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The Borgias

  • TV Series
  • 2011–2013
  • TV-MA
  • 50m
IMDb RATING
7.9/10
56K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
948
218
Jeremy Irons, Holliday Grainger, and François Arnaud in The Borgias (2011)
Trailer 2 for The Borgias: The First Season
Play trailer3:07
6 Videos
99+ Photos
Costume DramaHistorical EpicPeriod DramaCrimeDramaHistoryRomance

In the fifteenth century, Pope Alexander VI tries to control all power in Italy with the help of his several sons, through murder, intrigue, war, and marriage alliances.In the fifteenth century, Pope Alexander VI tries to control all power in Italy with the help of his several sons, through murder, intrigue, war, and marriage alliances.In the fifteenth century, Pope Alexander VI tries to control all power in Italy with the help of his several sons, through murder, intrigue, war, and marriage alliances.

  • Creator
    • Neil Jordan
  • Stars
    • Jeremy Irons
    • François Arnaud
    • Holliday Grainger
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.9/10
    56K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    948
    218
    • Creator
      • Neil Jordan
    • Stars
      • Jeremy Irons
      • François Arnaud
      • Holliday Grainger
    • 119User reviews
    • 51Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Primetime Emmys
      • 16 wins & 55 nominations total

    Episodes29

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos6

    The Borgias: The First Season
    Trailer 3:07
    The Borgias: The First Season
    The Borgias: The Second Season
    Trailer 3:31
    The Borgias: The Second Season
    The Borgias: The Second Season
    Trailer 3:31
    The Borgias: The Second Season
    The Borgias: The First Season
    Trailer 3:26
    The Borgias: The First Season
    The Borgias
    Trailer 0:48
    The Borgias
    Borgias, The: Season 2 (Brazil/Portugese Trailer)
    Trailer 3:32
    Borgias, The: Season 2 (Brazil/Portugese Trailer)
    Borgias: Season 1, The (Brazil/Portugese Trailer)
    Trailer 3:28
    Borgias: Season 1, The (Brazil/Portugese Trailer)

    Photos215

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    + 209
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    Top Cast99+

    Edit
    Jeremy Irons
    Jeremy Irons
    • Rodrigo Borgia
    • 2011–2013
    François Arnaud
    François Arnaud
    • Cesare Borgia
    • 2011–2013
    Holliday Grainger
    Holliday Grainger
    • Lucrezia Borgia
    • 2011–2013
    Peter Sullivan
    Peter Sullivan
    • Cardinal Ascanio Sforza
    • 2011–2013
    Sean Harris
    Sean Harris
    • Micheletto
    • 2011–2013
    Joanne Whalley
    Joanne Whalley
    • Vanozza Cattaneo
    • 2011–2013
    Lotte Verbeek
    Lotte Verbeek
    • Giulia Farnese
    • 2011–2013
    Colm Feore
    Colm Feore
    • Giuliano Della Rovere
    • 2011–2013
    Vernon Dobtcheff
    Vernon Dobtcheff
    • Cardinal Versucci
    • 2011–2013
    David Oakes
    David Oakes
    • Juan Borgia
    • 2011–2012
    Bosco Hogan
    Bosco Hogan
    • Cardinal Piccolomini
    • 2011–2013
    Gina McKee
    Gina McKee
    • Caterina Sforza
    • 2011–2013
    David Alpay
    David Alpay
    • Calvino
    • 2011–2012
    Julian Bleach
    Julian Bleach
    • Niccolo Machiavelli
    • 2011–2013
    Sebastian De Souza
    Sebastian De Souza
    • Alfonso of Aragon
    • 2012–2013
    Thure Lindhardt
    Thure Lindhardt
    • Rufio
    • 2013
    Steven Berkoff
    Steven Berkoff
    • Girolamo Savonarola
    • 2011–2012
    Ruta Gedmintas
    Ruta Gedmintas
    • Ursula Bonadeo
    • 2011–2012
    • Creator
      • Neil Jordan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews119

    7.955.9K
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    Featured reviews

    10cjonesas

    So good it's stunning!

    Borgias is a superb series; of those which are made less and less nowadays with an equal quality.

    • The cast is brilliant. I mean diamond-like brilliant. Jeremy Irons is so good that sometimes, I think the guy is from another world and on a whole other level of acting; he brings his personal never-ending charisma and professionalism to the show; his chemistry with his children and back are one of the main forces behind the series success. Francois Arnaud is beautiful, has menacing charisma and the right choice for the character. Holliday Grainger shines with her beauty, artful wittiness and charismatic magnetism. She is like a lollipop that never ends and that you can never get enough of. The supporting cast do a marvelous job and are perfectly synch with the main cast.
    • The script and storyline are captivating, intriguing, unfold well with equally good character development.
    • The cinematography, sceneries, costumes and actions are superb, never repetitive or boring and work hand in hand with the play of the cast.


    The ending of the series in 3 seasons was a bit rushed and a 4th one would have been welcomed, providing viewers with more detailed story and plots, increasing the quality of the show with definitely more polished varnish.

    Overall, a superb and satisfying journey throughout that I will never forget and that I will always recommend with warm enthusiasm.
    10kahorne1970

    Renew The Borgias!

    This series is without a doubt intriguing, intelligent, and phenomenal! No one can say that there is not enough story lines to fulfill another 3 more seasons of this film series. Cesare alone can fulfill several episodes by himself! Rodrigo and Lucretcia and the other characters lead to a strong and powerful story line as well without leaving any of us wondering what happened to so-in-so? This show is one of the best period piece films, shows, series, etc that has come along in many years and I HOPE and PRAY that Showtime and all its co-hearts in business understand that the Fans want the show to go on! Please do not take this away from us! The actors are absolutely some of the best and under appreciated in the business and WE the FANS want MORE BORGIAS!! BRAVO BORGIAS!
    10Msbnitski

    Why stop at 3 seasons?

    This show had so much more to give. I have watched it more than 5 times and every time I say, there were so many more stories to be told.

    Why didn't they continue with Cesera's wife in France get some air time? Why did Micoletto continue on with his story? So many more to invest in. Lucresia, she married into a family where her husband could've become someone.

    I liked this story. I can't imagine why they dumped it after 3 seasons. The characters were really believable and the father, the Pope was hungry for power.

    Get the writers back and please carry on the wonderful story line.
    9LynnieTM

    Started off well!

    Premiere episodes are sometimes awkward because there is so much to establish that it sometime feels contrived--not so with The Borgias. The writing/plot is compelling, the costumes and set are beautiful and I'm definitely hooked by all the fine performances.

    Someone else wrote that Jeremy Irons is a reason in itself to watch and it's true--he does a fantastic job in the lead. The woman who plays Lucretia--Holiday Grainger- also gives a very nuanced performance.

    The only thing that I thought was awkward was the chemistry between Jeremy Irons and Lotte Verbeek-- although it works in their favor during the confession scene. She's a great actress and definitely on par with Irons but I just don't believe their relationship yet.

    All in all--very reminiscent of the Tudors--if you loved that series you will equally enjoy this.
    8mep_33000

    Pure Entertainment

    While the acting is absolutely fantastic and the casting is out right seamless accepting for David Oakes as Juan the show is only flawed in that it is historically inaccurate in several areas. Jeremy Irons is always fun to watch is roles like this, he can't help but wear his heart on his sleeve. François Arnaud is particularly brilliant in his portrayal of the conflicted Cesare and the performance of Holliday Grainger was awesomely stellar. I watched the French/German production of the same name. It's too bad one can't squeeze both of them together to make a really great story about this transgressive family. They don't make stories of this nature often.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The show was originally going to have four seasons, but when Neil Jordan thought about doing the fourth season, he didn't have the energy or even story to do ten episodes. Instead of that, he proposed Showtime to wrap up everything with a two-hour television movie. He even wrote the screenplay, but the network refused, arguing it was too expensive, and the season three ending worked as a series finale. Jordan eventually published the screenplay as an e-book called "The Borgia Apocalypse".
    • Goofs
      Caterina Sforza's eldest son's name was Ottaviano, not Benito. None of her sons were named Benito; in fact, Benito is not even an Italian name, but Spanish. The most prominent Italian named Benito, Benito Mussolini, was named after Mexican president Benito Juarez.
    • Connections
      Featured in The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson: Episode #7.157 (2011)

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    FAQ20

    • How many seasons does The Borgias have?Powered by Alexa
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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 3, 2011 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Hungary
      • Ireland
      • Canada
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official Twitter
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • 黑道教皇
    • Filming locations
      • Tata, Hungary
    • Production companies
      • Showtime Networks
      • Take 5 Productions
      • Octagon Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 50m
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 16:9 HD

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