Tom Fontana’s Borgia Season 1, Episode 3, "Sacred and Profane," chronicles the aftermath of Rodrigo Borgia's ascension to the papacy as Alexander VI, highlighting the intense political challenges of controlling Rome. The episode showcases the growing rivalry between Cesare's intellectual frustration and Juan's unearned military power, while Lucrezia is increasingly used as a political pawn. Through gritty, realistic production design, the series emphasizes the blurred lines between holy office and corrupt power, establishing the show's dark, authentic tone.
Adding to the episode’s tension, Juan is forced to hide Prince Djem (the displaced brother of the Ottoman Sultan) in a room above the Sistine Chapel, assuring the prince that Gacet will help him escape Rome if Rodrigo is not elected Pope.
: Reviewers often praise the "Doman/Fontana" version (this show) for feeling more authentic and less "glossy" than the Jeremy Irons version. The production values are lavish, yet the focus remains on the "nuance and moral shading" of characters who are intentionally unpleasant but increasingly interesting. Key Highlights
This strategic plot, though not the main focus of 1x03, injects a thrilling sense of urgency. It shows Rodrigo's enemies are already organizing a powerful coalition, framing the series' central conflict as a bitter war of attrition fought on multiple fronts—from the halls of the Vatican to the courts of Europe.
The episode’s title, “The Moor,” refers to a legendary chess piece – but here, it’s all about strategy. Rodrigo plays his rivals like pawns, using bribery, threats, and one unforgettable scene involving a poisoned communion wafer. (Yes, they go there.) borgia 1x03 full
While Rodrigo schemes, his ambitious but conflicted son Cesare (Mark Ryder) sneaks off in Pisa to meet with his pregnant lover, Fiametta. He later confesses to his friends the heavy price of his family’s ambitions: Rodrigo made a vow that he, Cesare, would live a pious and celibate life in exchange for Rodrigo one day becoming Pope. However, when Cesare learns he now has a son who shares his name, he excitedly tells Alessandro about it, concluding that he must make "the ultimate sacrifice" to support his father—abandoning his newborn son.
This serves as a stark counterpoint to Rodrigo's manipulations. While he is fighting for the highest office in Christendom, his family's well-being is hanging in the balance, highlighting the immense pressure and danger that accompanies their ambition.
Episode 3 functions as the true engine of the first season. With the setup of the papal election completed in the premiere episodes, "Sacred Matters" initiates the primary conflicts that drive the rest of the series: the looming French invasion, the fracture of the Borgia sibling dynamics, and Rodrigo's descent into moral compromise. It is the episode where the characters stop reacting to their new status and begin actively playing the dangerous game of Renaissance politics. If you want to explore further,
Watch a highlight from Season 1, Episode 3 where Cardinal Della Rovere seeks allies to remove the 'stench' of the Borgias from the papacy: Tom Fontana’s Borgia Season 1, Episode 3, "Sacred
The episode opens with a grand spectacle. Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) has organized a bullfight in the heart of Rome. It is not merely entertainment; it is a calculated political move to celebrate the anniversary of his coronation and distract the populace from the simmering tensions in the city.
The standout sequence of Episode 3? The torture of a rival cardinal’s confidant. Borgia doesn’t shy away like The Tudors did. You see the rope, the water, the quiet desperation of a man who knows he’s already dead. It’s not gratuitous—it’s a statement: This is how popes were made.
What makes “The Assault” superior to many period dramas is its refusal to moralize. There is no scene where Rodrigo looks into a mirror and questions his soul. Instead, the show offers a grim, realistic portrait of power as a zero-sum game. When Rodrigo finally secures the votes needed (though the actual election is saved for episode four), there is no triumphant music. There is only the sound of coins clinking and the silence of a man who has sold his integrity one cardinal at a time.
While her father and brother deal with politics and bloodshed, is navigating her own world. She spends much of the episode with her husband, Giovanni Sforza . The marriage is not yet consummated, largely because Lucrezia is terrified and Giovanni is awkward and impatient. Adding to the episode’s tension, Juan is forced
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Meanwhile, Lucrezia's storyline explores her complicated relationships with her family members, particularly her brother Cesare and her father Rodrigo. Her character continues to evolve, showcasing her intelligence, wit, and determination to navigate the treacherous waters of her family's politics.
Cardinal Della Rovere flees to Naples to seek allies against the Borgia Pope. He meets the ruthless Prince Alfonso, who is more interested in macabre displays of his enemies than in aiding the Cardinal’s holy crusade.
"A Sacred Vow" is where Borgia truly comes into its own. It’s an episode about the illusion of holiness and the reality of power, set against the claustrophobic backdrop of a 15th-century papal election. The show refuses to romanticize its characters, instead presenting them as deeply flawed humans driven by ambition, fear, and love for their family in equal measure.