Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

The Borgias: The Third Season Blu-ray Movie Review

"God or the devil? Whatever it is, it overwhelms..."

Reviewed by Kenneth Brown August 3, 2013

If power corrupts and corrupts absolutely, imagine the potential for corruption within a man considered infallible. The Borgias is House of Cards by way of 15th century Rome, and in creator Neil Jordan's final season, Pope Alexander and his insatiable children are forced to face the one enemy Alexander can't thwart, bribe or manipulate: the wages of sin. But while death is ever a certainty, the nature of the Pope and his family's fates are anything but certain, and the thrill of watching the third season is finding out what will become of the devilishly devious Borgias. Will Alexander, having survived an attempted assassination, gain the ultimate upper hand and secure his children's future? History offers no solace; the series has made regular, at-times dramatic departures from history, meaning anything can -- and does -- happen. Will Cesare ever accept the mantle his father so desperately wants him to embrace? Will his true feelings for Lucrezia ever be dragged into the light? Whose blood will flow? Whose power will be solidified? Whose soul will be redeemed? Whose soul will be damned? The Final Season is a wild, twisted descent into darkness, and series fans will hang on every episode, flaws and all.

In Season Three, Pope Alexander (Jeremy Irons) survives an attack on his life and comes back stronger than ever, reaching the pinnacle of power, influence and wealth. Cesare (François Arnaud) marries a French noblewoman, defends Rome and his family against the very determined Caterina Sforza (Gina McKee) and fights to prove himself to his father. Lucrezia's (Holliday Grainger) marriage to Alfonzo (Sebastian de Souza) falters as she and Cesare draw closer than ever, and she successfully dabbles in the black arts. And Micheletto (Sean Harris) finds love and faces the ultimate betrayal.

Unfortunately, all is not well in House Borgias as it nears its end. The third season wasn't meant to be the show's last, and Jordan's planned four-season arc has all but been decapitated. The final episode, "The Prince," functions reasonably well as a series finale, but much more so as a season finale; one that poses irresistible questions Jordan and company will never have the opportunity to answer. Thematically, it serves as a fitting end of sorts. Realistically, though, the knowledge that it wasn't meant to end so soon leaves one racked with burning curiosity. There's also something to be desired about the season in its 10-episode entirety, as it fails to charge ahead as confidently as Season Two. If another ten episodes awaited, the underlying disappointment might be minimized, or even eliminated altogether. If nothing else, the Borgias would be put in a position to seek forgiveness, pay penance or be greeted by the flames of hell. Instead, The Borgias joins a growing list of shows cut short in their modest-ratings prime. And while it all ends up feeling more complete and fully realized than other prematurely canceled series, it still lacks the sense of closure and finality it deserves.

The Final Season features the following episodes (minor spoilers ahead):

• The Face of Death: As Pope Alexander fights for his life after being poisoned, the Cardinals jockey for position to take over the Papacy. Cesare and Micheletto (Sean Harris) trace the assassination plot back to its source, but Della Rovere (Colm Feore) is ready to make his move. Catherina Sforza dispatches her own personal assassin, Rufio (Thure Lindhart), to dethrone the Borgias. However, thanks to Lucrezia's quick thinking, the family's grip on power may not be lost.
• The Purge: Pope Alexander tasks Cardinal Sforza with initiating an inquisition among the Cardinals who were politicking against him. With the evidence he needs, Alexander dismisses and banishes all the Cardinals he does not trust. Meanwhile, Catherina Sforza orders Rufio to seek support from the mercenary warlords of the Romagna families. Lucrezia is annoyed with her in-laws to be and her situation is complicated further as she realizes her feelings for Cesare are becoming something more than sisterly.
• Siblings: As the purged Cardinals are dismissed and stripped of their titles and wealth, one of them angrily sets the Vatican treasury ablaze. Incensed by the new King Ferdinand's arrogant refusal to accept Giovanni as Lucrezia's child, Cesare travels to Naples to fix the problem. After Lucrezia and Alfonso's wedding, Alfonso realizes that the political sands are shifting, and not in his favor. Upset, he abandons Lucrezia alone on their wedding night, driving her into the arms of someone else.
• The Banquet of Chestnuts: Newly appointed Cardinal Farnese is placed in the Treasury and quickly discovers Versucci's theft. Micheletto is sent to find the wayward Cardinal. Meanwhile, upon hearing of Venice's request for help, Alexander, seeing this as an opportunity to replenish the coffers, dramatically calls for a Crusade. The Cardinals participate in the "banquet of chestnuts". Elsewhere, King Ferdinand learns that Lucrezia and Alfonso's marriage has not been consummated.
• The Wolf and the Lamb: Cesare's diplomatic mission to France is a success, with the help of his old advisor Machiavelli. Back in Rome, the seductive and dangerously insane Bianca makes a drastic statement. Lucrezia travels to Naples accompanied by her husband and Micheletto. King Ferdinand remains steadfast in his determination that little Giovanni will not be recognized at court. Learning this, Lucrezia plots against him.
• Relics: When Cesare lands in northern Italy with a French army, Alexander is furious at what he sees as a challenge to his authority, but reluctantly accedes to Cesare's plan to destroy the Sforza dynasty. Catherina, meanwhile, has come up with a plot of her own: biological warfare. Concerned about the lack of funds for his Crusade, Alexander imposes punitive taxes on the newly arrived Jewish community.
• Lucrezia's Gambit: Cesare burns Constanzo's palace in order to contain the plague. Lucrezia, aware that the political wind has changed towards France, seeks a Neapolitan power base for herself and her family. Lucrezia blackmails Prince Raphael and Prince Frederigo replaces Ferdinand as King.
• Tears of Blood: Pilgrims are flooding to Rome for the Jubilee year celebration, but Catherina Sforza has a plan to ruin Alexander's lucrative festival. Meanwhile, Lucrezia senses a change in newly crowned Frederigo and realizes that she is under constant watch from the royal guard. A plot to deceive the Borgia family is uncovered by Lucrezia, Cesare and Micheletto.
• The Gunpowder Plot: Devastated by his betrayal, Micheletto kills his lover and disappears. Cesare races to Naples to rescue Lucrezia. Brother and sister are eventually reunited and are so overjoyed to see one another that Alfonso begins to suspect that their relationship seems more than that of ordinary siblings. Alexander schemes to corner the market in Italian sulfur - the key ingredient to gunpowder.
• The Prince: Alexander and Cesare are reconciled at last. The Papal Armies have been fortified with the money saved from the Crusade and the proceeds of the Jubilee. Cesare marches his fearsome army to finish what Juan started: lay siege to Forli. Micheletto reappears. Following a scuffle with Cesare, a drunken Alfonso is near death and Lucrezia turns to her potions to end his life painlessly. Cesare vows that Lucrezia will now be his for good.

The Borgias: The Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Though it lacks the filmic disposition of a more notably cinematic historical drama, The Final Season impresses with a slightly flat but undeniably crisp, clean and precision-crafted 1080p/AVC-encoded video presentation. Colors are often yellowed, browned or aged, contrast is unassuming but effective, and black levels range from muted to absorbing -- all as intended -- and the series' photography and the showrunners' stylistic choices have been paid tremendous respect. Detail is outstanding, with exacting edge definition, masterfully resolved fine textures and revealing delineation, and every inch of Jonathan McKinstry's production design, every stitch of Gabriella Pescucci's costumes, and every nuance of Judit Varga's set decoration is showcased beautifully. Better still, the encode is free from serious issues. Artifacting, banding, aliasing, ringing... you'll find none of it here. Only crush takes a toll on the image, and it's easy enough to overlook. Ultimately, The Borgias' final Blu-ray release is as satisfying and proficient as its predecessors.

The Borgias: The Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The Borgias may revel in historical fiction, but its sets and locations are wholly convincing. The subtlety of the series' sound design is perfectly apparent in Paramount's Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track, which is as engaging and enveloping during the quietest conversations as it is during the bloodiest clashes and assassinations. Dialogue is clear, intelligible and realistically grounded in the mix at all times, and the rear speakers broaden the 15th century locales with an immersive soundfield that values natural ambience and believable acoustics. Directionality isn't aggressive per se, but it does have deadly aim. Likewise, the power of the LFE channel and the excellence of the track's dynamics aren't immediately obvious, but prove themselves time and time again, episode after episode, scene after scene. All told, The Borgias boasts an effortless lossless experience. Fans of the show will be most pleased.

The Borgias: The Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Once again, a Borgias season release offers very little in terms of supplemental content. The Final Season includes the first episode of the increasingly addicting Ray Donovan (HD, 57 minutes), starring Liev Schreiber and Jon Voight (and unfortunately presented here with lossy Dolby Digital 2.0 audio), and "Borgias Bloopers" (HD, 7 minutes), a "thank God it's finally over" extra with more F-bombs than laughs.

The Borgias: The Third Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Borgias has been cut short by a full season, but its final episode works reasonably well as a series finale. Enough to eliminate the sting of the show's early execution? Not quite. But enough to make for a decent, at-times riveting end to a decent, at-times riveting drama. Paramount's AV presentation is better, with a striking video presentation and engaging Dolby TrueHD 5.1 surround track that prove far more reliable. I still wish Paramount would grant its Showtime series Blu-ray releases more special features (particularly a final season release like this one), but at this point, fans who've purchased previous seasons (or other Showtime Blu-rays) shouldn't be surprised. If you own Seasons One and Two, it's time to complete your collection.