The BEST episodes of The Borgias

Every episode of The Borgias ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Borgias!

Set in 15th century Italy at the height of the Renaissance, The Borgias chronicles the corrupt rise of patriarch Rodrigo Borgia to the papacy, where he proceeds to commit every sin in the book to amass and retain power, influence and enormous wealth for himself and his family.

Last Updated: 3/9/2024Network: ShowtimeStatus: Ended
Share:
The Confession
star
8.00
1324 votes

#1 - The Confession

Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/17/2012

Tragic news for the Borgia family is followed by a shocking revelation from Cesare; Lucrezia surprises herself by falling for a new suitor, Alfonso of Aragon, and accepts his proposal of marriage; Cesare tortures the rebel leader Savonarola but can't extract a confession, so he fakes one and burns the heretic; the assassin finally strikes with a poisoned chalice of wine.

Directors: David Leland
Writer: Guy Bert
Watch Now:Amazon
World of Wonders
star
7.95
1407 votes

#2 - World of Wonders

Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/10/2012

It's Easter and Alexander makes plans for a celebration to end his pious fast even as Della Rovere's assassin ascends to the position of the Pope's taster; Lucrezia's lover asks for her hand in marriage but her father dismisses him and his request; Juan's wild behavior threatens the life of Lucrezia's child, forcing Cesare to make a chilling decision about his brother.

Directors: David Leland
Writer: David Leland
Watch Now:Amazon
The Siege at Forli
star
7.93
1398 votes

#3 - The Siege at Forli

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/20/2012

Juan's triumphant return from Spain is marred by his unsuccessful siege of the Sforza castle; Lucrezia purposely scuttles a scheme to marry her off to a rich Genovese merchant; Savonarola's forces conduct the infamous "Bonfire of the Vanities."

Directors: Kari Skogland
Writer: David Leland
Watch Now:Amazon
The Wolf and the Lamb
star
7.91
1107 votes

#4 - The Wolf and the Lamb

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/12/2013

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. Upon learning this, Lucrezia plots against him.

Directors: Kari Skogland
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Borgias in Love
star
7.89
2195 votes

#5 - The Borgias in Love

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 4/24/2011

Alternately neglected and abused by her cruel husband, Lucrezia has an affair with Paolo, a handsome stable boy; Cesare strikes a bargain with Machiavelli: deny French troops passage across his masters' lands in exchange for suppression of Savonarola, a fiery preacher of anti-Medici sermons; in love with baroness Ursula, Cesare takes drastic action to get rid of her husband.

Directors: John Maybury
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Face of Death
star
7.89
1228 votes

#6 - The Face of Death

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/14/2013

Pope Alexander fights for his life; the cardinals fight for control of the papacy; Cesare and Micheletto track the assassin; Della Rovere prepares to make his move.

Directors: Kari Skogland
Writer: Guy Bert
Watch Now:Amazon
The Beautiful Deception
star
7.89
1443 votes

#7 - The Beautiful Deception

Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/22/2012

Alexander VI refuses to allow a Catholic burial for Paolo, despite his doubts about the stable boy’s suicide, causing Lucrezia to embark on a hunger strike that threatens the life of her infant son; the French army heads back to Rome, allied with Sforza; Della Rovere slips back into the city unnoticed to launch a plot against the Pope’s life.

Directors: Jon Amiel
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
Lucrezia's Gambit
star
7.86
1065 votes

#8 - Lucrezia's Gambit

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/26/2013

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.

Directors: David Leland
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Banquet of Chestnuts
star
7.85
1162 votes

#9 - The Banquet of Chestnuts

Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/5/2013

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.

Directors: Jon Amiel
Writer: Guy Bert
Watch Now:Amazon
Tears of Blood
star
7.84
1169 votes

#10 - Tears of Blood

Season 3 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/2/2013

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.

Directors: David Leland
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Prince
star
7.82
1110 votes

#11 - The Prince

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 6/16/2013

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.

Directors: Neil Jordan
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
Nessuno (Nobody)
star
7.82
1865 votes

#12 - Nessuno (Nobody)

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 5/22/2011

Abandoned by even his cardinals, Alexander meets King Charles with humility and saves his throne, even eliciting a confession from the conqueror he crowns as the new "King of France and Naples;" Della Rovere despairs as Charles abandons him; Lucrezia safely gives birth to a son in a convent as the Borgias secure an annulment of her marriage and plot revenge on their enemies.

Directors: Jeremy Podeswa
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Gunpowder Plot
star
7.82
1008 votes

#13 - The Gunpowder Plot

Season 3 - Episode 9 - Aired 6/9/2013

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.

Directors: Neil Jordan
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
Day of Ashes
star
7.81
1390 votes

#14 - Day of Ashes

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/13/2012

Alexander is convinced that a lightning strike on St. Peter's Basilica during mass was a sign of God's disapproval; Cesare tries to prove his worth as a military commander; the Pope pressures the reluctant Lucrezia to enter another political marriage.

Directors: John Maybury
Writer: David Leland
Watch Now:Amazon
Siblings
star
7.78
1227 votes

#15 - Siblings

Season 3 - Episode 3 - Aired 4/28/2013

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.

Directors: Jon Amiel
Writer: Guy Bert
Watch Now:Amazon
Truth and Lies
star
7.77
1213 votes

#16 - Truth and Lies

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/3/2012

Juan returns to Rome trying to spin his combat injury as proof of his valor, but Cesare exposes his brother's ignoble behavior; Lucrezia takes a lover in her intended husband's younger brother; Della Rovere has recruited an angel-faced young friar as his suicide assassin, and the young man advances their agenda with a bold move against the Pope's food taster.

Directors: John Maybury
Writer: David Leland
Watch Now:Amazon
The Choice
star
7.77
1473 votes

#17 - The Choice

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 5/6/2012

Cesare deals with the cunning Sforzas decisively; Alexander disguises himself and travels to Florence to hear the fiery preacher Savonarola, not realizing that Della Rovere is trying to recruit the rebellious holy man to his cause.

Directors: Kari Skogland
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
Stray Dogs
star
7.77
1465 votes

#18 - Stray Dogs

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 4/29/2012

Cesare recruits a band of mercenaries with the help of Micheletto to seek revenge on the retreating French troops for burning the nunnery where his beloved Ursula lived; the Pope forges more strategic alliances and enriches himself in the bargain; Lucrezia joins Giulia's quest to aid Rome's poor.

Directors: Jon Amiel
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Assassin
star
7.73
1365 votes

#19 - The Assassin

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/3/2011

The new Pope wastes no time consolidating power and balancing opposition to him in the College of Cardinals by elevating his children to high office, installing Juan as head of the papal armies and Cesare as a cardinal and his successor, while seeking a politically fortuitous marriage for daughter Lucrezia.

Directors: Neil Jordan
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Purge
star
7.73
1189 votes

#20 - The Purge

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 4/21/2013

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.

Directors: Kari Skogland
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Poisoned Chalice
star
7.72
3224 votes

#21 - The Poisoned Chalice

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/3/2011

Rodrigo successfully bribes and intimidates his way into an election as Pope Alexander VI, making him the new leader of the Catholic Church; powerful Cardinals Della Rovere and Orsini oppose his rise; the Borgias recruit a talented assassin named Micheletto to their cause.

Directors: Neil Jordan
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Borgia Bull
star
7.72
1564 votes

#22 - The Borgia Bull

Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 4/8/2012

Pope Alexander VI takes a new lover and throws a grand, pagan fete for the citizens of Rome when a cache of ancient artifacts is discovered; the rivalry between brothers Cesare and Juan spills into the streets; Lucrezia tends to her newborn child; now a pastoral priest once again, Della Rovere narrowly escapes an assassination attempt

Directors: Neil Jordan
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
The Art of War
star
7.72
1927 votes

#23 - The Art of War

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 5/15/2011

The invaders capture a fleeing and pregnant Lucrezia as they march on Rome, but she charms King Charles and is allowed to persuade her brother Juan to withdraw his hopelessly outmatched defensive troops; Pope Alexander VI awaits to learn of his fate as Charles enters the city and makes his way to the Vatican.

Directors: Jeremy Podeswa
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
Death, on a Pale Horse
star
7.70
1898 votes

#24 - Death, on a Pale Horse

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 5/8/2011

The invasion by King Charles of France and Della Rovere proceeds with victory seemingly inevitable as the French sack the city of Lucca and the Italian powers flee to their banner, with Lucrezia's husband Giovanni Sforza poised to join them in the name of Milan; inventor Leonardo Da Vinci (guest star John Lynch) shows his drawings and blueprints for war machinery to the invaders.

Directors: Jeremy Podeswa
Writer: Neil Jordan
Watch Now:Amazon
Relics
star
7.69
1239 votes

#25 - Relics

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 5/19/2013

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.

Directors: Kari Skogland
Writer: Guy Bert
Watch Now:Amazon