The Borgias - Season 1 -

The season followed Rodrigo’s rise to the papacy through bribery and his subsequent transformation into a "holy figure" who left "dirty deeds" to his son, Cesare.

While Irons was the initial draw, Francois Arnaud’s Cesare Borgia emerged as a standout, often overshadowing other characters with his "devious" and strong presence. The Borgias - Season 1

Jeremy Irons received high praise for his portrayal of Rodrigo Borgia (Pope Alexander VI), capturing the character’s internal conflict and political ambition. The season followed Rodrigo’s rise to the papacy

“The Borgias is a thing of beauty, aiming for the same rich colors and painterly qualities of some of the era's great artworks.” Rotten Tomatoes “The Borgias is a thing of beauty, aiming

Reviewers widely praised the show's production values, often describing it as "a thing of beauty" that captured the rich, painterly quality of Renaissance art. Critics noted that while the first season took time to establish its world, it successfully delivered a blend of "mechanical exposition and soulless melodrama" that kept audiences engaged through intrigue.

Critics and viewers often highlighted the show's "guilty pleasure" nature and its balance of historical drama with soap opera theatrics.

“These kinds of grand historical reimaginings can be a scrumptious combination of costume drama acting, soap opera theatrics and pay cable promiscuousness.” The Hollywood Reporter · 15 years ago