Betrayal, murder, sex, riches, religion, plots, intrigue, lust, incest! And it’s all taking place in the Vatican.
When “The Borgias” returns for Season Three Sunday night, Pope Alexander VI, a k a Rodrigo Borgia (Jeremy Irons), has been poisoned — and it looks like he’s a goner.
But as luck would have it, through the ministrations of his daughter — soon-to-be one of the most notorious women in history, Lucrezia (Holliday Grainger) — his life is saved by a very brutal anti-poison remedy.
Alexander manages to wake from his coma after two days so he can get back to the business of raping Rome. But who wants him dead? Hint: Everyone. He sets his remaining son, Cesare (Francoise Arnaud) and the scary Micoletto (Sean Harris), to the task.
Handsome Cesare finds the plotters quickly, giving him plenty of time to lust after his sister.
But he seems to be the only one. Lucrezia is engaged to be married to Alfonso of Naples (Sebastian De Souza), a giant wimp who won’t have sex with her because he’s made a holy vow to St. Agnes to stay a virgin until he’s married. Good match for a sex addict.
Della Rovere (Colm Feore) is tied to the assassination plot, but isn’t about to give up — even when he’s threatened with the rack. But he’s just a player in the game led by Catherina Sforza (Gina McKee), who plays her Don Corleone hand by calling together the five most powerful families in Italy to align with her against Rome.
By episode three, things are roiling up and rolling around. And at last the rotten Borgias may find happiness — in each other’s arms. On her wedding night, wimpy Alfonso gets angry with Lucrezia and stomps off, leaving her desperate for some hot sex. And who better to have sex with than her good, hot brother, Cesare? So, after hinting at it for several seasons, the siblings finally satisfy their incestuous lust.
OK. Weird. Usually you cheer for star-crossed lovers, but they’re usually not siblings, and the pope’s children. What’s not to love? Oh wait, I don’t mean it like that.