A great cast with strong performances. This is really an excellent show. However, why the producers had to invent so much gore and evil I don't know. If the real Borgia's were still around they would probably sue for defamation of character.
OK, I'll admit that much of the Borgias' history is cloaked in legend and "urban myths" but even so, the series does take this to extremes. Take episode three, for example (spoiler alert), where Sultan Bayezid II's brother Cem is transferred to the custody of Pope Alexander and then murdered by the Borgia's. This never happened. In fact Cem was transferred in March 1489 to the custody of Pope Innocent VIII, Alexander's predecessor. He died in Capua on February 25, 1495, while on a military expedition to conquer Naples under the command of King Charles VIII of France.
Episode one (spoiler alert) shows Cardinal Orsini being poisoned at a banquet, ostensibly by Cesare Borgia. It didn't happen this way - He was arrested by order of the pope and taken to Castel San Angelo where he fell ill and died after twelve days on 22 February 1503. He may have been executed, nobody knows for sure.
Granted, historical accuracy may not be a big thing for everybody. Personally I prefer accurate historical dramas.
OK, I'll admit that much of the Borgias' history is cloaked in legend and "urban myths" but even so, the series does take this to extremes. Take episode three, for example (spoiler alert), where Sultan Bayezid II's brother Cem is transferred to the custody of Pope Alexander and then murdered by the Borgia's. This never happened. In fact Cem was transferred in March 1489 to the custody of Pope Innocent VIII, Alexander's predecessor. He died in Capua on February 25, 1495, while on a military expedition to conquer Naples under the command of King Charles VIII of France.
Episode one (spoiler alert) shows Cardinal Orsini being poisoned at a banquet, ostensibly by Cesare Borgia. It didn't happen this way - He was arrested by order of the pope and taken to Castel San Angelo where he fell ill and died after twelve days on 22 February 1503. He may have been executed, nobody knows for sure.
Granted, historical accuracy may not be a big thing for everybody. Personally I prefer accurate historical dramas.