episodes were dire. The fourth episode showed hopeful signs of recovery, but now with this fifth episode, it is doubtful that this series as a whole can be rated higher than two or three stars. John Malkovich was horribly miscast as an English gentleman. His accent is grating, delivery terrible, and he's just a boring and long-winded character I have come to dread when he comes on screen for his long, unrealistic, and unfulfilling monologues in imitation of a much diminished and humourless Tyrion Lannister. Whereas I looked forward eagerly to each episode of the Young Pope, this one is real work to trundle through. This is the first episode where there wasn't a single entertaining moment. The dancing routine (as in the end credits) is wearing thin. It's old hat by now, and was most effective when used sparingly. Oh well, I suppose this definitely proves that the Young Pope's genius was mostly by accident of converging circumstances, and not a success to be repeated.