The Assassin (The Borgias)

Last updated
"The Assassin"
The Borgias episode
Episode no.Season 1
Episode 2
Directed by Neil Jordan
Written byNeil Jordan
Original air dateApril 3, 2011 (2011-04-03)
Guest appearances
  • Peter Sullivan as Ascanio Sforza
  • Stephen Noonan as the Deacon Cardinal
  • Vernon Dobtcheff as Cardinal Julius Versucci
  • Bosco Hogan as Cardinal Piccolomini
  • Laszlo Konter as Cardinal Colonna
  • David Lowe as the French Ambassador
Episode chronology
 Previous
"The Poisoned Chalice"
Next 
"The Moor"
List of episodes

"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.

Contents

The episode deals with the aftermath and investigation into the murder of Cardinal Orsini, and the beginning of Cardinal della Rovere's plot to depose Alexander VI.

Plot

Immediately following the murder of Cardinal Orsini, Micheletto (Sean Harris) informs Cesare (François Arnaud) that there is also a plot against his family. They arrive at Cesare's home to save his mother and sister, Vannozza (Joanne Whalley) and Lucrezia (Holliday Grainger). Juan (David Oakes) arrives at the palace of Cardinal Orsini and directs his soldiers to arrest Orsini's household staff. Later, Cesare meets with his father, the Pope (Jeremy Irons) and Cardinal della Rovere (Colm Feore), who tells them Orsini was killed by poison. Soon after, Juan brings Micheletto into the room, having arrested him outside the gates. The Pope recognizes him as one of the servants pouring wine during the dinner, and Juan orders he be tortured for information. Before Juan can begin his interrogation, Cesare tells him that he will do it instead. Cesare tells Micheletto that he will release him, and to spy on Cardinal della Rovere.

After briefly torturing Micheletto, Cesare discusses Orsini's murder with the Pope. Alexander tells Cesare that he is being made a Cardinal, and Cesare begs him to reconsider, and give him control of the Papal armies, but is denied again in favour of Juan. In addition, Alexander tells Cesare that he intends to find a husband for Lucrezia, in order to make an ally of an enemy. Meanwhile, Micheletto arrives at della Rovere's home, where he gains his trust by showing the Cardinal his wounded back. In the Vatican, the Pope hears the confession of Giulia Farnese (Lotte Verbeek), a noble woman in Rome. She confesses that she ended her pregnancy, a sin which "only the Pope can forgive". The Pope allows her to reside in Cardinal Orsini's now empty palace while she performs her penance.

With the aid of Micheletto, Cardinal della Rovere assembles a large group of Cardinals and tells them of his plot to depose the Pope on accusation of corruption and simony. Unbeknownst to the Cardinals, Micheletto is eavesdropping on their conversation. Later, Micheletto brings Johannes Burchard (Simon McBurney) to della Rovere, who seeks his advice on deposing the Pope. The Deacon Cardinal tells della Rovere that the only way to depose a Pope is to prove public lechery. Meanwhile, the Pope makes use of a tunnel constructed by Cardinal Orsini, between his palace and the Vatican, has sex with Giulia Farnese, and commissions a painting of her. Lucrezia meets Giulia while she is being painted, and they quickly become friends. When Lucrezia tells her mother of her encounter with Giulia, and that the Pope had commissioned a painting of her, Vannozza meets with him the following day to accuse him of taking Farnese as his concubine.

Micheletto meets with Cesare to report on what he overheard in della Rovere's home. Cesare informs the Pope of della Rovere's plot to depose him, but Alexander is prepared to overcome it. Micheletto speaks with a young maid working in Orsini's palace, who claims she witnessed the Pope entering Giulia's bedchamber. The Pope visits with Burchard to discuss expanding the College of Cardinals by 13, and puts him to work on finding a precedent for an expansion of that size. In another meeting of della Rovere's Cardinals, he tells them that they must prove the Pope's notorious and public lechery, and brings in the young maid to tell them what she witnessed. Micheletto reports the maid's story to Cesare, who tells him to kill her. Micheletto finds the young woman and has sex with her in an aggressive and callous manner before dispatching her. During Consistory, the Pope tells the College of Cardinals of his intentions to expand the College, which includes making Cesare a Cardinal. This is met by accusations of lechery by Cardinal della Rovere, who storms out of Consistory. He retires to his home, where he finds the young maid murdered on his bed.

Reception

Ratings

"The Assassin" (along with the previous episode, "The Poisoned Chalice", which aired prior to this episode) was viewed by 1.06 million people during its initial airing, which set a series high that has yet to be surpassed. [1]

Related Research Articles

<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 daughter of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza dei Cattanei. She reigned as the Governor of Spoleto, a position usually held by cardinals, in her own right.

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

Pope Alexander VI, born Rodrigo de Borja, 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 under the Crown of Aragon, 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 an Italian-Aragonese Spanish noble family, which rose to prominence during the Italian Renaissance. They were from 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">Vannozza dei Cattanei</span> Italian noble

Giovanna "Vannozza" (dei) Cattanei was an Italian woman who was the chief mistress of Cardinal Rodrigo de Borgia, later to become Pope Alexander VI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandía</span> Son of Pope Alexander VI

Giovanni Borgia, 2nd Duke of Gandía (1476–1497) was the second born and the second son of Pope Alexander VI and Vannozza Cattanei and a member of the House of Borgia. He was the brother of Cesare, Gioffre, and Lucrezia Borgia. He was murdered on 14 June 1497. Even today, it is not known with certainty who was responsible for his death, although many at the time blamed his brother Cesare.

<i>Prince of Foxes</i>

Prince of Foxes is a 1947 historical novel by Samuel Shellabarger, following the adventures of the fictional Andrea Orsini, a captain in the service of Cesare Borgia during his conquest of the Romagna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Giulia Farnese</span> Mistress to Pope Alexander VI

Giulia Farnese was an Italian noblewoman, a mistress to Pope Alexander VI, and the sister of Pope Paul III. Known as Giulia la bella, meaning "Julia the beautiful" in Italian, Giulia was a member of the noble Farnese family, who were prominent leaders in the Italian regions of Parma and Piacenza. After marrying into the noble Orsini family in the Papal States, Giulia soon acquainted herself with, and initiated an affair with, the Spanish Cardinal Rodrigo de Borja. When the cardinal was elected Pope, Giulia continued the increasingly advantageous liaison, which enabled her to have her brother Alessandro made a cardinal, until losing Alexander's favor at the turn of the century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francesco Maria I della Rovere, Duke of Urbino</span> Italian condottiero

Francesco Maria I della Rovere was an Italian condottiero, who was Duke of Urbino from 1508 to 1516 and, after retaking the throne from Lorenzo II de' Medici, from 1521 to 1538.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Felice della Rovere</span> Illegitimate daughter of Pope Julius II

Felice della Rovere, also known as Madonna Felice, was the illegitimate daughter of Pope Julius II. One of the most powerful women of the Italian Renaissance, she was born in Rome around 1483 to Lucrezia Normanni and Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere. Felice was well educated, became accepted into close courtly circles of aristocratic families, and formed friendships with scholars and poets through her education and genuine interest in humanism. Through the influence of her father, including an arranged marriage to Gian Giordano Orsini, she wielded extraordinary wealth and influence both within and beyond the Roman Curia. In particular, she negotiated peace between Julius II and the Queen of France, and held the position of Orsini Signora for over a decade following the death of her husband in 1517. Felice further increased her power through a castle that she bought with money received from her father, the Castle at Palo, and through her involvement in the grain trade.

"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.

Orsino Orsini Migliorati (1473–1500) was the husband of Giulia "La Bella" Farnese (1474–1524), the mistress of Pope Alexander VI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eleonora Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino</span>

Eleonora Gonzaga, Duchess of Urbino was Duchess and sometime regent of Urbino by marriage to Francesco Maria I della Rovere, duke of Urbino. She served as regent during the absence of her spouse in 1532.

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

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

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerolama Orsini</span> Duchess consort of Parma and Piacenza

Gerolama Orsini (1504–1569) sometimes Girolama Orsini was the Duchess of Parma as the wife of Pier Luigi Farnese, Duke of Parma. She served as Regent (Governor) of the Ducky of Castro in the name of her son Orazio, Duke of Castro between 1550 and 1553.

<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.

"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.

"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.

<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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vittoria Farnese, Duchess of Urbino</span> Duchess consort of Urbino

Vittoria Farnese, also known as Vittoria, Princess of Parma, and by her married name Vittoria Farnese della Rovere, was an Italian noblewoman, Duchess consort of Urbino from 1548 until 1574 by marriage to Guidobaldo II della Rovere, Duke of Urbino.

Laura Orsini was an Italian noblewoman, daughter of Giulia Farnese and, presumably, of her lover Pope Alexander VI Borgia.

References

  1. Gorman, Bill (April 5, 2011). "Sunday Cable Ratings: 'Army Wives,' Kardashians Lead Night; + 'The Killing,' 'The Borgias,' 'Breakout Kings + Much More". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on April 8, 2011. Retrieved May 1, 2012.