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Review: Borgia Season 2: Rules of Love, Rules of War (2013)
This second season was more of a development arc for our main characters and less dramatic than last season. Nonetheless I still couldn't stop watching and I do think the characters go through necessary changes.
Spoilers.
Story
At this point in the story I think it's clear that our three main characters are Rodrigo, Cesare, and Lucrezia.
Rodrigo's arc is a little less dramatic because he's already kind of at the top of his career, given that he's already become pope. During the season, he kind of wavers on a lot of things, wavers over family, wavers over his love for Giulia, etc. During this season, he began to have sexual feelings for his daughter and upon her prompt, he decides to go away for reflection. Whether political or not, I can't say, as he's done many things this season that are surprisingly emotional and not strategic at all. I do believe that he wants to repent for his incestuous thoughts though, he just doesn't have the foresight as others do about what might come of that. Plus, Giulia is angry at him so he's kind of got nothing going on for him.
Cesare finally got out of the church and was able to begin his political and military career, the career he always wanted. He had a long courtship with Princess Carlotta. The way in which Cesare convinced her to marry him and then how she was immediately convinced to marry someone else was incredibly unrealistic to be honest. It didn't ruin the show but I can't sweep it under the rug. In the end, Cesare married Charlotte of Albret.
Lucrezia's story line covered stories of love, family, and political growth. She was married to one Alfonso but she was also having an affair with another. She had a child at the beginning of the season, and later in the season was pregnant with another. She was also given political power by her father, first ruling as a governor, and then at the end of the season, being put in charge of the Vatican while Rodrigo went away.
The writing was on average more or less the same. Still corny writing at times but I kind of got used to it lol.
Production
The costume and set were just as nice as they were last season. In general I think the production value of this show is pretty great.
The acting was slightly better, mostly because I got used to it, but I think that the actor for Rodrigo Borgia continues to stick out like a sore thumb because of his accent and just overall awkward delivery.
Characters
Rodrigo Borgia
As mentioned, Rodrigo's character arc was relatively flat compared to those of his kids. Mostly because there wasn't as much to tell with regards to his political conflicts because he's already top dog.
There was more to say when it came to his relationships, both with his family/lover and with the surrounding people. I felt the family relationships at this point were more or less settled, that he relied and trusted Cesare and Lucrezia quite a bit and that they wouldn't waver too much unless any big changes were to come.
On the flip side, his relationship with Giulia fizzled, as he didn't want to give her up, couldn't in the way that he did with Vannozza, and his possessiveness pushed her away. The season ended with them being on poor terms.
I'm not sure if Rodrigo's incestuous feelings are going to continue to be a thing later in the show, but it is one of his reasons for going away at the end of the season.
Cesare Borgia
Cesare had always wanted to be a fighting man, and he finally got to do that this season. Well, now that I think about it, he spent this season building relationships a lot more than fighting, and those relationships helped him get what he wanted, whether it was Carlotta or a political advantage.
Actually, Cesare spent a lot of this season pining over Carlotta. As I mentioned, I felt that the way their end came was really poorly handled. There had to have been another way, but the point was that they didn't get together, and Cesare let go of his dream of getting her.
Instead, Cesare married Charlotte, a woman who was a lot more receptive to his flirting, and they were very much in love. When Cesare had to leave, Charlotte let him go, knowing full well that she would probably never see him ever again. At the end of the season, it was revealed that Charlotte was pregnant. Cesare wanted her to come to him but I guess that will be an issue later.
By the end of the season, Cesare became a man who was hungry for a win. He was unhappy when he conquered a territory but it was easy. But anyway he was in a position that much better suited his political and military ambition.
Lucrezia Borgia
Understandably, most of Lucrezia's story line took place in a family setting. Her first story line was about how she missed her son, and conspired to have him kidnapped. It was Cesare who later helped cover for her lie.
During the season, Lucrezia was kind of torn between her two loves, the two Alfonsos. I can't say that she really loved either of them fully, as neither of them were really quite perfect. Alfonso di Calabria was more ambitious and kind of macho and a little neglectful at times, whereas Alfonso d'Este was a little more romantic but less realistic.
Lucrezia was first given a political post as governor by her father, where she struggled. I think the show didn't give us enough time to see her there before she became pregnant, but I think it's implied that she got better at the job.
Lucrezia also slowly became very savvy about her family. She was very aware of their strengths and weaknesses, their wants and dislikes. We saw how she recognized Goffredo's strengths, we saw how she repaired the relationship between Rodrigo and Isabella. But I also felt that she was pretty accepting of the affections from her brother and her father. I felt that she would accept whatever they would give her. Rodrigo was pretty ashamed of his feelings so she would forgive him and advise him to repent. On the other hand, Cesare's feelings for her were forbidden but he didn't hide them, and she kind of returned them to the extent that he showed them.
At the end of the season, Lucrezia was to take on a very important role, to run the Vatican in her father's place. I'm curious to know how historically accurate that was. Governor is one thing but the head of the church is another. (In doing so I ran into spoilers lol oops).
Vannozza Cattanei
Vannozza was the mother of Cesare and Lucrezia. She had a smaller role this season, mostly as a guide to Lucrezia, though Lucrezia wanted to strike out on her own.
So at first I think Vannozza was portrayed as a bit of an overbearing mother (when she convinced Lucrezia to give up her child), but towards the end of the season, I think she slowly became more of a mother who yearned to be with her kids. She wanted to go with Lucrezia when she became governor, but Lucrezia refused, saying she had to do this on her own. Frankly not an uncommon kind of conversation between a parent and a child who wants to leave the nest.
Vannozza took care of Rodrigo during this season when he was sick and going through it. She also provided counsel to him when he struggled to agree to marry Giulia off, though I can't say her advice was too helpful, since Rodrigo's feelings towards Vannozza and Giulia are rather different.
Giulia Farnese
This season, we saw more of Giulia trying to do things for her family. Like many women who were wives or mistresses to powerful men, she did kind of become the breadwinner of her family. However, these issues did come between her and Rodrigo at times during the season.
She tried to convince Rodrigo to give her brother Alessandro a good position. Instead, Alessandro was appointed to a position he did not like nor was he good at it, and he stole from the treasury when he could not make things work.
As well, Giulia wanted to be married like Vannozza Cattanei was, so that she would have a constant source of income. However, for some reason Rodrigo was overly possessive of her in a way he was not with Vannozza Cattanei. At the end of the season, Giulia and Rodrigo got into an argument and I guess we will get more of their relationship drama in the third and last season.
Alessandro Farnese
Alessandro was Giulia's brother, a Cardinal in the church. As mentioned, he was put in a position he did not like and he ended up being a thief. He came clean to the pope and was put in jail, but was later forgiven after Lucrezia convinced Rodrigo to forgive.
Alessandra generally had a larger role in his own right this season, having more agency and such.
Francesc Gacet
Gacet was Rodrigo's assistant. He was in the last season too, but he was given a bit more to do this season.
Specifically, some of the cardinals wanted to do away with him because he was too sharp and was able to protect Rodrigo. So they conspired to accuse Gacet of sodomy and rape, a charge which Gacet denied. In the end, Rodrigo convinced the accuser to come forward and admit his lies, after which he was put in jail for lying.
However, Gacet later admitted to Rodrigo that he was a sodomite, even if he never acted upon it.
Agapito
Agapito was Cesare's assistant and over the course of the season became a man who would be his sounding board, though also an advisor as he was older and looked upon Cesare as a feisty and ambitious young man.
Isabella Matuzzi
Isabella was Rodrigo's daughter from a previous relationship. She was enlisted by Vannozza to convince Lucrezia to let go of Giovanni, and Isabella did so by lying about her own barrenness. It was revealed that Isabella herself did have a child, a teenage boy.
Later on, Isabella revealed that Rodrigo did not recognize her because he blamed her for the death of his firstborn child, Jeronima. Lucrezia was the one who brought them together.
Themes
In this season, I think there was a sense of accepting what is. I felt that that was how Cesare and Lucrezia got ahead in their lives. Cesare by understanding that he had to let go of what wouldn't be his (Carlotta) and focus on what he can win for himself. And Lucrezia by understanding the vices in the people around her and using them to her advantage.
It was also interesting to see which relationships stayed strong and which wavered during this season. Generally, it seemed the family relations remained very strong, while the ones of romantic love were weak.
Overall
I think I enjoyed this season more than last season mostly because I got used to its style of storytelling, but in terms of actual events, it was not as exciting and dramatic as last season. Still compelled me lots though, and looking forward to the last season.
Spoilers.
Story
At this point in the story I think it's clear that our three main characters are Rodrigo, Cesare, and Lucrezia.
Rodrigo's arc is a little less dramatic because he's already kind of at the top of his career, given that he's already become pope. During the season, he kind of wavers on a lot of things, wavers over family, wavers over his love for Giulia, etc. During this season, he began to have sexual feelings for his daughter and upon her prompt, he decides to go away for reflection. Whether political or not, I can't say, as he's done many things this season that are surprisingly emotional and not strategic at all. I do believe that he wants to repent for his incestuous thoughts though, he just doesn't have the foresight as others do about what might come of that. Plus, Giulia is angry at him so he's kind of got nothing going on for him.
Cesare finally got out of the church and was able to begin his political and military career, the career he always wanted. He had a long courtship with Princess Carlotta. The way in which Cesare convinced her to marry him and then how she was immediately convinced to marry someone else was incredibly unrealistic to be honest. It didn't ruin the show but I can't sweep it under the rug. In the end, Cesare married Charlotte of Albret.
Lucrezia's story line covered stories of love, family, and political growth. She was married to one Alfonso but she was also having an affair with another. She had a child at the beginning of the season, and later in the season was pregnant with another. She was also given political power by her father, first ruling as a governor, and then at the end of the season, being put in charge of the Vatican while Rodrigo went away.
The writing was on average more or less the same. Still corny writing at times but I kind of got used to it lol.
Production
The costume and set were just as nice as they were last season. In general I think the production value of this show is pretty great.
The acting was slightly better, mostly because I got used to it, but I think that the actor for Rodrigo Borgia continues to stick out like a sore thumb because of his accent and just overall awkward delivery.
Characters
Rodrigo Borgia
As mentioned, Rodrigo's character arc was relatively flat compared to those of his kids. Mostly because there wasn't as much to tell with regards to his political conflicts because he's already top dog.
There was more to say when it came to his relationships, both with his family/lover and with the surrounding people. I felt the family relationships at this point were more or less settled, that he relied and trusted Cesare and Lucrezia quite a bit and that they wouldn't waver too much unless any big changes were to come.
On the flip side, his relationship with Giulia fizzled, as he didn't want to give her up, couldn't in the way that he did with Vannozza, and his possessiveness pushed her away. The season ended with them being on poor terms.
I'm not sure if Rodrigo's incestuous feelings are going to continue to be a thing later in the show, but it is one of his reasons for going away at the end of the season.
Cesare Borgia
Cesare had always wanted to be a fighting man, and he finally got to do that this season. Well, now that I think about it, he spent this season building relationships a lot more than fighting, and those relationships helped him get what he wanted, whether it was Carlotta or a political advantage.
Actually, Cesare spent a lot of this season pining over Carlotta. As I mentioned, I felt that the way their end came was really poorly handled. There had to have been another way, but the point was that they didn't get together, and Cesare let go of his dream of getting her.
Instead, Cesare married Charlotte, a woman who was a lot more receptive to his flirting, and they were very much in love. When Cesare had to leave, Charlotte let him go, knowing full well that she would probably never see him ever again. At the end of the season, it was revealed that Charlotte was pregnant. Cesare wanted her to come to him but I guess that will be an issue later.
By the end of the season, Cesare became a man who was hungry for a win. He was unhappy when he conquered a territory but it was easy. But anyway he was in a position that much better suited his political and military ambition.
Lucrezia Borgia
Understandably, most of Lucrezia's story line took place in a family setting. Her first story line was about how she missed her son, and conspired to have him kidnapped. It was Cesare who later helped cover for her lie.
During the season, Lucrezia was kind of torn between her two loves, the two Alfonsos. I can't say that she really loved either of them fully, as neither of them were really quite perfect. Alfonso di Calabria was more ambitious and kind of macho and a little neglectful at times, whereas Alfonso d'Este was a little more romantic but less realistic.
Lucrezia was first given a political post as governor by her father, where she struggled. I think the show didn't give us enough time to see her there before she became pregnant, but I think it's implied that she got better at the job.
Lucrezia also slowly became very savvy about her family. She was very aware of their strengths and weaknesses, their wants and dislikes. We saw how she recognized Goffredo's strengths, we saw how she repaired the relationship between Rodrigo and Isabella. But I also felt that she was pretty accepting of the affections from her brother and her father. I felt that she would accept whatever they would give her. Rodrigo was pretty ashamed of his feelings so she would forgive him and advise him to repent. On the other hand, Cesare's feelings for her were forbidden but he didn't hide them, and she kind of returned them to the extent that he showed them.
At the end of the season, Lucrezia was to take on a very important role, to run the Vatican in her father's place. I'm curious to know how historically accurate that was. Governor is one thing but the head of the church is another. (In doing so I ran into spoilers lol oops).
Vannozza Cattanei
Vannozza was the mother of Cesare and Lucrezia. She had a smaller role this season, mostly as a guide to Lucrezia, though Lucrezia wanted to strike out on her own.
So at first I think Vannozza was portrayed as a bit of an overbearing mother (when she convinced Lucrezia to give up her child), but towards the end of the season, I think she slowly became more of a mother who yearned to be with her kids. She wanted to go with Lucrezia when she became governor, but Lucrezia refused, saying she had to do this on her own. Frankly not an uncommon kind of conversation between a parent and a child who wants to leave the nest.
Vannozza took care of Rodrigo during this season when he was sick and going through it. She also provided counsel to him when he struggled to agree to marry Giulia off, though I can't say her advice was too helpful, since Rodrigo's feelings towards Vannozza and Giulia are rather different.
Giulia Farnese
This season, we saw more of Giulia trying to do things for her family. Like many women who were wives or mistresses to powerful men, she did kind of become the breadwinner of her family. However, these issues did come between her and Rodrigo at times during the season.
She tried to convince Rodrigo to give her brother Alessandro a good position. Instead, Alessandro was appointed to a position he did not like nor was he good at it, and he stole from the treasury when he could not make things work.
As well, Giulia wanted to be married like Vannozza Cattanei was, so that she would have a constant source of income. However, for some reason Rodrigo was overly possessive of her in a way he was not with Vannozza Cattanei. At the end of the season, Giulia and Rodrigo got into an argument and I guess we will get more of their relationship drama in the third and last season.
Alessandro Farnese
Alessandro was Giulia's brother, a Cardinal in the church. As mentioned, he was put in a position he did not like and he ended up being a thief. He came clean to the pope and was put in jail, but was later forgiven after Lucrezia convinced Rodrigo to forgive.
Alessandra generally had a larger role in his own right this season, having more agency and such.
Francesc Gacet
Gacet was Rodrigo's assistant. He was in the last season too, but he was given a bit more to do this season.
Specifically, some of the cardinals wanted to do away with him because he was too sharp and was able to protect Rodrigo. So they conspired to accuse Gacet of sodomy and rape, a charge which Gacet denied. In the end, Rodrigo convinced the accuser to come forward and admit his lies, after which he was put in jail for lying.
However, Gacet later admitted to Rodrigo that he was a sodomite, even if he never acted upon it.
Agapito
Agapito was Cesare's assistant and over the course of the season became a man who would be his sounding board, though also an advisor as he was older and looked upon Cesare as a feisty and ambitious young man.
Isabella Matuzzi
Isabella was Rodrigo's daughter from a previous relationship. She was enlisted by Vannozza to convince Lucrezia to let go of Giovanni, and Isabella did so by lying about her own barrenness. It was revealed that Isabella herself did have a child, a teenage boy.
Later on, Isabella revealed that Rodrigo did not recognize her because he blamed her for the death of his firstborn child, Jeronima. Lucrezia was the one who brought them together.
Themes
In this season, I think there was a sense of accepting what is. I felt that that was how Cesare and Lucrezia got ahead in their lives. Cesare by understanding that he had to let go of what wouldn't be his (Carlotta) and focus on what he can win for himself. And Lucrezia by understanding the vices in the people around her and using them to her advantage.
It was also interesting to see which relationships stayed strong and which wavered during this season. Generally, it seemed the family relations remained very strong, while the ones of romantic love were weak.
Overall
I think I enjoyed this season more than last season mostly because I got used to its style of storytelling, but in terms of actual events, it was not as exciting and dramatic as last season. Still compelled me lots though, and looking forward to the last season.