The Borgias Season 3

DVD Wholesale Quick Overview:

Season 1 and 2 are definitely 5 stars for me, but this one I had to drop my rating a bit down to a 4 star. Season 1 and 2 were so gripping my wife and I often stayed up hours later than intended because we just couldn’t peel ourselves away from the show, but we were not going to bed so late on this season. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the season, but the script seemed a bit different as if they changed writers…? I love the costumes and the entire set. It seems very authentic.

On a historical note, I really wonder how accurate this is. I know this is a work of fiction based on some historical facts and a producer’s view to make it more entertaining…I’m not a historian, but Giuliano Della Rovere was recorded as trying to kill Rodrigo Borgia multiple times to ‘cleanse’ the Chair of St. Peters and was upset that HE had not won the title of Pope himself. Like the narrator says in the beginning of the movie “Braveheart”, history is written by those kings/rulers that win the wars and live the longest, and the history written by the Pope (Giuliano Della Rovere) after Rodrigo Borgia died would carry enough weight to be believed through centuries, right? The Borgia’s were portrayed as being able to murder and poison almost anybody they wished at any time they wished, so why was Giuliano Della Rovere able to survive so long and so many attempts on his life? Further, after Rodrigo Borgia passed, Giuliano Della Rovere again did not become Pope. What happened to this Pope…? He lived for ~18 days (or 23? I don’t remember exactly) before being killed, and then Giuliano Della Rovere was finally named Pope and ruled for many years after. Also, Giuliano Della Rovere had a father or grandfather that had been Pope, and from what little reading I’ve done, he seemed to almost think he should have been named Pope, almost as if he was the heir apparent to the Chair of St. Peters. I don’t know if I’m right, but you have to admit, it is a little fishy since Giuliano Della Rovere had many years to tell tales to people recording history. My apologies if this offends anybody.

– Troy

This is great entertainment; a vast story of ambition, warfare, ambition, greed, power, incest, and murder takes place at the height of corruption of the Catholic Papacy. Jeremy Irons continues to amaze with his ability to depict a man of ruthless brilliance and ambition who controls organized Christianity during the Renaissance. Alexander VI would have to be considered to be one of the most interesting Popes of all times since his secular ambitions outweighed his clerical duties. Irons is most convincing when he is angry or conniving, which is the way we see him most often in the third season. Alexander VI, previously Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia, continues to strategically place members of his family, such as arranging for his daughter to marry a prince from Naples and his son Caesar to marry a noblewoman from the French court. Whereas the facts are bent a bit through the entire series, there is no doubt that the struggles of the Italian Peninsula made for great drama.

In the third season, Caesar Borgia takes charge and proves his military and diplomatic genius. Caesar Borgia was the model for Machiavelli’s classic book, The Prince. Caesar Borgia grows during the three seasons from a Cardinal under the control of his father to a man of intense ambition and strategy in the final season. The entire three seasons mark the growth of Caesar away from his father’s shadow to assuming the control of armies attempting to control all of central Italy.

Whereas the first and part of the second season focused intently on the rivalry of Alexander VI and Cardinal Della Rovere, the third season clearly shifts the rivalry from Alexander and Della Rovere to Caesar and the amazing Catherina Sforza, the Lioness, and one of the most interesting women of the Renaissance. Colm Feore is outstanding as Cardinal Della Rovere. Gina McKee was beyond outstanding in her powerful portrayal of Caterina Sforza. The writers gradually move the conflict from the Pope and the Cardinal to Caesar and Caterina where there is much drama.

Lucrezia Borgia, the daughter in the Borgia family, marries a prince of Naples and Spain, Alfonzo of Aragon, and their rocky marriage makes for much drama in the third season. Unfortunately for Holliday Grainger, the actress who plays Lucrezia Borgia, her character comes across as extremely self absorbed and spoiled.

The third season, like the first and second, is never ending entertainment. The film is beautifully realized with outstanding costumes and sets. Historic fact is stretched a good bit but the film makes up for it with high drama.

– C. Collins

This last season is necessarily darker as the enemies of the Borgias become bolder and bloodier. And Cesare assuming leadership of the family responds with vengeance. Much of this season is ugly as people act out of their lowest motives. I’m not saying the show isn’t entertaining – it is! – but you know you are coming to the end of a glittering era and the glitter is in the past. Jeremy Irons is far more restrained in his performance. Many scenes show him praying from his breviary, and there can be no doubt he is truly praying and not faking. He has abandoned his mistresses apparently, and his biggest intrigue is to secretly buy up gunpowder to prevent warfare. He has surrendered the worldly role to his son Cesare, who connives, conspires, attacks, negotiates with relish. There is an extremely moving scene in which the father and son reconcile. An argument between them happens very quickly, and both men are adamant. Until a miraculous double forgiveness ensues. The scene is so beautiful – almost Shakespearean – I almost forgot this family was murderous and treacherous. But that is the power of drama and acting.

-Daniel B.

DVD Wholesale Main Features:

Actors: Jeremy Irons, François Arnaud, Holliday Grainger, Peter Sullivan, Sean Harris
Directors: David Leland, Jon Amiel, Kari Skogland, Neil Jordan
Writers: Neil Jordan, Guy Burt
Producers: Neil Jordan, James Flynn
Format: Box set, Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Language: English
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only)
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
Number of discs: 3
Studio: Showtime Ent.
DVD Release Date: August 6, 2013
Run Time: 516 minutes