My OperaThe Borgias, initial impressions
Monday, April 11, 2011 5:26:52 PM
The Borgias is what I expected it would be. About as alright-but-not-that-special as The Tudors were as far as plotting goes, but with one big extra redeeming factor. This that the main draw on The Tudors was always someone just outside of focus (Sam Neill, James Frain, Jeremy Northam, to name a few), whereas on The Borgias, the focal point is played by Jeremy Irons, and so you actually care about him.
In other words, I am really rather enjoying it. Oh, sure, it's still not an HBO-style period piece, no Deadwood or Rome or even Boardwalk Empire, but it retains what Showtime did right with The Tudors and improves markedly on a lot of what it did wrong.
Also should mention that the remaining two characters of The Borgias' centre, François Arnaud and Sean Harris, are also impressing me, which does not hurt. And Colm Feore made a big impression without ever really having much to do as First Gentleman on 24, so now seeing him in something where he actually get to spread his wings a little is quite gratifying.
In other words, I am really rather enjoying it. Oh, sure, it's still not an HBO-style period piece, no Deadwood or Rome or even Boardwalk Empire, but it retains what Showtime did right with The Tudors and improves markedly on a lot of what it did wrong.
Also should mention that the remaining two characters of The Borgias' centre, François Arnaud and Sean Harris, are also impressing me, which does not hurt. And Colm Feore made a big impression without ever really having much to do as First Gentleman on 24, so now seeing him in something where he actually get to spread his wings a little is quite gratifying.
