Last week's shocking murder by Cesare of his brother Juan had all of us scratching our heads? Where can this go? What on earth can happen next? How can Cesare seek forgiveness, will Rodrigo Borgia ever get over his son's death? It all was answered tonight in a very shocking season 2 finale of "The Borgias." François Arnaud had some of his best scenes, not even opposite others tonight, when Cesare confessed to his father, his grave sins, and Rodrigo's inability to forgive came at a deadly price.
The "new side" of Cesar was reborn tonight. While Lucrezia continued her ascent to the Lady of supreme confidence, the Friar Savonarola was finally put to death in front of all of Rome, the Pope struggled with the news of Juan's death and then succumbed to Della Rovere's poison plan in the final seconds of "The Confession." And she finally found Mr. Right, but at what cost?
Much of the final episode of the season felt like a sneak peek at what's to come, hopefully that is. Cesare's attitude has hardened, he's matured greatly. He was always the man that wanted to be the tough guy, but now it's seems like he is. I was surprised however, that he shed no tears for the brother he just murdered. In fact, he celebrated his sister's marriage instead of mourning the loss. He forged Savonarola's confession so that the friar could be burned in the street. Cesare even admitted to his father that he murdered dear Juan, and there was not an ounce of emotion coming out of him.
The point of the finale episode I think, is to make Cesare the man we need him to be. His emotions are now solidly cool, no more will he wear the Cardinal's robes or ring. He is a man not to be crossed, tonight we found that out. He is now prepared to be the stone cold warrior he's always wanted to be.
Lucrezia also has come into womanhood, but not without showing a softer side, a more romantic and sensuous side of herself. While her parents grieved, she played house with aplomb. She stopped him dead in his tracks, ordered him to her room, pretended to be someone other than herself, and did it all like she was the queen of the entire world. After figuring out that the kid liked her for her and not the Papacy, she agreed to marry him.
Also, very impressive, though, was Holliday Grainger's performance after the family found Juan's body. As Lucrezia explained to Rodrigo that many people would have wanted to kill Juan, exclaimed that she wished him dead a thousand times, and had a tear fall down the front of her face, I got chills. It was a terrific, matured performance.
Our Pope, meanwhile, had no idea how to handle the death of his son. How out of the loop was this guy that he is the only one in his family that didn't realize Juan was a complete disaster? Whether it was crying hysterically, or carrying the body out to bury it himself, Pope Alexander completely lost it. I mean it's totally understandable. It was his son after all, but I think Della Rovere should think about ousting Rodrigo due to lunacy at this point. The fascinatingly directed scene as Rodrigo carried out his son's body, but in his heart and in his mind and soul, he was carrying the little boy he knew to be his son, decades earlier, not the sadistic monster he turned out to be after all. 
Getting rid of Pope Alexander may not be necessary anymore, though, after Antonello's poison finally reaches Rodrigo's mouth in the final minutes of the finale. Both the boy and the Pope went to the ground gasping for breath, but we were left questioning the outcome of the act.
We know in history, this is not the end for Pope Alexander. However, how will he be saved? That's the question we all ask, and are dying to know. No pun intended.
'The Borgia's' Season Two Finale 'Confession' Filled Our Hearts With Fear, Tears And The Taste Of Deadly Wine On The Lips Of The Borgia Pope Ended Like The Best Opera In Showtime's History
Written By: Tommy Lightfoot Garrett
Photographs are Courtesy: Showtime
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