The Borgias

The Borgias

The Borgias is the saga of history's most infamous crime family. Conspiring with his ruthless sons Cesare and Juan and poisonously seductive daughter Lucrezia, the charismatic Rodrigo Borgia will let nothing and no one stand in the way of his relentless quest for wealth and power. Mercilessly cruel and defiantly decadent, intimidation and murder are his weapons of choice in his scandalous ascension to the papacy in Renaissance-era Italy.

After surviving a near fatal assassination attempt, Pope Alexander responds with an iron will by ruthlessly purging the Vatican of anyone who might be disloyal to him. Alexander’s true master plan is to establish the Papacy as a hereditary monarchy across the heart of Italy – for father and son to rule the world. But he must come to accept that his children are independently ready to wield their own power. 

Cesare (Francois Arnaud), now the military prince and daring guerrilla fighter, is so eager for action that he comes perilously close to war with his own father’s army. His sister Lucrezia (Holliday Grainger) is equally frustrated when her husband, the Neapolitan prince Alfonso, proves to be a disappointment. Feeling desperate to secure a future for herself and her child, she enters the dangerous fray of Neapolitan politics and learns the art of poisoning. 

As their passions grow, and as mistrust of all others becomes more ingrained, the siblings finally give in to their desires and embark on a passionate incestuous relationship. With both that scandalous secret and the unspoken agonies of Juan’s death lingering between them, the family is riven by paranoia and suspicion.

Episode Summary: Season 3

Episode #1 – The Face of Death

As Pope Alexanderfights for his life after being poisoned, the Cardinals jockey for position to take over the Papacy. Cesare and Micheletto trace the assassination plot back to its source, but Della Rovere is ready to make his move. Catherina Sforza dispatches her own personal assassin, Rufio, to dethrone the Borgias. However, thanks to Lucrezia's quick thinking, the family's grip on power may not be lost.

Episode #2 – The Purge

Pope Alexander tasks Cardinal Sforza with initiating an inquisition among the Cardinals who were politicking against him. With the evidence he needs, Alexander dismisses and banishes all the Cardinals he does not trust. Meanwhile, Catherina Sforza orders Rufio to seek support from the mercenary warlords of the Romagna families. Lucrezia is annoyed with her in-laws to be and her situation is complicated further as she realizes her feelings for Cesare are becoming something more than sisterly.

Episode #3 – Siblings

As the purged Cardinals are dismissed and stripped of their titles and wealth, one of them angrily sets the Vatican treasury ablaze. Incensed by the new King Ferdinand's arrogant refusal to accept Giovanni as Lucrezia's child, Cesare travels to Naples to fix the problem. After Lucrezia and Alfonso's wedding, Alfonso realizes that the political sands are shifting - and not in his favor. Upset, he abandons Lucrezia alone on their wedding night, driving her into the arms of someone else.

Episode #4 – The Banquet of Chestnuts

Newly appointed Cardinal Farnese is placed in the Treasury and quickly discovers Versucci's theft. Micheletto is sent to find the wayward Cardinal. Meanwhile, upon hearing of Venice's request for help, Alexander, seeing this as an opportunity to replenish the coffers, dramatically calls for a Crusade. The Cardinals participate in the "banquet of chestnuts". Elsewhere, King Ferdinand learns that Lucrezia and Alfonso's marriage has not been consummated.

Episode #5 – The Wolf and the Lamb

Cesare's diplomatic mission to France is a success, with the help of his old advisor Machiavelli. Back in Rome, the seductive and dangerously insane Bianca makes a drastic statement. Lucrezia travels to Naples accompanied by her husband and Micheletto. King Ferdinand remains steadfast in his determination that little Giovanni will not be recognized at court. Upon learning this, Lucrezia plots against him.

Episode #6 – Relics

When Cesare lands in northern Italy with a French army, Alexander is furious at what he sees as a challenge to his authority, but reluctantly accedes to Cesare's plan to destroy the Sforza dynasty. Catherina, meanwhile, has come up with a plot of her own: biological warfare. Concerned about the lack of funds for his Crusade, Alexander imposes punitive taxes on the newly arrived Jewish community.

Episode #7 – Lucrezia’s Gambit

Cesare burns Constanzo's palace in order to contain the plague. Lucrezia, aware that the political wind has changed towards France, seeks a Neapolitan power base for herself and her family. Lucrezia blackmails Prince Raphael and Prince Frederigo replaces Ferdinand as King.

Episode #8 – Tears of Blood

Pilgrims are flooding to Rome for the Jubilee year celebration, but Catherina Sforza has a plan to ruin Alexander's lucrative festival. Meanwhile, Lucrezia senses a change in newly crowned Frederigo and realizes that she is under constant watch from the royal guard. A plot to deceive the Borgia family is uncovered by Lucrezia, Cesare and Micheletto.

Episode #9 – The Gunpowder Plot

Devastated by his betrayal, Micheletto kills his lover and disappears. Cesare races to Naples to rescue Lucrezia. Brother and sister are eventually reunited and are so overjoyed to see one another that Alfonso begins to suspect that their relationship seems more than that of ordinary siblings. Alexander schemes to corner the market in Italian sulfur - the key ingredient to gunpowder.

Episode #10 – The Prince

Season 3 finale. Cesare vows that Lucrezia will now be his for good.

The casts

Jeremy Irons as Rodrigo Borgia

Both ruthlessly ambitious and utterly devoted to his family, the head of the Borgia clan uses his position in the Catholic church to acquire and consolidate power, influence, and wealth. He is incredibly shrewd and manages to outmaneuver his rivals at every turn. He also enjoys the carnal pleasures of life, particularly the company of beautiful women. His undying devotion to his derelict favorite son Juan has been a chink in his otherwise impenetrable armor, and has wreaked havoc for him both personally and professionally. Juan's unfortunate fate has left Alexander reeling and untethered, and it may have provided his enemies the prime opportunity to destroy the Borgia family.

Francois Arnaud as Cesare Borgia

Forced into the priesthood by his father, Cesare is, in reality, violent, dashing, and cavalier. He serves as his father's consigliere, and carries out the most heinous atrocities to advance the family's cause. He proves his military and strategic prowess again and again, helping his father amass tremendous wealth and power. While devoted to his sister and mother, Cesare has a bitter rivalry with his brother Juan, causing him to commit the ultimate crime, thus threatening the very foundation of the Borgias' power.

Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia Borgia

A beautiful young woman who is also wise beyond her years, Lucrezia holds a special place in her father, Pope Alexander's heart. After a disastrous arranged marriage ended in annulment, scandal, and an illegitimate son fathered by a stable boy, Lucrezia is determined to have control over her own destiny, much to her father's dismay. She rejects suitor after suitor, but finally settles on one, with her father's approval.

The Borgias Season 3

First & Exclusive on beTV (Astro B.yond ch720)

Premiering 6^th July 2013, airing Saturdays at 11.30pm