| Borgia | |
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| Genre | |
| Created by | Tom Fontana |
| Starring | |
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| Country of origin |
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| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 38 |
| Production | |
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| Cinematography | |
| Running time | 52 minutes |
| Original release | |
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| Release | 10 July 2011 (2011-07-10) – 27 October 2014 (2014-10-27) |
Borgia is a historical drama television series created byTom Fontana forCanal+,ZDF,ORF, andSky Italia. The show recounts theBorgia family's rise to power and subsequent domination of thePapal States during theRenaissance.[1][2]
Borgia debuted in Italy onSky Cinema 1 on 10 July 2011. It was since renewed for a second season, which premiered in France onCanal+ on 18 March 2013.[3] A third and final season premiered in France on Canal+ on 15 September 2014.[3] The series finale aired in France on Canal+ on 27 October 2014 as the 38th episode overall.
The series is produced by Atlantique Productions, a subsidiary ofLagardère Entertainment, for French premium-pay TVCanal+ in association with EOS Entertainment, and was filmed in the Czech Republic and Italy. Czech production was held by company Etic films.[2] International distribution is handled by Beta Film GmbH. Season 3 was filmed between 27 May 2013 and 27 January 2014.
The show was a French-German-Czech-Italian production, and the cast and crew represented a range of other nationalities as well. Series creator, producer, and lead writerTom Fontana wasAmerican, as were writers Sean Whitesell, Gina Gionfriddo, and Larry Cohen. Season 2 saw French writer Audrey Fouché join the writing team.[4]
The directors came from several different parts of Europe:Oliver Hirschbiegel andChristoph Schrewe are German,Dearbhla Walsh is Irish,Metin Hüseyin is British, andThomas Vincent is French. Each director would handle at least two consecutive episodes before handing the series over to the next.
Main characterRodrigo Borgia was portrayed by American actorJohn Doman. The rest of the cast hailed from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Denmark, Spain, and several other countries.
(March 1492 – June 1493)
| No. in series | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy (Sky Cinema 1) | France (Canal+) | Austria (ORF 2) | Germany (ZDF) | |||||
| 1 | 1 | 1492 | Oliver Hirschbiegel | Tom Fontana | 10 July 2011 | 10 October 2011 | 13 October 2011 | 17 October 2011 |
| InPisa,Cesare whips himself for his sins. InRome, before theCollege of CardinalsRodrigo asks thepope to nameQueen Isabella andKing Ferdinand ofSpain as most Catholic majesties. He succeeds, angeringGiuliano della Rovere, who had wanted the honor to go to France.Juan brings news ofPedro Luis's death. Rodrigo takesLucrezia to live with him. Rodrigo sends Juan to speak with Orsini and Cesare with Colonna. Cesare fails, so Juan is named secondduke of Gandia. Juan has sex withFabrizio Colonna's wife. Fabrizio beats Juan and kills his wife. Rodrigo asks the pope to name Cesare asarchbishop ofValencia. Juan and Cesare confrontMarcantonio Colonna. Cesare is named as archbishop of Valencia. During a fight with Marcantonio, Cesare cuts his finger. Rodrigo tell his nephews the pope is ill. | ||||||||
| 2 | 2 | Ondata di calore | Oliver Hirschbiegel | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by:Kyle Bradstreet & Brant Englestein | 10 July 2011 | 10 October 2011 | 13 October 2011 | 17 October 2011 |
| Cesare andAlessandro visit a witch, she predicts he will not die soon but five will before summer.Ottoman princeDjem comes to Rome and gives thelance of longinus topope.Goffredo asksLucrezia to visit their family, who are sick, she declines.Lorenzo de Medici dies.Juan and Cesare uncover a plot to kill pope and djem. Pope becomes seriously ill.Rodrigo tries to prolong Pope's life to revert his will. Cesare brings the witch to heal is family. Ottaviano dies so he kills her. Juan takes credit for foiling the assassinations and publicly kills the assassin. Juan discoversFranceschetto Cybo's conspiracy and the will is reverted. The pope dies and peasants unleash chaos through the city. | ||||||||
| 3 | 3 | A Sacred Vow | Oliver Hirschbiegel | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by:Frank Pugliese & Brant Englestein | 9 September 2011 | 17 October 2011 | 14 October 2011 | 19 October 2011 |
| After the chaos,Rodrigo sendsJuan to Spain,Cesare to Pisa andLucrezia to Subiaco.Giuliano and Rodrigo select the cardinals for the ninerequiem masses. Lucrezia gets sick. Cesare visits his lover Fiametta, she gives birth to his son.Vannozza visits her daughter. The election begins, Giuliano throughPiccolomini reveals through a letter about Rodrigo attending an orgy, In revenge Rodrigo reveals a letter throughSanseverino about Giuliano with French money trying to buy the election both are tied for last place. Cesare sacrifices his son for Rodrigo to be pope. | ||||||||
| 4 | 4 | Wisdom of the Holy Spirit | Oliver Hirschbiegel | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Brant Englestein & Frank Pugliese | 9 September 2011 | 17 October 2011 | 14 October 2011 | 19 October 2011 |
| Fiametta beatsCesare for sacrificing their son.Lucrezia becomes possessed.Rodrigo tries to bribe cardinals with properties, all accept exceptOliviero Carafa accept.Rafael Riario agrees to vote for Rodrigo. Fearing defeat Carafe asksKing Ferrante to stop the election by force.Naples attack Rome but election goes on. After defeat Carafa asks everyone to vote forAscanio Sforza.Vannozza escapes with Lucrezia to Rome. Ascanio leads the election. Rodrigo threatens Ascanio about revealing his heritage, Ascanio accepts to vote for him in exchange for Lucrezia's marriage toGiovanni Sforza and him being vice chancellor. Cesare searches for his son but could not find him. Rodrigo wins the election and becomesPope Alexander VI. | ||||||||
| 5 | 5 | The Bonds of Matrimony | Dearbhla Walsh | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by:Gina Gionfriddo | 16 September 2011 | 24 October 2011 | 19 October 2011 | 20 October 2011 |
| Cesare andAlessandro reachSpoleto.Rodrigo is crowned Pope and he promises to build anew basilica.Giulia Farnese seduces Rodrigo to appoint Alessandro as cardinal. Alessandro tells Cesare, he is to named a cardinal, Cesare asks him to be his spy inVatican. Rodrigo tries to reform the Church.Lucrezia andGiovanni are married in proxy. Rodrigo namesJuan captain general of papal guard. Cesare due to his guilt tries to commit suicide.Vannozza informs Cesare about a conspiracy to depose the Pope. Rodrigo hosts a banquet for Lucrezia's marriage. Alessandro meets Silvia and tell her why he saved Cesare's son. Rodrigo refuses Lucrezia to be with Giovanni. Cesare decides to visit Rome and tell the Pope about the conspiracy. | ||||||||
| 6 | 6 | Legitimacy | Dearbhla Walsh | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Bradford Winters | 16 September 2011 | 24 October 2011 | 19 October 2011 | 20 October 2011 |
| TheTreaty of Tordesillas is signed in favor of Spain in exchange forJuan's marriage toMaria Enriquez de Luna.Cesare visits the Vatican to tell about the conspiracy to Rodrigo. A Holy league is formed against the conspirators. PrinceAlfonso of Naples asksCesare to be married toSancia, the Pope agrees to marryGoffredo to her instead. Vannozza visits Rodrigo regarding Cesare, and to reveal to him that he is his father.Vannozza asks help fromGiulia to eliminate Adriana. Giulia is attacked and her face is scarred. Cesare andAlessandro are named cardinals and Giulia arrangesLucrezia to meet with Giovanni. Rodrigo acknowledges Cesare, Juan, Lucrezia and Goffredo as his children. Giulia tells Rodrigo she is pregnant with his child. | ||||||||
| 7 | 7 | Maneuvers | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Andrea Ciannavei | 23 September 2011 | 31 October 2011 | 21 October 2011 | 24 October 2011 |
| King Ferrante is dead and who should succeed him kingCharles VIII ofFrance or Alfonso ofNaples is discussed.Rodrigo decides to verify himself to announce the successor.Giuliano warns that Charles will invade Italy for Naples.Maria Enriquez de Luna comes to Rome.Cesare visitsOrvieto and helpsAlessandro to better its defences, for the work Rodrigo names Cesare governor of Orvieto which makes Alessandro jealous who confronts Cesare. Rodrigo ordersJuan andGuidabaldo to seize and captureOstia from Giuliano which they do.Lucrezia discoversGiovanni is impotent and engages withAlfonso d'Este. Rodrigo finds from a peasant thatOrsino attackedGiulia. Rodrigo orders Juan to capture Orsinis inBracciano, due to Juan's mistake they lose many men and are defeated. Cesare is not made governor of Orvieto due to Giulia. Juan reveals to Rodrigo his wife is pregnant. Adriana is arrested for helping Orsino. Cesare crowns Alfonso as King of Naples in Pope's place and with Juan attends marriage ofGoffredo andSancia. Juan has sex with Sancia.Miguel de Corella assassinates Orsino Orsini. | ||||||||
| 8 | 8 | Prelude to an Apocalypse | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Thomas Kelly | 23 September 2011 | 31 October 2011 | 21 October 2011 | 24 October 2011 |
| The borgias prepare for battle.Giulia appoints Pantisilea asLucrezia's lady-in-waiting to spy for her.Alfonso d'Este leaves forFerrara. Lucrezia demands divorce for her,Rodrigo declines. Juan andCesare recruit the Germans for their army, they favour Cesare over Juan. Rodrigo excommunicatesMarcantonio. Rodrigo looks for help fromEmperor Maximilian andKing Ferdinand. Cesare andAlessandro reconcile. Rodrigo sends Cesare to Marcantonio in exchange for Colonna joining him, where Marcantonio rapes him. Lucrezia tries to poisonGiovanni but later changes her mind. Giulia is captured by the French army so Rodrigo orders to arrest the Orsini and Colonna and then she is released. Neopolitan army is defeated by the French. Juan's mercenaries desert him. | ||||||||
| 9 | 9 | The Invasion of Rome | Christoph Schrewe | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by:Sean Whitesell | 30 September 2011 | 7 November 2011 | 24 October 2011 | 26 October 2011 |
| Rome gets ready for the French army.Rodrigo shifts the cardinals, his family and the refugees toCastel Sant'Angelo.Giulia gives birth toLaura. Rodrigo decides to letKing Charles free passage through Rome in exchange forCesare's release,Marcantonio releases Cesare. The French army invades Rome and Charles reaches Vatican, Cesare escapes them and reaches Castel Sant'Angelo .During the chaos Jean Briconnet rapesVannozza. Rodrigo sends Cesare to speak with Charles, Charles demandsDjem and surrender of the fortress, Cesare convinces him not to depose the Pope. Rodrigo meets with Charles to discuss and both agree each other's conditions. Cesare kills Jean Briconnet.Juan returns and Cesare confronts him for his cowardice. Rodrigo grants Charles the title “The most Christian King", Charles demands the Pope to crown him inNaples, he refuses so he asks for Cesare, Rodrigo is forced to agree. Juan mocks Cesare and gets beaten by him. Rodrigo learns of Cesare's suffering. The French army with Cesare leave for Naples.King Ferdinand agrees to go to war with Charles if pope issues a papal bull to makeFrancisco de Cisneros to be Cardinal, Rodrigo agrees. Rodrigo sends the cardinals to major city states in Italy to form a holy league to defend Italy from Charles. | ||||||||
| 10 | 10 | Miracles | Christoph Schrewe | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by:James Yoshimura | 30 September 2011 | 7 November 2011 | 24 October 2011 | 26 October 2011 |
| InVelletri,Djem becomes ill and dies,Cesare uses the situation to set fire to the French army's munitions and escape.Emperor Maximilian sends his army to conquer Venice for himself, Rodrigo uses this to his advantage to make Venice join the Holy league.Maria Enriquez de Luna reveals toLucrezia aboutJuan's abuses so she sends Maria to Spain in secret. French captain Yves D'Allegre enquires Rodrigo about Cesare and reveals that he had sex withGiulia, Rodrigo becomes angry and asks her to make it right, and Giulia does by killing Yves. QueenIsabella asks the Pope to rid Rome of Jews, Rodrigo agrees to do it only after the Spanish defeat the French. Juan confronts Lucrezia regarding Maria. Rodrigo with Giulia goes toOrvieto leaving Juan and Lucrezia to meet withCharles, who speak with Charles and make him leave Rome. Rodrigo meets Cesare in Orvieto, from there goes with him toPerugia. In Perugia Rodrigo meetsSister Columba, a miracle worker. Rodrigo asks her about his future, she didn't tell him anything and faints. Juan seduces Rosalina and has sex with her, after knowing the truth, she commits suicide. InBattle of Fornovo the holy league defeats the French and take their treasure. In Naples French surrender to Spanish generalCordova. Lucrezia meets withAlfonso who is struck withFrench disease, disgusted with Rodrigo and Alfonso, Lucrezia enters a convent. | ||||||||
| 11 | 11 | God's Monster | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Kevin Deiboldt | 7 October 2011 | 14 November 2011 | 25 October 2011 | 27 October 2011 |
| After the French army's defeat,Carafa asks thePope to invest Federigo d'Aragona as the new King ofNaples. Pope suggestsJuan as the new king, which many do not agree.Lucrezia witnesses Sister Lucia and her miraculous wounds. GeneralCordova andGuidabaldo meet the pope, Cordova asks the Pope to rid Rome of Jews as agreed by the Pope.Rodrigo meets Pedro Caldes and asks him to speak to Lucrezia and bring her back to him. Lucrezia dismisses Pedro, Juan confronts Lucrezia and tells herMaria died giving birth to twins, later Pedro wins her over and the two make love, Pedro brings her to Rodrigo. Juan asksGiovanni de Medici's help in the conversion of Jews in Rome. Cesare discovers that Juan killedPedro Luis. Pantisiliea comes toVannozza and tells her the truth that she was spying Lucrezia forGiulia. Juan ordersMiguel de Corella to Kill Cesare. Corella does not kill Cesare but wills to serve him instead of Juan, Cesare asks him to reveal how Juan killed Pedro Luis and he does. Rodrigo orders Cordovo, Guidabaldo and Juan to capture the Orsini and Colonna, They captureMarcantonio Colonna but fail to captureVirginio Orsini.Alessandro reveals to Cesare that Silvia is pregnant. Corella assassinates Marcantonio. Cesare learns that his son is alive and Alessandro saved him. The leaders of the city-states of Italy andKing Ferdinand approve Federigo as the King of Naples rather than Juan, Rodrigo is forced to agree. Cesare tells Alessandro he knows the truth about his son and beats him up. | ||||||||
| 12 | 12 | The Serpent Rises | Metin Hüseyin | Tom Fontana | 7 October 2011 | 14 November 2011 | 25 October 2011 | 27 October 2011 |
| Near theColosseo,Rodrigo discovers a relic from ancient Rome,The Statue of Laocoön and His Sons.Goffredo andSancia visit Rome, Rodrigo announces Sancia is pregnant and he also longs to see his grandchildren in Spain. Rodrigo appointsCarafa asDean of the sacred college and renewsRafael Riario's tenure asCamerlengo of Holy Roman church. GeneralCordova andGuidabaldo bring the capturedVirginio Orsini before Pope, Rodrigo appointsJuan to decide his punishment.Vannozza reveals toLucrezia about Pantisiliea spying on her forGiulia. Juan confrontsCorella asking why has he not yet killedCesare. At dinner, fight between Cesare and Juan escalates which leads to both of them fighting in the streets. The next day Cesare wakes up with Pantisiliea not knowing what happened the day before as he was drunk. General Cordova is presented with the Golden Rose of Rome for his services. Juan's horse comes to Vatican without him with its stirrups cut. Cesare finds Juan's body inTiber river with multiple stab wounds and his money intact, leading him to believe he was murdered not for his money, he quickly informs Rodrigo, who struck with grief locks himself in his room refusing to come out. Cesare and Rafael Riario begin an investigation to find Juan's killer. They first investigateAscanio Sforza who admits he set up a meeting with Rosalina's father, fiancé and Juan but denies killing him. Next they speak withGiambattista Orsini who tells them Juan asked bribe for releasing Virginio, Virginio refuses to apologize to Juan, but he also says he did not kill juan.Giovanni andFabrizio Colonna also admits not killing Juan. The investigation comes to a standstill. Cesare brings Rodrigo out of his room. Rodrigo returns a changed man, he decides to send Cesare toValencia, and Lucrezia to Spain to look after Juan's children, both refuse. He sends Giulia away and allowsGiuliano back in to the college of cardinals. Cesare goes to Lucrezia, she reveals to him after their fight Juan visited her and told her that he hadPedro Luis andMaria killed, In anger Lucrezia stabs him repeatedly and Pedro Caldes slits his throat, Lucrezia and Cesare try to make love but after he finds Pedro Caldes in the room, Cesare chases him followed by Lucrezia. In front of thecollege of cardinals Cesare kills Pedro Caldes with theLance of Longinus. Many rumours circulate around Rome about why Cesare killed Pedro. Pantisiliea's body is found in Tiber with whip Marks. Rodrigo damages the statue ofLaocoön and His Sons in regret and asks forgiveness before god for his sins. | ||||||||
(February 1494 – September 1494)
| No. in series | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy (Sky Cinema 1) | France (Canal+) | Austria (ORF 2) | Germany (ZDF) | |||||
| 13 | 1 | The Time of Sweet Desires | Dearbhla Walsh | Tom Fontana | 13 September 2013 | 18 March 2013 | 25 September 2013 | 30 September 2013 |
| 14 | 2 | Ash Wednesday | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Brant Englestein | |||||
| 15 | 3 | Palm Sunday | Christoph Schrewe | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Bradford Winters | 20 September 2013 | 25 March 2013 | 27 September 2013 | 1 October 2013 |
| 16 | 4 | Pax Vobiscum | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Andrea Ciannavei | |||||
| 17 | 5 | Ascension | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Sean Whitesell | 27 September 2013 | 1 April 2013 | 1 October 2013 | 3 October 2013 |
| 18 | 6 | Pentecost | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Larry J. Cohen | |||||
| 19 | 7 | The Blessed Trinity | Thomas Vincent | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Brant Englestein | 4 October 2013 | 8 April 2013 | 2 October 2013 | 7 October 2013 |
| 20 | 8 | A Morality Play | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Chris Albers | |||||
| 21 | 9 | Transfiguration | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Susanna Styron | 11 October 2013 | 15 April 2013 | 3 October 2013 | 9 October 2013 |
| 22 | 10 | The Assumption | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Frank Pugliese | |||||
| 23 | 11 | The Seven Sorrows | Christoph Schrewe | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Audrey Fouché | 18 October 2013 | 22 April 2013 | 7 October 2013 | 13 October 2013 |
| 24 | 12 | Who Is Like God? | Teleplay by: Tom Fontana | |||||
(1495 – 1507)
| No. in series | No. in season | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy (Sky Atlantic) | France (Canal+) | Austria (ORF 2) | Germany (ZDF) | ||||||
| 25 | 1 | 1495 | Christoph Schrewe | Story and Teleplay by: Tom Fontana & Brant Englestein | 3 November 2014 | 15 September 2014 | ... | ... | |
| 26 | 2 | 1496 | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Larry J. Cohen | ||||||
| 27 | 3 | 1497 | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Audrey Fouché | 10 November 2014 | 22 September 2014 | ... | ... | ||
| 28 | 4 | 1498 | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Andrea Ciannavei | |||||
| 29 | 5 | 1499 | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Susanna Styron | 17 November 2014 | 29 September 2014 | ... | ... | ||
| 30 | 6 | 1500 | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: William Bromell | ||||||
| 31 | 7 | 1501 | Athina Rachel Tsangari | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Larry J. Cohen | 24 November 2014 | 6 October 2014 | ... | ... | |
| 32 | 8 | 1502 | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Frank Pugliese | ||||||
| 33 | 9 | 1503, Part One | Metin Hüseyin | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Chris Albers | 1 December 2014 | 13 October 2014 | ... | ... | |
| 34 | 10 | 1503, Part Two | Story by: Tom Fontana Teleplay by: Marie Roussin | ||||||
| 35 | 11 | 1504 | Story by: Brant Englestein | 8 December 2014 | 20 October 2014 | ... | ... | ||
| 36 | 12 | 1505 | Christoph Schrewe | Story and Teleplay by: Brant Englestein & Tom Fontana | |||||
| 37 | 13 | 1506 | Story and Teleplay by: Tom Fontana & Brant Englestein | 15 December 2014 | 27 October 2014 | ... | ... | ||
| 38 | 14 | 1507 | Story and Teleplay by: Tom Fontana | ||||||
The third season premiered on Netflix on 1 November 2014.[7]