The Borgias
Flesh and Blood
Created by Neil Jordan
On Showtime
A lavish historical drama of Renaissance corruption and family ambition, where the pursuit of power through sin becomes the central moral inquiry.
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.
Clusters
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Does The Borgias leave you hopeful? No. Less hopeful than 96% of series.
Is The Borgias one of a kind? Yes, very. More singular than 90% of series.
Is The Borgias scary? Yes. More frightening than 87% of series.
Is The Borgias violent? Yes. More violent than 81% of series.
Is The Borgias easy watching? Barely. Less comforting than 75% of series.
Is The Borgias sad? Somewhat. More sad than 66% of series.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
- The Opposite of HBOFinding
- The Shows That Know They EndFinding
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like The Borgias, and what each one shares →
Like The Borgias
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as The Borgias
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like The Borgias, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like The Borgias, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like The Borgias, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
