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Borgia

  • TV Series
  • 2011–20142011–2014
  • TV-MATV-MA
  • 52m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,501
74
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Borgia (2011)
Trailer for Borgia
Play trailer4:50
4 Videos
99+ Photos
  • Biography
  • Drama
  • History

Story of the rise and the fall of the Renaissance dynasty.Story of the rise and the fall of the Renaissance dynasty.Story of the rise and the fall of the Renaissance dynasty.

IMDb RATING
7.8/10
6.6K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,501
74
  • Creator
    • Tom Fontana
  • Stars
    • Mark Ryder
    • Isolda Dychauk
    • Diarmuid Noyes
Top credits
  • Creator
    • Tom Fontana
  • Stars
    • Mark Ryder
    • Isolda Dychauk
    • Diarmuid Noyes
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 47User reviews
    • 16Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 8 nominations

    Episodes38

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos4

    Borgia: The Complete Season One
    Trailer 4:50
    Borgia: The Complete Season One
    Borgia: Season 2 (German Blu-Ray/DVD Trailer)
    Trailer 1:39
    Borgia: Season 2 (German Blu-Ray/DVD Trailer)
    Borgia: Season 1 (German Blu-Ray/DVD Trailer)
    Trailer 0:24
    Borgia: Season 1 (German Blu-Ray/DVD Trailer)
    Borgias
    Trailer 1:54
    Borgias

    Photos534

    Diarmuid Noyes in Borgia (2011)
    Dejan Cukic and Victor Schefé in Borgia (2011)
    Borgia (2011)
    Isolda Dychauk in Borgia (2011)
    John Doman in Borgia (2011)
    Isolda Dychauk in Borgia (2011)
    Alejandro Albarracín and Isolda Dychauk in Borgia (2011)
    Dejan Cukic in Borgia (2011)
    Joseph Beattie in Borgia (2011)
    Lucy Boynton in Borgia (2011)
    Marta Gastini in Borgia (2011)
    John Doman in Borgia (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mark Ryder
    Mark Ryder
    • Cesare Borgiaas Cesare Borgia
    38 episodes38 eps • 2011–2014
    Isolda Dychauk
    Isolda Dychauk
    • Lucrezia Borgiaas Lucrezia Borgia
    38 episodes38 eps • 2011–2014
    Diarmuid Noyes
    Diarmuid Noyes
    • Alessandro Farneseas Alessandro Farnese
    37 episodes37 eps • 2011–2014
    John Doman
    John Doman
    • Rodrigo Borgiaas Rodrigo Borgia
    36 episodes36 eps • 2011–2014
    Marta Gastini
    Marta Gastini
    • Giulia Farneseas Giulia Farnese
    36 episodes36 eps • 2011–2014
    Assumpta Serna
    Assumpta Serna
    • Vannozza Cataneias Vannozza Catanei
    33 episodes33 eps • 2011–2014
    Art Malik
    Art Malik
    • Francesc Gacetas Francesc Gacet
    32 episodes32 eps • 2011–2014
    Victor Schefé
    Victor Schefé
    • Johann Burchardas Johann Burchard
    30 episodes30 eps • 2011–2014
    Dejan Cukic
    Dejan Cukic
    • Giuliano della Rovereas Giuliano della Rovere
    30 episodes30 eps • 2011–2014
    Paul Brennen
    Paul Brennen
    • Agapito Geraldinias Agapito Geraldini
    26 episodes26 eps • 2011–2014
    Scott William Winters
    Scott William Winters
    • Rafaele Riario-Sansonias Rafaele Riario-Sansoni
    25 episodes25 eps • 2011–2014
    Michael Fitzgerald
    Michael Fitzgerald
    • Oliviero Carafaas Oliviero Carafa
    21 episodes21 eps • 2011–2014
    Andrew Hawley
    Andrew Hawley
    • Alfonso d'Esteas Alfonso d'Este
    21 episodes21 eps • 2011–2014
    Karel Dobrý
    Karel Dobrý
    • Giovanni Colonnaas Giovanni Colonna
    19 episodes19 eps • 2011–2014
    Christian McKay
    Christian McKay
    • Ascanio Sforzaas Ascanio Sforza
    18 episodes18 eps • 2011–2013
    Valentina D'Agostino
    • Angela Borgia Lanzolas Angela Borgia Lanzol
    18 episodes18 eps • 2013–2014
    Alejandro Albarracín
    Alejandro Albarracín
    • Alfonso di Calabriaas Alfonso di Calabria
    17 episodes17 eps • 2013–2014
    Stanley Weber
    Stanley Weber
    • Juan Borgiaas Juan Borgia…
    14 episodes14 eps • 2011–2014
    • Creator
      • Tom Fontana
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    4.5
    Lucrezia Borgia

    Storyline

    Edit
    It was the age of Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo, of enlightened creativity and unparalleled intellectual achievement. But it was also the age of Machiavelli, of rampant lawlessness, incessant war, and unspeakable depravity. At the heart of the world order was the Vatican, the arbiter of conflicts between kingdoms and empires. And at the center of the Vatican was a man whose quest for power would propel him to seek the ultimate prize: the Holy See of Rome. He was a man whose name would become synonymous with ruthlessness, and whose reign as Pope would be remembered as the most infamous chapter of the history of the Catholic church: Rodrigo Borgia. His four children--Juan, the oldest, a prideful, lazy, unscrupulous sexual predator; Cesare, a young man torn between a faith that was not his calling and his dark violent nature; Lucretia, a young girl discovering the secret power that a woman's sexuality holds; and Goffredo, an innocent child who would come of age in a family riven by conflict--would provide Rodrigo with a challenge as great as the political maneuvering of his political and religious rivals. This show was a one-hour dramatic series that chronicled the rise to power of this Spanish Cardinal and his clan, who sought to establish a dynasty that held sway over the entire world. Though a man of faith, Rodrigo was also in thrall to the pleasures of the flesh. Not only did he deal with the plotting and conspiracies of his fellow cardinals and the representatives of the great powers, but he was locked in a struggle to contain the bitter sibling rivalries that threatened to tear his family apart. This show was a cauldron of intrigue, violence, murder, lust, politics, faith, incest, betrayal, and redemption--a story as compelling and enlightening as the age in which it took place. —Tom Fontana
    • pope
    • renaissance
    • vatican
    • political intrigue
    • ambition
    • 245 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
    • Certificate
      • TV-MA
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Nearly all of the principal actors and actresses were using their natural accents (be they American, Russian, Czech, Italian, et cetera) with a few notable exceptions. Mark Ryder (Cesare Borgia) and Diarmuid Noyes (Alessandro Farnese) are Irish but used English accents on the show. Even Stanley Weber (Juan Borgia) moderates his French accent, though he doesn't sound as English as his on-screen brother. This is because the series was intended for dubbing into non-English European languages (French, German, et cetera).
    • Goofs
      A choke pear (called "Pope's pear") is used to torture a convicted homosexual in the 2nd season. Choke pears were unknown before the 17th century, more than 100 years after the show's time frame. 15th century's punishments for pederasty were not so cruel (penalty, branding).
    • Connections
      Referenced in Vsechnopárty: Episode dated 18 March 2016 (2016)

    User reviews47

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Overall, recommendable
    I read reviews complaining about the historical accuracy and actor's accents. Keep the following in mind:

    If I wanted to watch a show based on historical facts, produced with utmost accuracy, I'd watch a documentary. Borgia has a historical base, but otherwise, it is just a dramatical account of a time period. Credit to the film crew, though; I do find the majority of the set decorations to blend very well with the storyline, giving the viewer a sense of accuracy.

    The actor's accents: I don't have a problem with any accent. If I expected the delivery of each individual's accent based on their historical origin, in keeping with the English spoken at that time, which was also not a world language as it is today, 99% of the viewers wouldn't understand but 25% of the verbal interaction. Frankly, the differences in accents do stand out, but they are not distracting. I rather have an actor stay with his/her natural accent, than pretending to be from somewhere else, and then receiving criticism for their inaccuracies.

    The acting abilities: Unless your name is Kevin Spacey (House of Cards) or you're some other high end Hollywood hotshot, I don't expect anyone to deliver Oscar worthy performances. Small inaccuracies are to be expected, especially given that this is a comparatively small production that works on a shoestring budget. Hollywood has deeper coffers and more A-listers. A few things do stand out, though: Doman's portrayal of Pope Alexander is well done. A man caught up in his own desire to rise above and finding the ability to do so at all cost. He is caught between being a man, while having to be a pope. Who wouldn't struggle? He does well, just as long as he doesn't have to reach too deep into the character tool chest, and draw from deep emotions. He plays the sexual deviant better than the irate villain, and the irate villain better than a person who finds his own physical limitations. (You'll get what I mean, once you see it)

    Ryder's performance on Cesare is rather consistent. He's consistently acting well, especially when the performance comes to showing the higher-than-though attitude. He's also consistently overly dramatic when it comes to displaying deep rooted anger. Overall, I think he does well, and I'm having fun watching him move through the show.

    The ladies are all very well played. However, with the exception of Isolda Dychauk (Lucrezia), none of the female cast has to reach too deep into the emotional side of acting. Dychauk is a pleasure to watch, though. She's coming across rather believable.

    Sex: Being European, I do find it amusing that some of the American viewers get offended by breasts and genitalia. Newsflash, folks. It's human nature. If you don't like to see it, just don't watch the show, or turn your head. I have yet to see an overabundance of skin on this show. The moments when sexual acts were displayed was in keeping with the storyline, and never gave me the impression as if the writers thought: "Well, we're losing momentum here, let's show some breasts...".

    Church/Religion: What I find most amusing, is that the Catholic Church is portrayed as corrupt, self serving, political, war mongering, sexually deviant and utterly repulsive; especially when it comes to the matter of portraying itself as pure, innocent and true. Following the books of history, one can only conclude that not much has changed over the centuries. (Side note; by denomination, I am Roman Catholic myself)

    Overall, I find Borgia to be quite entertaining and worthy of one's time. Watch it with a grain of salt and don't take the show as a historically accurate account of the people of Rome. However, do watch the show with an underlying interest in inter-Church politics, greed and capitalistic tendencies. Then, transpose your findings onto the church(es) of today. See what your findings are...
    helpful•35
    10
    • mjahnl
    • Jun 12, 2013

    FAQ2

    • Is the Canal Plus Borgia Series historically accurate?
    • Who is the guy in the funny hat who always introduces the Pope?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 10, 2011 (Italy)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Czech Republic
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Els Borja
    • Filming locations
      • Barrandov Studios, Prague, Czech Republic
    • Production companies
      • Atlantique Productions
      • EOS Entertainment
      • Canal+
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      52 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1
      • 16:9 HD

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