The Confession (The Borgias)

Last updated
"The Confession"
The Borgias episode
Episode no.Season 2
Episode 10
Directed by David Leland
Written by Guy Burt
Original air dateJune 17, 2012 (2012-06-17)
Guest appearances
Sebastian de Souza as Alfonso d'Aragona
Steven Berkoff as Girolamo Savonarola
Peter Sullivan as Cardinal Ascanio Sforza
Jesse Bostick as Antonello
Steven Hartley as Captain of the Guard
Vernon Dobtcheff as Cardinal Verspucci
Bosco Hogan as Cardinal Piccolomini
Episode chronology
← Previous
"World of Wonders"		Next →
"The Face of Death"
List of episodes

"The Confession" is the final episode of the second season of Showtime-Bravo! historical drama The Borgias . It was written by Guy Burt and directed by David Leland. It originally aired on June 17, 2012.

Contents

The episode deals with the grief of the Pope for Juan, killed by Cesare for shaming the Borgia name. While Lucrezia chooses to marry Alfonso d'Aragona, Girolamo Savonarola is burned at the stake with a fake confession of heresy. Cesare admits his guilt to the Pope, who releases him from his cardinal's vows, but when Cesare asks for his father's forgiveness, the Pope is poisoned by Cardinal Della Rovere's assassin, leaving the season with a cliff-hanger.

Plot

The episode begins with Savonarola (Steven Berkoff) being tortured, while Rodrigo (Jeremy Irons) demands of Cesare either a confession from the friar or his brother Juan. At Castel Sant'Angelo, Micheletto (Sean Harris) is trying to get a confession of heresy, but Savonarola says he will only confess to Cesare. That afternoon, Machiavelli (Julian Bleach) is a guest of Cesare's and they discuss the difficulty of extracting a confession from the rebel. Cesare (François Arnaud) knows that a confession is needed to recant all that was preached but Savonarola has proven stronger than he thought over the lengthy torture. Machiavelli states what he thinks to be obvious: if Rome needs that confession, then give it to them. In the dungeons, Cesare, tired of Savonarola's obstinacy, signs the confession in his name; Micheletto then pries out the friar's tongue, so he can reveal to no one about Cesare's deceit.

In the hallway of the papal suites Lucrezia (Holliday Grainger) encounters her latest suitor, Alfonso d’Aragona (Sebastian de Souza). Alfonso does not recognize her so she grasps the opportunity to have a little fun with him, pretending to be Lucrezia's intermediary. They both flirt with each other until Alfonso tells her to lie to Lucrezia that he is inept and to come with him. He doesn't care about prestige, he is looking for love, and this wins over Lucrezia, who kisses him. Rodrigo meanwhile tells Lucrezia to not dismiss Alfonso without meeting him. Later, Alfonso is shocked when he sees Lucrezia's name being announced and sees her walk into Rodrigo's court. Lucrezia then in front of the whole court and much to Rodrigo's surprise immediately agrees to marry Alfonso.

Rodrigo is informed that a body has been found. He proceeds to identify it, but it's not Juan's. Cardinal Sforza (Peter Sullivan) tells Rodrigo that he has ordered the searching of mortuaries, as he doesn't want to rule out any possibilities. Giulia Farnese (Lotte Verbeek) and Rodrigo pay mortuaries a visit in the dark of the night. While scanning through bodies, Rodrigo stumbles upon Juan's body. He is visibly moved and instructs the body be taken home. Later a pleased Cesare enters Rodrigo's chamber in order to hand him the friar's confession but he's shocked to see Juan's body lying there. In an explosive scene, Cesare and Lucrezia tell Rodrigo that they will not mourn his death, because Juan had no respect for anyone, including his family. Rodrigo tells the both of them to leave his sight. He refuses to have a funeral until Juan's killer is found. The friar Savonarola is meanwhile tied to a stake to be burnt, with all the townspeople jeering him. Rodrigo, wearing his ceremonial robes, walks up to Savonarola and tells him that if he repents, he might then forgive his sins. The friar in return spits in the Pope's face. Rodrigo then walks back and instructs that Savonarola be burnt.

In Lucrezia's bedroom Lucrezia asks if Cesare will marry her and he plays on the words to tease her. He says as she wishes, they shall have to run away together. Eventually, he states that he cannot, because his hands have seen too much of blood and sin. Later, Cesare looks for his father and finds him still in the mourning chamber. He confesses to Rodrigo that it was he who killed Juan, for the honor of the family. He then asks Rodrigo to relieve him of his robes of a cardinal and to grant him his forgiveness. Cesare hangs up his robe of a cardinal, and hands his ring over to Rodrigo. The day after, Cesare seeks out Vanozza and Lucrezia to tell them that Juan's funeral has been arranged. Vanozza reminds Cesare that his father will not have it but Cesare insists.

In the ballroom, surrounded by well-wishers, Cesare brings Lucrezia and Alfonso's hands together to signify their betrothal and the festivities begin. The Pope sits in the darkened mourning chamber while below the ballroom is filled with dancing and music. He lifts Juan's body into his arms and the corpse of the grown man is changed to body of a sleeping child, then he lays him on the grass in the Vatican gardens and begins to dig the soil. Inside the Palace, Lucrezia and Cesare dance together closely; Vanozza and Alfonso watch them suspiciously. Eventually, Vanozza asks Cesare what exactly is he celebrating, Cesare tells her that the happiness of his sister's marriage far outweighs the grief of his brother's death, but she remarks that they are all dancing on his brother's grave.

Rodrigo arrives at the ceremony with soiled clothes and tells Cesare that he wants to speak with him. The Pope's taster, Cardinal della Rovere's assassin (Jesse Bostick), meanwhile pours some wine for Rodrigo. Rodrigo tells Cesare that what Cesare did is also Rodrigo's fault, as he brought Cesare to this. Cesare asks Rodrigo his forgiveness, and just as Rodrigo is about to reply, he begins to choke like his taster, who suddenly falls to the ground dead. Cesare yells for help, while Rodrigo collapses to the ground, apparently dead. Lucrezia, Giulia, Vanozza, Alfonso and some cardinals rush into the room, and they are all shocked at the sight.

Production

"The Confession" was written by Guy Bert and directed by executive producer David Leland. [1] In an interview, actor Francois Arnaud said that he was pleased the first time he read Bert's script, calling it one of his favorites and believing that it "captured the strongest moments of all the characters" and finished transforming his character into a "warrior." He added, "I couldn't believe someone had written on paper my exact thoughts for this character for the past two years. It's like if I had written it myself, you know? I was really happy." [2]

Arnaud remarked that the finale contained elements from Game of Thrones and Dawson's Creek , a reference to the combination of power and politics in tandem with Lucrezia's romance. Arnaud continued that the finale "reaches new stages of emotional depth" explaining that his character's admittance of guilt to his father over Juan created as much drama as the actual killing of Juan, which took place in the previous episode. "I don't think [the murder was] something that he particularly enjoyed doing, but I think Cesare has great will power," Arnaud noted. "I think it's something that he focused on and I think he can control his mind into having no second thoughts. And I think that's the only way you can rule in that era, really." [2]

While David Oakes is still credited in the title sequence, [1] his only appearance is as a corpse. Oakes stated, "It’s a good season finale. They wouldn’t have killed me off in Episode 9, if there wasn’t enough to do in the final episodes." [3]

Reception

Ratings

"The Confession" first aired on June 17, 2012 in the United States to an estimated 517,000 viewers. [4]

Reviews

TV Fanatic columnist Dan Forcella praised Cesare and Lucrezia's character development as well as Grainger's performance. [5] Les Chappell of The A.V. Club thought that Irons' reaction to Juan's death was his strongest of the season and said of the burial scene: "Certainly Irons conveys a terrific sense of blind grief in the moment, and the scoring by Trevor Morris as always matches the mood of the scene perfectly, but there’s a fantastical sense to it—particularly the way that Alexander imagines Juan as the boy he once was, before his demons consumed him—that feels out of place with the show’s aesthetic. Far more effective is what he does afterwards, walking into the wedding reception in mud-stained robes, taking Cesare aside and finally admitting the role his favoritism played Juan’s death." [6]

Nominations

It received three nominations at the Primetime Emmy Awards 2012 for Outstanding Costumes for a Series (Gabriella Pescucci), Outstanding Hairstyling for a Single-Camera Series and Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Trevor Morris). [7]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cesare Borgia</span> Late 15th-century Italian nobleman and Catholic cardinal

Cesare Borgia was an Italian cardinal and condottiero, an illegitimate son of Pope Alexander VI and member of the Spanish-Aragonese House of Borgia. His fight for power was a major inspiration for The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lucrezia Borgia</span> Spanish-Italian duchess-consort of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio (1480–1519)

Lucrezia Borgia was an Italian noblewoman of the House of Borgia who was the illegitimate daughter of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei. She reigned as the governor of Spoleto, in her own right, a position usually held by Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pope Alexander VI</span> Head of the Catholic Church from 1492 to 1503

Pope Alexander VI was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 11 August 1492 until his death in 1503. Born into the prominent Borgia family in Xàtiva in the Kingdom of Valencia under the Crown of Aragon, Spain, Rodrigo studied law at the University of Bologna. He was ordained deacon and made a cardinal in 1456 after the election of his uncle as Pope Callixtus III, and a year later he became vice-chancellor of the Catholic Church. He proceeded to serve in the Curia under the next four popes, acquiring significant influence and wealth in the process. In 1492, Rodrigo was elected pope, taking the name Alexander VI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">House of Borgia</span> Italo-Spanish Renaissance noble family

The House of Borgia was a Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from Xàtiva, Kingdom of Valencia, the surname being a toponymic from the town of Borja, then in the Crown of Aragon, in Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandía</span> Son of Pope Alexander VI (c. 1476 – 1497)

Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandía was the second child of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei and a member of the House of Borgia. He was the brother of Cesare, Gioffre, and Lucrezia Borgia. Giovanni Borgia was the pope's favourite son, and Alexander VI granted him important positions and honours. He was murdered in Rome on 14 June 1497. The case remained unsolved and is still considered one of the most notorious scandals of the Borgia era.

<i>The Family</i> (Puzo novel) Novel by Mario Puzo

The Family is a 2001 novel written by Mario Puzo. The novel is about Pope Alexander VI and his family. Puzo spent over twenty years working on the book off and on, while he wrote others. The novel was finished by his longtime girlfriend, Carol Gino. The Family is effectively his last novel, but released two years after his death.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ercole II d'Este</span> Duke of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio from 1534 to 1559

Ercole II d'Este was Duke of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio from 1534 to 1559. He was the eldest son of Alfonso I d'Este and Lucrezia Borgia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfonso of Aragon (1481–1500)</span> Duke of Bisceglie, Prince of Salerno

Alfonso of Aragon, Duke of Bisceglie and Prince of Salerno of the House of Trastámara, was the illegitimate son of Alfonso II King of Naples and his mistress Trogia Gazzella. His father, cousin of King Ferdinand II of Aragon, abdicated in favour of his legitimate son Ferdinand II of Naples.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sancha of Aragon</span> 15th-century illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso II of Naples

Sancha of Aragon, or Sancia of Aragon, was an illegitimate daughter of King Alfonso II of Naples and his mistress Trogia Gazzella. In 1494, she was married to Gioffre Borgia, youngest son of Pope Alexander VI. Upon her marriage, she and her husband were created Prince and Princess of Squillace, a province in the south of Italy. For the majority of their marriage, Sancha and her husband lived in the Vatican with the rest of his family. There Sancha became friends with her sister-in-law Lucrezia, and allegedly had affairs with both of her husband's older brothers: Juan Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandia, also known as Giovanni Borgia, and Cesare Borgia. Her affair with Juan is sometimes said to be the reason for Cesare's alleged murder of Juan in 1497.

"The Poisoned Chalice" is the pilot episode of the Showtime-Bravo! series The Borgias. It was written and directed by series creator Neil Jordan and originally aired on April 3, 2011, as the first half of a 2 hour premiere.

<i>The Borgias</i> (2011 TV series) Television series

The Borgias is a historical drama television series created by Neil Jordan; it debuted in 2011 and was canceled in 2013.

<i>Borgia</i> (TV series) French-German-Czech-Italian historical drama television series

Borgia is a historical drama television series created by Tom Fontana for Canal+, ZDF, ORF, and Sky Italia. The show recounts the Borgia family's rise to power and subsequent domination of the Papal States during the Renaissance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micheletto Corella</span> Valencian condottiero

Micheletto Corella was a Valencian condottiero born on an unknown date in Valencia. He was killed in Milan in February 1508.

"The Assassin" is the second episode of the Showtime-Bravo! series The Borgias. It was written and directed by series creator Neil Jordan and originally aired on April 3, 2011, as the second half of a 2-hour premiere.

"The Moor" is the third episode of the Showtime-Bravo! series The Borgias. It was written by series creator Neil Jordan and directed by Simon Cellan Jones. It originally aired on April 10, 2011.

<i>Lucrezia Borgia</i> (1922 film) 1922 film

Lucrezia Borgia is a 1922 German silent historical film directed by Richard Oswald and starring Conrad Veidt, Liane Haid, Paul Wegener, and Albert Bassermann. It was based on a novel by Harry Sheff, and portrayed the life of the Renaissance Italian aristocrat Lucrezia Borgia (1480–1519). Botho Hoefer and Robert Neppach worked as the film's art directors, designing the period sets needed. It was shot at the Tempelhof Studios in Berlin. Karl Freund was one of the cinematographers. Famed French director Abel Gance remade the film in 1935.

<i>Lucrezia Borgia</i> (1935 film) 1935 film

Lucrezia Borgia is a 1935 French historical film directed by Abel Gance and starring Edwige Feuillère, Gabriel Gabrio and Maurice Escande. It was shot at the Saint-Maurice Studios in Paris. The film's sets were designed by the art directors Henri Ménessier and René Renoux. Feuillère's performance was widely acclaimed by critics, and significantly boosted her career.

<i>The Borgia</i> 2006 film

The Borgia is a 2006 Spanish-Italian biographical film directed by Antonio Hernández. It stars Lluís Homar, Sergio Peris-Mencheta and María Valverde as, respectively, Rodrigo, Cesare and Lucrezia Borgia.

<i>Young Lucrezia</i> 1974 film

Young Lucrezia is a 1974 Italian historical drama film directed by Luciano Ercoli and starring Simonetta Stefanelli, Massimo Foschi, Raffaele Curi and Ettore Manni.

<i>The Borgias: The Hidden History</i> 2013 non-fiction book by G. J. Meyer

The Borgias: The Hidden History is a 2013 non-fiction book by G. J. Meyer about the history of the Borgia family in Renaissance Italy. Based on a re-examination of contemporary and modern material, it contradicts a number of the generally accepted statements about the Borgia popes and their relatives.

References

  1. 1 2 Wagner, Curt (June 17, 2012). "Francois Arnaud on 'The Borgias' finale, Juan's murder". Red Eye Chicago. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  2. ↑ Lash, Jolie (June 15, 2012). "The Borgias Q&A: David Oakes On Juan Borgia's End & What's To Come In The Season 2 Finale". Access Hollywood . Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  3. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (June 19, 2012). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'True Blood', 'Falling Skies', 'Real Housewives of NJ', 'Keeping up with the Kardashians' + NASCAR & More". TV by the Numbers . Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved December 11, 2012.
  4. ↑ Forcella, Dan (June 17, 2012). "The Borgias Review: One Wedding and a Funeral". TV Fanatic. Retrieved June 24, 2012.
  5. ↑ Chappell, Les (June 17, 2012). "The Confession". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on June 20, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  6. ↑ "The Borgias Awards and Nominations". IMDb . Retrieved December 11, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.