All started
a boring evening four years ago, or so I think. I was 14 and I was zapping on
TV. Suddenly, I found out that a new series was being emitted on Cuatro. It was
called “The Borgias”. “Nice” I thought “I love period dramas.” And that’s how I
started watching one of the best series I’ve ever seen. I am writing that
because I finished the last season this summer and I still can’t get over it.
It was just so epic, so memorable, so beautiful… I need more! But it’s
finished, no more Borgias for me.
However, I
must confess I started following it because of Cesare Borgia’s hotness. My God.
I still remember going excited to high school every Wednesday (the first season
was emitted on Tuesdays) and commenting the last episode with a friend of mine
like it was a gossip magazine “Gosh, how could she become a nun having such a
man?”.The thing is that when the second series came out, I started watching
it again from a more mature point of view and I got marveled. And the past
summer I found out the third season (sadly the last, due to the fact that The
Borgias got cancelled by Showtime for being too expensive) and I watched it
with my mum. She became really interested, and we enjoyed together the fabulous
scenarios, actings, clothing and music. But then it was over. We were so in
love with the series that she invited a friend of hers and re-watched it again.
By contrast, I looked on the internet for some season 4 hope, and I found that
Neil Jordan, the creator, published the script of a never filmed two hours film
for the fans to know how it should have ended. With no doubt, I read it – in English-
and it was awesome.
Now I’ve
told you my story with The Borgias, I’m giving you a few reasons to watch it:
1. The clothing: OH. MY. GOD. It’s all
I need to say. I want a closet like that. The beauty of the costumes and hairstyles
is very significant. I guess that charged a lot the budget and that’s why it
got cancelled.
It also follows the evolution of the characters. For example, Lucrezia.
At the beginning she’s a lovely teenager, and she wears her hair down and light
colours. As the series draws on, her style becomes more opulent and
magnificent. In fact, the series has won several awards for the clothing and hairstyling.
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Up: Young Lucrezia and more mature Lucrezia Down: Giulia Farnese and Alexander VI |
2. It shows a more human side of the
Borgia family: demonized everywhere, history has been very unfair with this Spanish
family. In the series, they’re not precisely saints, but you can empathize with
them and understand why they did what they did (or they were said to have done).
There are emotions, passion, there is angst and anger. Really moving.
3. The evolution of the characters/the
acting: as I said, it is very easy to get charmed by them. It is very notable
the evolution of the characters through the seasons, with all that political
conspiracy. The games of power are crystal clear, and the characters get
involved. Even the supporting characters are amazing. About the acting… GOD,
Pope Alexander VI is played by Jeremy Irons, isn’t that quality? François
Arnaud as Cesare Borgia and Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia are also remarkable,
and Gina McKee as Cateriza Sforza is one of my favourites although she’s in a
supporting role
.
4. Accuracy: it was been criticized
because of its historic accuracy-inaccuracy, but I think it is pretty good. I
mean, everything is not exactly as it happened, of course they changed things,
but in general terms, things are really well done. And the aesthetic accuracy is
incredible. As I was watching some episodes I recognized some shots like this
one…
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I mean... look at the details, even the dress is the fucking same! P.S. The character is Giulia Farnese |
So, if you like period dramas, this is a must for you!