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The Borgias

TV·2011–2013·3 seasons, 29 episodes·Paramount+ with Showtime·Drama, Romance, History·1h·7.9·Created by Neil Jordan

Streaming on (US) fuboTVParamount Plus PremiumYouTube TVSee all

This expansive drama series stars Oscar winner Jeremy Irons in his Golden Globe-nominated role as Pope Alexander VI, the cunning, manipulative patriarch of the infamous Borgia dynasty, who builds an empire by bribing, buying and muscling his way into the papacy.

Highest-rated episodes all ranked

  1. 01The Borgias S02E05The ChoiceS02E05 · 8.8The Pope demands allegiance from Catherina Sforza; Alexander hears Savonarola while in disguise in Florence; Della Rovere attempts recruitment.
  2. 02The Borgias S03E03SiblingsS03E03 · 8.8The purged Cardinals are stripped of their titles and wealth; King Ferdinand refuses to accept Giovanni; Cesare considers an alliance with the old enemy; Alexander sticks to his plan; Lucrezia is abandoned on her wedding night.
  3. 03The Borgias S03E02The PurgeS03E02 · 8.6Pope Alexander seeks revenge against the cardinals; Rufio is ordered to rally support from the mercenary warlords; Lucrezia becomes annoyed with her future in-laws.

Castfull cast & details

Episodes by season

Season01Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode9Episodes2011Aired 7.9Season avg
  1. S01E01The Borgias S01E01The Poisoned ChaliceApril 3, 2011 8.1Extremely ruthless and ambitious cardinal Rodrigo Borgia uses bribery to take advantage of the death of the current Pope and rise to the Pap
  2. S01E02The Borgias S01E02The AssassinApril 3, 2011 8.1Micheletto, Orsini's assassin is recruited by Cesare to defect into the service of Della Rovere who is trying to prove Rodrigo has taken on
  3. S01E03The Borgias S01E03The MoorApril 10, 2011 7.8Rodrigo seeks funds through a profitable marriage for Lucrezia and charges a fee for safe haven; the Borgias host a Turkish prince.
  4. S01E04The Borgias S01E04Lucrezia's WeddingApril 17, 2011 7.2Lucrezia's wedding is a disaster; the Borgia children's mother arrives; Della Rovere seeks the aid of the Medici family.
  5. S01E05The Borgias S01E05The Borgias in LoveApril 24, 2011 7.9Lucrezia has an affair with a stable boy; Cesare strikes a bargain with Machiavelli and takes action to rid Ursula of her husband.
  6. S01E06The Borgias S01E06The French KingMay 1, 2011 7.7Della Rovere strikes a bargain with King Charles of France; Rodrigo attempts to thwart an invasion.
  7. S01E07The Borgias S01E07Season's bestDeath on a Pale HorseMay 8, 2011 8.3The invasion of France proceeds; Giovanni Sforza is poised to join the battle; Leonardo Da Vinci shares drawings and blueprints.
  8. S01E08The Borgias S01E08The Art of WarMay 15, 2011 8.1The invaders capture a pregnant Lucrezia who charms King Charles; Pope Alexander VI awaits his fate.
  9. S01E09The Borgias S01E09Nessuno (Nobody)May 22, 2011 8.0Alexander meets King Charles with humility; Charles abandons Della Rovere; Lucrezia gives birth in a convent.

Season 1 ranked & reviewed

Season02Episode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode10Episodes2012Aired 7.8Season avg
  1. S02E01The Borgias S02E01The Borgia BullApril 8, 2012 7.7Pope Alexander VI takes a new lover; a cache of ancient artifacts is discovered; Cesare and Juan's rivalry spills into the streets; Lucrezia
  2. S02E02The Borgias S02E02PaoloApril 15, 2012 7.3The father of Lucrezia's child travels to meet her in Rome; the Pope's lovers take him on a tour of Rome's indigent.
  3. S02E03The Borgias S02E03The Beautiful DeceptionApril 22, 2012 7.9Alexander VI refuses to allow a Catholic burial for Paolo; Lucrezia embarks on a hunger strike; the French army heads to Rome; Della Rovere
  4. S02E04The Borgias S02E04Stray DogsApril 29, 2012 7.5Cesare recruits mercenaries to exact revenge on French troops; the pope forges strategic alliances; Lucrezia joins Giulia, who strives to ai
  5. S02E05The Borgias S02E05Season's bestThe ChoiceMay 6, 2012 8.8The Pope demands allegiance from Catherina Sforza; Alexander hears Savonarola while in disguise in Florence; Della Rovere attempts recruitme
  6. S02E06The Borgias S02E06Day of AshesMay 13, 2012 7.3Alexander begins a Lenten fast after fearing a sign from God; Cesare tries to prove his worth; the Pope pressures Lucrezia into another marr
  7. S02E07The Borgias S02E07The Siege at ForliMay 20, 2012 7.4Juan returns from Spain; Alexander plans to lay siege to Sforza's castle; Lucrezia scuttles a marriage scheme.
  8. S02E08The Borgias S02E08Truth and LiesJune 3, 2012 8.0Juan tries to spin his combat injury as proof of his valor; Lucrezia takes a lover; Della Rovere recruits a young friar.
  9. S02E09The Borgias S02E09World of WondersJune 10, 2012 8.1Alexander prepares to end his fast with a celebration; Della Rovere's assassin becomes the Pope's taster; Lucrezia's lover proposes; Cesare
  10. S02E10The Borgias S02E10The ConfessionJune 17, 2012 8.1Cesare has a startling revelation; Lucrezia falls for a new suitor; Cesare cannot extract a confession; the assassin strikes.

Season 2 ranked & reviewed

Season03Best seasonEpisode ratings across the season — the gold bar is its best episode10Episodes2013Aired 8.0Season avg
  1. S03E01The Borgias S03E01The Face of DeathApril 14, 2013 8.2Pope Alexander fights for his life; the cardinals fight for control of the papacy; Cesare and Micheletto track the assassin; Della Rovere pr
  2. S03E02The Borgias S03E02The PurgeApril 21, 2013 8.6Pope Alexander seeks revenge against the cardinals; Rufio is ordered to rally support from the mercenary warlords; Lucrezia becomes annoyed
  3. S03E03The Borgias S03E03Season's bestSiblingsApril 28, 2013 8.8The purged Cardinals are stripped of their titles and wealth; King Ferdinand refuses to accept Giovanni; Cesare considers an alliance with t
  4. S03E04The Borgias S03E04The Banquet of ChestnutsMay 5, 2013 7.8Cardinal Farnese discovers Versucci's theft; Alexander calls for a Crusade; Giulia arranges an orgy for the new Cardinals; King Ferdinand le
  5. S03E05The Borgias S03E05The Wolf and the LambMay 12, 2013 8.3Cesare's diplomatic mission is a success; Bianca takes her own life; Alexander and Sforza conspire to repay Gonzaga; Lucrezia travels to Nap
  6. S03E06The Borgias S03E06RelicsMay 19, 2013 7.3Cesare lands in northern Italy; Catherina sends a plague-infested cloth to Alexander; Alexander taxes a newly arrived Jewish communtiy; Matt
  7. S03E07The Borgias S03E07Lucrezia's GambitMay 26, 2013 7.1Cesare burns Constanzo's palace to contain the plague; Lucrezia seeks a Neapolitan power base for herself; one of the candidates for Ferdina
  8. S03E08The Borgias S03E08Tears of BloodJune 2, 2013 8.0Pilgrims travel to Rome for the Jubilee year celebrations; Catherina wants to hinder the festival; Mattai's contacts destroy a Turkish fleet
  9. S03E09The Borgias S03E09The Gunpowder PlotJune 9, 2013 7.8Micheletto kills his lover and disappears; Cesare races to rescue Lucrezia; Alfonso begins to drink heavily; Alexander and Mattai scheme to
  10. S03E10The Borgias S03E10The PrinceJune 16, 2013 8.3Alexander and Cesare have reconciled; the Borgias are ready to move against their enemies; Catherina is determined to resist a siege; Cesare

Season 3 ranked & reviewed

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