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.
Critics and viewers often highlighted the show's "guilty pleasure" nature and its balance of historical drama with soap opera theatrics. 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
“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 “These kinds of grand historical reimaginings can be
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.