Ciao, Cesare

Well, last night was the last episode ever of The Borgias, and I must admit, it went out on a high note that had nothing to do with the despairing wail I let rip when it was over. It was all about Cesare – he was in practically every scene and when he wasn’t physically present, he was the topic of discussion. Yow, he was something terrible and beautiful to behold. Francois Arnaud played him to the hilt, even overshadowing Jeremy Irons and that’s no mean feat. The pair of them together was such fun to watch and I loved what was done with the Pope, but truly, I was there for Cesare.

I was probably there for him in a past life as well, goshdarnit.

Each of my favourite characters made an appearance, so I wasn’t cheated. I adored Julian Bleach as Machiavelli. He stole every scene he was in with dry wit and what I believe Nicole would call “a po face”. His final line was particularly hilarious if only because of the way he delivered it. Augh! So much brilliance from so many actors I can’t begin to name them all. It’s just so sad that the story ends here, because while the finale certainly tied up loose ends, it also left the door wide open for a fourth season.

I sat in my chair when it was done and thought, Crap. I wish I could write like that. Never mind that I can write like that; the perception is different when the product is yours. I’ve written one or two fellas as ruthless and sexy as Cesare Borgia but, boy, what Neil Jordan did with him is truly enviable from an author’s perspective.

I’m glad they scrapped plans for a two-hour movie. Cramming a bunch of stuff into a different format would be as disrespectful as it would be futile for all concerned. If it had to end, it ended perfectly last night.

Save "The Borgias"!

It’s one of the best shows in television – and they’re cancelling it! The season finale of The Borgias this Sunday is now the series finale, thanks to the powers that be over at Showtime. The show pulls a “steady but unspectacular” audience each week, and I guess that the production costs are proving too high for the network to justify continuing the story.

So why did they start it in the first place???? Historical pieces are notoriously expensive, and credit must be given to this one because it’s as glorious to look at as the plot is to follow. The production team put their hearts into making it as lush as a Renaissance painting; alas, as with most worthwhile endeavours, too few have seen it. What I don’t understand is why a premium cable network can’t afford to keep it rolling, as they don’t depend on commercial advertisers to provide funding. The Tudors ran for four seasons and it wasn’t nearly as good as The Borgias. And don’t get me started on Vikings being renewed for a second season. I’d happily sacrifice Ragnar Lothbrok for another year of Cesare Borgia.

Cesare, however, is not the only character who plumbs the depth of human complexity in this show. I can’t think of anyone to whom I am indifferent. Each character is so well written and so expertly acted that I can only say I have a number of favourites. There is no scene where I am not completely engaged. And I have said at the end of more than one episode that I wish I had written it. It’s gorgeous, gut-wrenching stuff, set out in such detail that 16^th century Italy is brought very much to brutal, beautiful life.

Petitions to save the series have popped up online. I’ve signed one (and you can sign it here—please!), but I doubt that minds will be changed. The almighty dollar rules so despotically that the Borgia Pope himself would probably can the project. Who cares about the ardent few over the apathetic many? It’s the viewers they don’t have that has killed this series and I for one am royally pissed about it.

Rats.

The best I can do is salute the extraordinary work produced by the cast and crew over the past three years. The Borgias was one of the few television series worthy of my time and attention. It was brilliant and inspiring. If you missed seeing it, you missed a treasure.

Season 3 (Reprise)

Tonight begins season 3 of The Borgias – another in the long line of period pieces featuring a villain who sets my hormones to howling.

I’ve had it bad for Cesare Borgia since my teens. He was such a compelling historic character that it escaped me how his greatness was not translated to film more often (or more successfully). There was a BBC series in the style of “I, Claudius” (i.e., more dialogue than action) produced some years ago that was okaaaaaaaay … but over the past two years, Neil Jordan and Francois Arnaud have done something I never imagined could be done: they’ve made Cesare a sympathetic character. Sympathetic—and sexy as hell.

Bearing in mind that this series is GoT’s competition for gore, glamour and political machination, it actually holds up pretty well in comparison. The finale of season two was wrenching, so I am in as deep a dither over season 3’s premiere tonight as I was two weeks ago over GoT.  I’m still mad for Jaime Lannister, of course, but now I’ve got Cesare to lust over too.

Oh, those bad boys make me feel so good!