Re-watching 'The Borgias' has given me a lot of pleasure, whether it's in a guilty way or not is dependent on what people's stance is on the show having seen both love and dislike. It's not as good as on very first viewing a couple of years ago, with the flaws being more noticeable over-time. Particularly in Season 1, which was still very enjoyable with many great things but will admit that it was a slow starter.
This was especially apparent in the writing (enjoyed much of it, but it wasn't without its melodrama and unnaturness) and pacing (the Della Rovere subplot in "Lucrezia's Wedding' and "The Borgias in Love" being a notable example), which were patchy to begin with but did improve significantly over time. That was noticeable when the season got back on track in the previous episode "The French King" and are even better here in "Death on a Pale Horse", one of the best episodes of the season and replaces "The French King" as the best of the show up to this point.
My only complaint really is the Cesare and Ursula subplot in the abbey, still don't detect much chemistry between them, that was the only scene where the dialogue came over as properly soap-operatic and am not a fan of Ursula, never was really. The war/military props don't have the attention to detail and budget shown in the rest of the production values, but that wasn't too much of a drawback.
So many great things in "Death on a Pale Horse" though. Lucrezia has really grown as a character, in development and in personality, her subplot with Paolo does have chemistry and not as cheesily written. The episode is great in giving her a reason for not running away sooner, one that we understand whereas it was mystifying before. Loved Giulia's role here, more expanded, more scheming and loved her sympathetic chemistry with Lucrezia. Great for the episode to give her a purpose much more than Rodrigo's mistress. A highlight scene is the scene in Luca, absolutely gut wrenching and brought tears to my eyes (the most emotional scene of the show up to this point). Other highlights are Jeremy Irons' deliciously devillish delivery in an early scene with Cesare (love their chemistry), a scene that reminds one fondly of the previous episode's "geopolitics" scene and particularly Rodrigo's confessional scene which is one of Rodrigo's greatest ever moments.
Had issues with Della Rovere's subplot in some of the previous episodes, in "The French King" it actually showed signs of progression and continues to progress and has genuine emotion and intensity this time. Instead of being a stock villain, there is a more conflicted and horrified side to Della Rovere, portrayed beautifully by Colm Feore in one of his better performances in the show. Also agree about the flies in the spider's web feel of the counsel scene, some great writing relished by Irons.
"Death in a Pale Horse" is as always with 'The Borgias' visually stunning. The exquisitely designed and richly coloured costumes and scenery and interiors are wow-worthy, and the beautiful photography rivals period dramas on film. 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. Matched by splendidly and cleverly designed visuals. As indicated, the writing is some of the best of the season. The counsel and confessional scenes are highlights, but another gem was Machiavelli's sarcasm in his line about pouring the wine now that Republic of France had surrendered. The pacing, also as indicated, has improved vastly too, now with more intrigue, problematic subplots before now being much better and more going on.
Rodrigo was for my tastes underused for some of Season 1, but Irons always made much of his material and when he was present in the episode he was always memorable. Irons does ruthless brilliantly, with Rodrigo being at his most cunning up to this point of 'The Borgias' (namely in the counsel scene), doing it with chilling menace and subtle gravitas whether with words delivered in his unique listen-to-for-hours voice or just his face. The rest of the cast are solid, excepting the actress playing Ursula, with the standout being the ever ravishing Lotte Verbeek.
In conclusion, great episode and one of the best of the first season. 9/10
This was especially apparent in the writing (enjoyed much of it, but it wasn't without its melodrama and unnaturness) and pacing (the Della Rovere subplot in "Lucrezia's Wedding' and "The Borgias in Love" being a notable example), which were patchy to begin with but did improve significantly over time. That was noticeable when the season got back on track in the previous episode "The French King" and are even better here in "Death on a Pale Horse", one of the best episodes of the season and replaces "The French King" as the best of the show up to this point.
My only complaint really is the Cesare and Ursula subplot in the abbey, still don't detect much chemistry between them, that was the only scene where the dialogue came over as properly soap-operatic and am not a fan of Ursula, never was really. The war/military props don't have the attention to detail and budget shown in the rest of the production values, but that wasn't too much of a drawback.
So many great things in "Death on a Pale Horse" though. Lucrezia has really grown as a character, in development and in personality, her subplot with Paolo does have chemistry and not as cheesily written. The episode is great in giving her a reason for not running away sooner, one that we understand whereas it was mystifying before. Loved Giulia's role here, more expanded, more scheming and loved her sympathetic chemistry with Lucrezia. Great for the episode to give her a purpose much more than Rodrigo's mistress. A highlight scene is the scene in Luca, absolutely gut wrenching and brought tears to my eyes (the most emotional scene of the show up to this point). Other highlights are Jeremy Irons' deliciously devillish delivery in an early scene with Cesare (love their chemistry), a scene that reminds one fondly of the previous episode's "geopolitics" scene and particularly Rodrigo's confessional scene which is one of Rodrigo's greatest ever moments.
Had issues with Della Rovere's subplot in some of the previous episodes, in "The French King" it actually showed signs of progression and continues to progress and has genuine emotion and intensity this time. Instead of being a stock villain, there is a more conflicted and horrified side to Della Rovere, portrayed beautifully by Colm Feore in one of his better performances in the show. Also agree about the flies in the spider's web feel of the counsel scene, some great writing relished by Irons.
"Death in a Pale Horse" is as always with 'The Borgias' visually stunning. The exquisitely designed and richly coloured costumes and scenery and interiors are wow-worthy, and the beautiful photography rivals period dramas on film. 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. Matched by splendidly and cleverly designed visuals. As indicated, the writing is some of the best of the season. The counsel and confessional scenes are highlights, but another gem was Machiavelli's sarcasm in his line about pouring the wine now that Republic of France had surrendered. The pacing, also as indicated, has improved vastly too, now with more intrigue, problematic subplots before now being much better and more going on.
Rodrigo was for my tastes underused for some of Season 1, but Irons always made much of his material and when he was present in the episode he was always memorable. Irons does ruthless brilliantly, with Rodrigo being at his most cunning up to this point of 'The Borgias' (namely in the counsel scene), doing it with chilling menace and subtle gravitas whether with words delivered in his unique listen-to-for-hours voice or just his face. The rest of the cast are solid, excepting the actress playing Ursula, with the standout being the ever ravishing Lotte Verbeek.
In conclusion, great episode and one of the best of the first season. 9/10
