Borgia

Set in the heart of Renaissance Rome, Borgia tracks the rise and hold on power of Rodrigo Borgia as he seeks to secure the papacy and protect his family amid ruthless politics. The series follows his children, especially Cesare and Lucrezia, as they use influence, marriage, and force to extend the family's reach. Court alliances, backroom deals, and personal betrayals pile up against a backdrop of religious authority and public spectacle. The focus stays on shifting loyalties and the price of ambition, showing how private desires and public duties collide in a time when the Vatican was central to European power.

Premiered in 2011, the series was created by Tom Fontana and features John Doman as Rodrigo Borgia, Mark Ryder as Cesare, Isolda Dychauk-Ott as Lucrezia, Assumpta Serna as Vannozza Catanei, and Marta Gastini as Giulia Farnese. It was produced for television with an international cast and period production values.

The show did not dominate major international award seasons, though reviewers frequently highlighted strong lead performances and detailed sets. It earned attention from audiences who favor historical dramas, and its production elements were often noted even when major trophies were absent.

Borgia resurfaced the family in popular culture as shorthand for Vatican scandal and dynastic ruthlessness, inspiring conversations about how history is dramatized for TV. Its emphasis on sex, violence, and political maneuvering made it a reference point for later series that treat Renaissance intrigue in a frank, often unglamorized way.

Critics and viewers gave mixed to generally positive reactions, reflected in a 7.3/10 average from user ratings. Praise tended to center on acting, costume and set design, while some critiques targeted pacing and historical liberties. Major themes include the corrupting influence of power, clashes between spiritual authority and temporal ambition, fractured family loyalty, and the moral costs of upward mobility in a cutthroat political world.