The Confession - The Borgias Season 2 Episode 10

*This review contains spoilers.*

Oh, my God, the season finale at last! Like I said in my last post, I really expected Juan's death to be the end of the second season, so when Micheletto and Cesare dumped Juan into the river, all my predictions went out the window...unless Juan, syphilitic, infected, one-legged, stabbed and crazy as he is, crawls out of the Tiber and, dripping wet, bloody and enraged, storms into the Vatican demanding Cesare's head....yeah, that's pretty unlikely.

Ooooh, it's on!

• Wow, getting Savonarola to confess was certainly easy...oh, I see. That was gutsy, but I still hate him so much...mainly because he made a fool out of Cesare that one time back in Florence. And for the Bonfire of the Vanities. 
• Uh-oh, what is Cesare going to tell Rodrigo? He can't tell him the truth...just chalk it up to Juan's many afflictions and vices? Unless someone finds the body with stab wounds on it...yikes!
• And we have a visitor from....Spain? He looks Spanish to me...Ah, another suitor. Well, this is fun...though I'm not a fan of this Alphonso's eyebrows, his accent makes up for it. 
• Oh, dammit, Antonello has more poison! I hope he gets it somehow before the episode is out. 
• Micheletto's kind? Oh, "sodomites"...probably not a good idea to piss off your torturer, Savonarola. 
• Oh, my goodness, Alphonso I love you! This guy is perfect! Oh, Lucrezia don't you hurt him! 
• I have been looking forward to more Cesare and Machiavelli all season! Yes! Is he is suggesting forgery? Oh, I love this guy!
• Rodrigo and Giovanni are so cute!
• Oh, I am looking forward to the Alphonso/Lucrezia moment. Aw, I almost feel bad for poor Alphonos, knowing what he is getting himself into. This is too cute! Awwwww! Yes, marriage!!!! Woooooooo! I am so happy! :) :) :)
• ...And there's a body? What did they do, dredge the Tiber? Is it him...no...so is Juan not dead? History shows us that the prevailing opinion is that Cesare did kill Juan...are they completely rewriting it? 
• ...Guilia and Rodrigo are looking for Juan themselves? 
• Oh, shit, did Savonarola just DIE? Okay, no, he lives...yeah, Cesare! ...Way to take care of business, Micheletto.
• Uh-oh, haul from the river? I hope Rodrigo isn't the one to find Juan...uh-oh, I don't like the sound of this music...AAAAAAAAAAAAH! It is! Oh, holy shit, poor Rodrigo. 
• Cesare doing a pretty badass walk, with the forged confession...and finding a mourning party...Oh, no, poor Cesare...
• You go, Lucrezia! I feel bad for poor Rodrigo, but that was badass. And he's asking Cesare...oh, this is heartrending, but so beautiful. 
• No burial? What's he going to do, make him some sort of Lenin-like shrine? 
• Oh, my God, it's finally the end for Savonarola! I like that Micheletto is doing it in the end. And what is wrong with Cesare? He can't watch him burn, again? Oh, looking for Rodrigo.
• Wait, why is he hesitating? What is he going to do? Oh, don't give him a chance to shout Cesare forged the confession! Oh, Rodrigo, don't go out there! Don't! Don't do it! Oh, he's offering absolution, okay - he did NOT just spit on the Pope! That bastard! At least he didn't tell Rodrigo anything about Cesare...epic music in this scene....So ends Savonarola. 
• Oh no, Lucrezia don't ask if he killed Juan...oh, okay, a marriage proposal, I can deal with that, I like Alphonso. 
• Cesare seems pretty certain Rodrigo will make him Gonfaloniere. Considering he's still sitting in a darkened room with Juan's body, I doubt this.  
• So Rodrigo is going to fast until Juan's murdered is found? This is not going well...Oh, Cesare, oh no, you're gonna tell him? That is so brave, truly, but I don't think this is a good idea. Confession? Oh, Cesare, you are really dragging this out for poor Rodrigo. His speech is very moving, can't you validate him a little bit, Rodrigo? Oh, God, here it comes...oh, Cesare... Come on, Rodrigo, your other son is dead, give Cesare something. Release from vows, that's good, take the ring, take the ring...Oh, Rodrigo, come on...this was so emotional, I'm tearing up right now. 
• I loved Cesare's dropping the cross, that was lovely...Bit anticlimactic to go to Vanozza and Lucrezia planning some papers. 
• I really like Cesare being all in charge...(and not just because it's hot either)
• Ah, yes, party! I'm really anticipating Rodrigo becoming a little unhinged after the blow of Juan's death and Cesare's part in it....And Juan's a little boy again...Oh, man, they're going to make me feel bad for wanting Juan dead. Aw, Rodrigo carrying little Juan is heartbreaking! Poor Juan! Poor Rodrigo! Is he just leaving him there? Oh, he's burying Juan with his own two hands, that just makes this all the more tragic. 
• Oh, I love scenes like this! The epic music as we float by all the major characters...Cesare and Lucrezia dancing divinely and Alphonso and Vanozza look on...Rodrigo burying his favorite son, who's a man again. In the interest of full disclosure, I am so bawling my eyes out right now. 
• ...Oh, dear, Rodrigo is crashing the engagement party...Cesare is going to handle it, I suppose, though how I'm not too sure. Well, this is one of history's more awkward conversations, I'm sure. Oh, shit, is that Antonello over there? Not now, you bastard! Oh, no, no, no!!!!! Don't drink it! No! No! Thank God! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He drank! Oh, no! 
• Wait, wait, is he chastising Cesare? Telling him why Juan was the favored son? Oh, this is heartbreaking for poor Cesare! Aw! Oh, dear, God! If they end on Rodrigo chocking, so help me God! No, no! This is not happening! He can't die, not like this! Oh, no! Don't you dare! WHAT? WHAT?? NO! 
•   *MAJOR SPOILER MAJOR SPOILER* I looked it up, and, historically, Juan died in 1497 and Rodrigo didn't die until 1503....so he can't be dead, but that was still one hell of an ending. *END OF SPOILER*
• Oh, wow, this was an absolutely amazing finale. I think, historically, Cesare is supposed to be a bad guy, but I just can't think of him that way. He submits to the cardinal's robes, protects his family, does everything Rodrigo asks and more for approval or affection or love or something, and, still, Rodrigo prefers Juan...it just gets me. 

Anyway, this was the most heart-pounding hour of TV ever, and I recommend you watch it ASAP!

If you like my style of doing these, stay right here for tonight's episodes of True Blood and Falling Skies, between which I had a hard time choosing...but I figured True Blood  is an old favorite and it is The Borgias finale. 

Thanks for reading everybody! ^.^

World of Wonders - The Borgias Season 2 Episode 9

*This review contains spoilers.*

Once again, my thoughts on the most recent episode of  Showtime's The Borgias.

• Okay, ending the "previously on" with the Pope telling Juan he can't defend himself? That sounds like Juan isn't going to be around much longer...if the syphilis/leg/opium doesn't get him first. 
• Aw...poor Raphaello...I want him to be with Lucrezia!
• Damn that Savonarola...all that precious artwork!
• Okay...people with dead animals on sticks? Ah, Savonarola's minions. I'm really starting to loathe this guy. Oh, no! A witch burning! That poor woman! Side note: Cesare looks hot when his hair is blowing in the wind. Someone has got to knock Savonarola down a peg. Oh, yes, Cesare this is beautiful! God, this could not be a more perfect scene. 
• ...And we cut to Juan...talking to his penis? Well, that's something you don't see all the time. 
• Oh, my God, I though he was just going to light some oil on fire on the floor, but those wooden things? This is going to be epic. That look from Cesare as Savonarola was bashing his father was beautiful. Here he goes! At least we know he really believes this himself...Epic music...And the masses are fickle...Cesare, triumphant...that was some spectacle. 
• This monk kid that's going to poison the Pope is really creepy. 
• ...And Juan is high as a kite in some opium den. 
• Antonello! That's his name! Oh, don't do it, Rodrigo! 
• Ah! Shakespeare reference! Okay, here's Guilia, where's Vittoria? I thought she was going to become a bigger deal...
• Cesare looks so cute with a baby! Aw, that was such a cute scene!
• Oh, no! Antonello! Not now you bastard!
• ...And Juan arrives...ooh, zinger from Vanozza! 
• Ah! Yes! Antonello spilled the poison! 
• Ooooh, this is pretty!
• Ahhhh! Cesare, that was beautiful! Oh, Juan, the prodigal son? Really? You went there? Don't let him get to you Cesare!
• Oh, my God! Juan! Don't you dare! That bastard...I hope Cesare gets him! I also hope he doesn't do it with those dancing girls.
• Aw, poor Cesare! Rodrigo loves you too!
• Yeah! Michelletto to the rescue! I hope she doesn't get syphilis...and I hope Micheletto would just strangle him already.
• Title of the episode! Oh, Juan is so dying right now! Cesare is going to kill him, I know it! Right now, as they hug, he's going to do it...*gasp* he did it! He actually did it! Oh, my God! I stand in awe, too!

Oh, my God, this was one hell of an episode! 

I had kind of anticipated Juan's death being the end of the season...so I have no idea what to expect next Sunday! 

Truth and Lies - The Borgias Season 2 Episode 8

*This review contains spoilers*

Once again, a play-by-play of Sunday's episode of The Borgias. 

• Here we go! I'm so excited! I'm looking forward to Juan trying to explain himself, Cesare making another bid to become the leader of the army and some more interactions between Lucrezia and Raphaello...and maybe Caterina Sforza doing something reckless/badass...though how she'd top baring it all before the entire Papal army is beyond me...but we shall see. 
• Oooh...Rodrigo starts strong. 
• And here comes Juan...he is a bastard, but I kind of feel bad for him limping around and having to ask for help but be humiliated to do it...and now he's lying and I lose all pity...he's quite the dramatist, however. You gotta love David Oakes. 
• Oh, my God! Juan suspects Cesare of deceit...and Cesare realizes how evil Juan is...poor Benito! I'm glad he has a name now. I'm rooting for Cesare in this one, all the way!
• "I would've been there to the end." God, I love Cesare right now...just wow. 
• ...And Rodrigo is trying to look up how to curse Savonarola XD
• That jealous, burning look on Juan's face ... And Cesare! Wow, he sure knows how to twist the rusty knife! I'm predicting Juan's death...I mean, he already had syphilis, and that weird probe up his dick can't be helping, and now this leg wound, which is freaking yellow? "Blindness, madness, death," does not sound good...and neither does opium...I can't imagine how I can hate him so much but still pity him his apparent fate.
• Haha...Vanozza and Rodrigo bickering...love it! 
• I love the juxtaposition of Cesare, strong, tall and competent with Juan, coughing, pale, verging on the pathetic...and I love the way Rodrigo acts the comforting and indulgent father when Juan freaks out...and acts as a referee as they bicker. 
• Yeah, Don Hernando! Stand on principle! Wooo!
• I really hope that they don't kill Brother Bernadino...
• ...And Vanozza is telling Lucrezia to get it on with both Calvino and Raphaello!!!!
• Oh, my God! What is Mohammed is here to assassinate Juan? Oh, no, it's just an opium den. I feel like Juan doesn't need another addiction/vice. 
• Don't tell me Michelletto is going to kill Benito? ...Or is he going to make love to him?
• Oh, I see, he's going to tell the Pope what happened at the siege of Forli. 
• Oooh! Yes! The Pope is going to set into Juan now! "Not even yourself"??? Is that a threat? Oh, now Juan's going to be a drama queen. 
• Cesare is a sly one alright...I'm glad Benito is getting home. 
• Ooooh....Lucrezia is making the first move! They're going for it! Oh, my God! Ladies, fyi, Raphaello is more than just fine words...he cuts a fine figure as well ;)
• Ominous music? I'm really worried about Bernadino now!
• Wooo! You go Benito!
• And Calvino proposes with a boat...I like that!
• Wooooooooooooooo! Marriage! I feel a little bad for Calvino, seeing him smile like that and knowing she's doing it with his brother. 
• "I fight men, not boys." I always though Cesare Borgia was supposed to be a snake, but he appears to have real honor here. Interesting. 
• Oh, God, that freaky monk boy murdered Brother Bernadino! No, you bastard! I'm glad you've had to be in agony with the poison!!!!

Okay, episode over. It was a great one, and I recommend you check it out. 

Also, a general tip? Watch Game of Thrones. This past Sunday's episode was amazing. Daenerys Targaryen is the most bad ass character ever. Everyone else is awesome, too...but she stands apart, especially in this past episode. 

My Predictions: 

• Juan gets it...somehow. 
• Cesare takes over the Papal armies.
• Raphaello has second thoughts about screwing his brother's wife. 

What do you think will happen?

Thanks for reading!

The Siege at Forli - The Borgias Season 2 Episode 7

Yet another commentary on yesterday's episode of the Borgias by me. 

• Here comes Juan...riding a horse indoors. The audacity!...okay, I love it. 
• ...and Juan totally brings back a panther trained to kill his sister. 
• "Vanities?" Tell me this is not the Bonfire of the Vanities....
• Okay, the Pope getting a cigar for the first time is hilarious!
• Wow, Juan works fast ;) Oh, my God, tell me he doesn't have syphilis or something.
• Okay, I laughed out loud at Lucrezia's cigar comments. 
• ...and Juan definitely has an STD. Haha, the look on his face over the umbrella-like gadget thing. 
• This Angelo kid needs a therapist. 
• Ah! This is in the Bonfire of the Vanities! Oh, no!
• Oooh! Battle! My prediction: Juan gets his ass handed to him by Caterina Sforza. 
• What kind of epic walking music is this? Oh, Lucrezia, don't marry this guy! He has a terrible intro score. 
• Haha! "Our daughter's pet...goes everywhere with her." Oh, that cracked me up! ...Is she going to get that thing to bite him?
• Calvino doesn't do it for me...but Raphaelo...ooh, Raphaelo! 
• I freaking LOVE her. 
• I love Caterina as well, this is great stuff!
• Juan, you bastard! NO! There was supposed to be an epic battle and you're taking her son? You slimy git! (I'm not British, I've just always wanted to use that word ever since I read it in Harry Potter.) Ah! I'm so pissed, Caterina was having such a strong moment and then damn Juan had to go and steal her son...he smoldered rather attractively while doing so, but still. Juan! Seriously? You're going there? Oh. Oh! OH! He is such a jackass. 
• Ooooh, Lucrezia getting all dolled up! Yes, go for Raphaelo!
• Uh-oh...oh, poor Caterina's son....oh, Juan, you bastard!...Thank you, Spanish dude! I like him. 
• ....You gotta love Cesare's decision not to send a messengers. 
• Am I the only one who wanted Michelletto to kill one of those little brats? 
• Oh, I'm loving Lucrezia and Raphaelo! What a line! Oooh, he's funny, too! And complimentary, too. Ah, a little direct, there...but, he knows what love is! *gasp* Kiss! Kiss! Ah, yes! 
• Yeah, Machiavelli! You tell that little bastard! Hahahahahahahaha! 
• Aw...poor Caterina's son. Okay, she's a little hardhearted...Yes!!!!!! Juan got shot! I hate that bastard! 
• I like Vanozza and Lucrezia's conversation about love. 
• Nooooo! Don't you burn that Botticelli! NO! Oh, God, the horror! I can't bear to look! Not the Primavera! Aaaaaaaaah! Oh, I can't handle this! This is sacrilege! 
• Get him Michelletto! Get him! Okay, fine, just stare ominously. 
• Uh-oh, I hope they're not going to hang Caterina's son....don't go to Rome, Caterina! I love Rodrigo, but I just want her to stay strong here for some reason. Oh...oh...flashing the opposing army while telling Juan to go to hell? Oh, that was badass!
• Yeah, Spanish dude!
• The shit is hitting the fan, and where is Juan? Galloping away, I see....now fleeing on foot. I hope somebody catches him...but I also don't, you know?

Thanks for reading!

Day of Ashes - The Borgias Season 2 Episode 6

*This review contains SPOILERS*

Yet another awesome episode of Showtime's The Borgias!

1. It's always a surprise to see Rodrigo doing actual Pope-y things, and very surprising to see him washing an old lady's feet. 
2. These people of Savonarola's are very creepy and cultish...oh, no! Tell me he's not cutting her hair! No! Not the hair! Nooo! (I have this thing about hair, I think the longer the better, and seeing someone have their hair lopped off is and always has been very traumatic for me.) Oh, and the flagellants, that's messed up, too. 
3. Uh-oh, Piero and the woman with him better get out of there! 
4. Please, please tell me that della Rovere is not poisoning that boy. Don't do it! 
5. Okay, I loved the scene with Rodrigo in the confessional...It's fascinating to see this penitent aspect of the Borgia Pope that everyone hates so much...
6. ...and Cesare barges in...and tells his father he killed Giovanni and did it with Caterina. OH, this is riveting! Wow, the tension between Rodrigo and Cesare here is just magnificent. 
7. "So...we shall dine on sardines." That was so epic. 
8. Oooh...tete-a-tete between Ascanio Sforza and Savonarola...this can't end well. The way he says all the sodomites will burn in hell is so ... gleeful. Whoa! Throwing the cap? What audacity. 
9. ...Cesare is strutting around in leather pants again. ;)
10. Oh, no...Lucrezia is about to get another bomb dropped on her. I am loving this defiance from her. 
11. Hahahaha! Giovanni Sforza fell onto a knife Cesare happened to be holding? Oh, that is priceless!
12. I was expecting more between Machiavelli and Cesare. I know how much Machiavelli admired Cesare (The Prince and all), so I expected a more intriguing dynamic, I guess. 
13. Yes! More Guilia, Vanozza, Lucrezia! I love them together! They're really striking fear into the hearts of the Cardinals. 
14. I'm loving the Cesare/Rodrigo balcony scene...
15. Something about Cesare's desire to command the Papal armies strikes me as stemming as a deep sense of feeling like Juan was the favored son and a desire to prove himself to his father. 
16. I'm kind of excited to see the Doge of Venice's nephew...Ooh, he's brought a wolfhound. "The man or the dog?" I like that a lot! "No to them both!" Oh, I am so loving Lucrezia right now. 
17. Oh, Cesare is storming Savonarola's church! This is getting good! Hahahahaha! "I will use it wipe my ass." Seriously? I don't know if that was badass or ridiculous! 
18. Did that little boy just accuse Cesare of being a sodomite? I really, really hope they didn't reveal Michelletto was gay just to have him hook up with Cesare! If Cesare is gay, what hope is there for straight women? Let's cross our fingers this is not foreshadowing!
19. Aw...come on, Rodrigo, let Cesare be a soldier! Oooh, I knew this was a brother thing! Stupid Juan is coming back to wreck everything! How can Rodrigo be so blind? I think he's harsher on Cesare because he wanted Cesare to grow up in his footsteps, i.e. the Church, and Cesare wants to be a solider so badly because he can please his father better that way...I don't know, and nobody asked for a psychoanalysis by me, so I'll shut up now. 

Thanks for reading!

The Choice - The Borgias Season 2 Episode 5

With a one minute and thirty second "previously" section, you just knew this was going to be a deep episode. I can't say that's an excuse for being a full twenty-four hours late, but hopefully you'll forgive me.

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS. It was also written as I watched, so please forgive any grammatical mistakes.*

Without further do, the review:

1. I really like the Lucrezia, Vanozza and Guilia trifecta of awesome. Strong women, ravishing costumes and witty dialogue? Yes, yes and yes!
2. I just love how, on the way to Florence, Jeremy Irons gallops off going "To Florence, and that heretic Savonarola" or something...it just struck me as very endearing. I have no idea why, it just did.
3. The glimpse into Micheletto's home life was ... something else. Cesare's interaction with his mother was absolutely priceless. And Micheletto ... well, that was eye-opening.
4.  OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! Micheletto is GAY! 
5. Oooh...shirtless Cesare! Oh. My. God. Cesare and Caterina?! Not that I reject any naked Cesare...but, still, her? Well, that was a very domination/submission type love scene.  O.o ...And a really intense wake up scene.
6. The lightning storm thing was AWESOME! And Rodrigo with the child? Aw!...Oh, no! He died! :'(
7. OH, my God! Cesare killed Giovanni Sforza! Oh, my God! Oh, God! That scene and its immediate aftermath were amazing. 
8. That last scene...poor Rodrigo!

This was a really, really, really great episode and you should definitely watch it if you haven't!

The Beautiful Deception - The Borgias, Season 2 Episode 3

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Please forgive any mechanical mistakes, my hearts all a-flutter right now! This blog is a little different, as I typed this while watching the show and then tried to organize it topically, not only to get a review out faster, but also to comment on more things! And there were plenty!

For more musings on how hot Cesare is (since I recently moved on from my love of Juan to a love of the decidedly more sexy Cesare), scroll down to number 5 ;)

My Thoughts:

1. Holliday Grainger is amazing! The emotion over Pualo's death,  "Ask Juan..." "I would have my Paulo saved from the fires of hell" "For being yourself." The wordplay over the "family" toast. Oooh! She was just superb!
2. Lucrezia's attempted murder of Juan was so totally awesome! The juxtaposition of Juan/Bernadetta and and Lucrezia singing was beautiful. I was on pins and needles as they kept switching positions - there was a good bit of time when I thought it might be Juan on top, though I never expected the blow to kill him of course. 
3. Oh my God! The Juan/Rodrigo tensions this episode! At the dinner...oh, that was amazing and then, as he was leaving, Jeremy Irons's "peasant shoes" line...oooh, I had chills!And Juan's thwarted ambitions - that look after the scene with Rodrigo in the chair!
4. THE CANNON REVEAL! CROWNING MOMENT OF AWESOME!
5. I love how he is so protective of Lucrezia, the look on his face, the yell, the attempt at holding her back, chasing the villagers away, carrying her etc. There's something about a guy who cares for his sister that's really touching. 
6. And holding the baby, all awkwardly like  he doesn't know what to do with a child. And hovering by the midwife and just looking to the side...I loved it! And sleeping there, too! In leather pants to
    boot!  There's something about a guy (particularly a tough guy, with, you know, leather pants and a freakin' sword) trying to figure out what to do with a baby that's really endearing. (See the episode of the CW's Supernatural where Dean hums "Smoke on the Water" to the shapeshifter baby...and then proceeds to give it whiskey to quiet it.)
7. Standing behind Vittoria with his arms crossed, all clad in black and menacing...and storming into the main room with a cannon..oh, that was sexy! And when the Cardinal's questioned his knowledge...when the Pope asked if he was sure...the risk, the tension! And, coming back and smashing the cannonball, and that yell...whoa!
8. Speaking of, when Caterina Sforza tells Cesare he cuts a "manly figure on his horse," it really seemed to me that that was Cesare's arc for this episode somehow. Particularly that line, and when he goes to face the French/Sforza army and comes back victorious, he just seemed so overtly masculine...and it was so thrilling! I mean, I always thought I liked the androgynous, doormat types, but, God, was I wrong! Whoa! I think I'm still a little flustered! I mean, wow! He rode out there with nothing to back him up but artwork, and he looked badass doing it! And retorting to those naysaying Cardinals...I don't know if I'm hormonal or what, but something about that kind of authoritativeness and decisiveness is really attractive. (I need to start a list of reasons I'm going to have dysfunctional relationships later.)
9. This was just such a breakout episode for him, now that Juan's gone and he just proved himself capable (more so that his father) of saving Rome, I feel like there are big things in store for him! (Things which will hopefully include more of the sides of him mentioned in numbers 5 and 8 of this post...and/or more leather pants scenes.)

That's what I thought; please tell me what you thought in the comments!

This was a FANTASTIC episode and was just so enthralling that I plan on watching it again ASAP! Watch it if you haven't!

Thanks so much for checking out my blog! 

Paulo - The Borgias, Season 2 Episode 2

*THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Wow! Oh, my God! I loved this episode! I highly recommend you watch it!

My Thoughts:

1. Okay, this is probably really weird of me, but I just love the dynamic between the Pope, Giulia and Vittoria. Jeremy Irons just plays it so beautifully. 
2. Oh, my God! Poor Paulo! Poor Lucrezia! I loved their relationship!
3. Partly because of Juan's role in that tragedy, and partly because of his general craziness, I think I'm starting to think Cesare is hotter. I mean, his treatment of Ursula Bonadeo/Sister Martha in this episode is certainly reprehensible, but that can be ascribed to unrequited passions and such, and, in true me fashion, something about a scorned lover is really great. Oh, I am SO having messed up relationships later in life. 

That's about it...it was amazing, and you should watch it!

Tangentially speaking, I am so officially a Cesare fan now! He just so hot in that brooding way, and the brooding way has always been my favorite way. And, of course, Francois Arnaud is an amazing actor! A lot of his other stuff is in French, so not only is he talented and hot, he's also bilingual! :)

The Borgia Bull - The Borgias, Season 2 Episode 1

I have just recently watched the premiere of the second season of Showtime's The Borgias, and, if you don't watch that show, you should. Why watch the show? It's got everything: romance, intrigue, betrayal, death, lust, love, tragedy, the beautiful David Oakes, history, power, destruction, Francois Arnaud, all set to the backdrop of the pontificate of Pope Alexander VI in 14th century Rome - trust me, this is something you need to be watching! Now, onto the premiere:

My Thoughts:

1. Wow! All the great stuff from last season is here, but it's being expanded and improved upon! 
2. I just love Jeremy Irons! He is just amazing as Pope Alexander VI, and the relationship between him, Guilia Farnese and Vittoria is so juicy!
3. I'm not going to sugarcoat it: the increasing rivalry between Juan and Cesare is really sexy. I don't know why, it might even be the new hairdo they gave Juan, but something about the anger and the ambition and the deeply buried jealousy and the raw emotion on display when they're fighting is really hot. (This is how you know I'm going to have very dysfunctional relationships later in life.)
4. There's a very hedonistic vibe to this episode. It's like this season is hitting the ground running, and they're not stopping. 
5. As always, the score, costumes, sets etc. are lavish and beautiful and you should watch it just for that. Or just for David Oakes. Also a  totally valid reason. Just saying.  

So, I really, really loved the episode! So, so, so good! If you watched last season, absolutely watch this, it's even better. If you didn't, the little "Previously on The Borgias" thing at the beginning (while helpful if you did watched the last season) doesn't do it justice and I recommend you watch the first season! Jump on board now, while there's only one season, so you don't have to catch up on SEVEN seasons like I did when I realized I should be watching CW's Supernatural. Anyway, the first season had only nine episodes, about an hour long, so that's nine hours of your life. Take it from me, you want to watch every episode of The Borgias!

Check back later for a review of the CW's Hart of Dixie or possibly NBC's Grimm ... whatever I choose to watch/catch up on first! ...And while you're waiting, you should be watching The Borgias. Seriously, it's like the Sopranos, only with better outfits, more intrigue, and the presence of David Oakes...you'll thank me later.