Thirty Days of Borgias: Day Nine
Jul. 19th, 2012 07:29 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakDay 09 ~ Least favourite character.
Trickier to answer than you'd think. I have several categories for "least favourite" . There are characters you're supposed to dislike, and when you do, it means the writers and actors have achieved their purpose. In The Borgias, these would be characters like Giovanni Sforza (btw, I found his historical humiliation in the s1 finale far more emotionally satisfying than Cesare's belated unhistorical knifing in s2, but that's me; also, there was an in-show reason for Cesare and on a Doylist level it was important to give Caterina a personal incentive for her enmity) or Savonarola (couldn't stand him in history, either, but that doesn't mean he didn't have several important points, which the show lets him make as well). Then there are the characters you're supposed to like but which for some reason or the other don't work that way for yours truly, sometimes even having the exact opposite effect. (None in The Borgias of that type, but examples on other shows would be Bill Adama in the later BSG seasons or Jack in the early - but not the later - Lost seasons.) And then there are the characters you're supposed to dislike but who are written so paper thin boo-hiss worthy that you dislike them, alright, but not for the reason you're supposed to - dislike them for writerly laziness instead (here a Buffy example would be Caleb in s7). Juan in s2 goes a bit in this category in that I think the show overdid it on occasion with the downwards spiral - syphilis and opium and threatening the baby, seriously? Just one or two wouldn't have been enough together with general incompetence and the Paolo slaying? However Juan also had his moments of pathos - aswallace once said, he's Theon Greyjoy imagining himself to be Tyrion Lannister - throughout, and none of his actions, by itself, were unbelievable.
So in the end... Savonarola wins. I disliked him historically the longest! (Not just for all those burned paintings, but for harrassing Lorenzo de' Medici on his deathbed. Sorry, but if you do that to someone who is literally dying and trying to reconcile with his enemies before he does, you fail as a priest.) But I really appreciate the way the show used him, bringing out both the appalling fanaticism and dictatorial mentality and the genuine courage and disgust at corruption; and they neither over nor underused him, killing him off at the right point. (Showverse wise, I mean.)
Day One ~ Picture or gif that expresses your reaction to the show.
Day 02 ~ Favourite female character.
Day 03 ~ Favourite male character.
Day 04 ~ Favourite antagonist.
Day 05 ~ Favourite quote from The Borgias.
Day 06 ~ Who do you ship?
Day 07 ~ Three words that describe The Borgias.
Day 08 ~ Favourite moment so far.
Day 09 ~ Least favourite character.
Day 10 ~ Would you rather be a cardinal or a soldier?
Day 11 ~ Favourite outfit worn by anyone.
Day 12 ~ Historical Crackship: Who belongs together, time and space be damned?
Day 13 ~ Re-Write History: Something you wish had happened.
Day 14 ~ Re-Write History: Something you wish never happened.
Day 15 ~ FREE DAY - Anything you’d like
Day 16 ~ Link to an interview or video you think is funny.
Day 17 ~ Favourite episode.
Day 18 ~ Give some advice to one of the characters.
Day 19 ~ Character that’s the most like you.
Day 20 ~ What do you like best about The Borgias?
Day 21 ~ Link to a Borgias blog.
Day 22 ~ Make or link to a graphic of your favourite ship.
Day 23 ~ Cesare, Juan & Lucrezia: Shag, marry, stab - what would you do?
Day 24 ~ Favourite quote from The Borgias.
Day 25 ~ Good riddance: Who have you not been sorry to see killed off?
Day 26 ~ A scene you can watch over and over again.
Day 27 ~ Fightin’ words: Who would you like to see in a fight to the death?
Day 28 ~ Fancast: Who would you like to see in a role on The Borgias?
Day 29 ~ Link to a fanvid you like.
Day 30 ~ How would you end the show?
Trickier to answer than you'd think. I have several categories for "least favourite" . There are characters you're supposed to dislike, and when you do, it means the writers and actors have achieved their purpose. In The Borgias, these would be characters like Giovanni Sforza (btw, I found his historical humiliation in the s1 finale far more emotionally satisfying than Cesare's belated unhistorical knifing in s2, but that's me; also, there was an in-show reason for Cesare and on a Doylist level it was important to give Caterina a personal incentive for her enmity) or Savonarola (couldn't stand him in history, either, but that doesn't mean he didn't have several important points, which the show lets him make as well). Then there are the characters you're supposed to like but which for some reason or the other don't work that way for yours truly, sometimes even having the exact opposite effect. (None in The Borgias of that type, but examples on other shows would be Bill Adama in the later BSG seasons or Jack in the early - but not the later - Lost seasons.) And then there are the characters you're supposed to dislike but who are written so paper thin boo-hiss worthy that you dislike them, alright, but not for the reason you're supposed to - dislike them for writerly laziness instead (here a Buffy example would be Caleb in s7). Juan in s2 goes a bit in this category in that I think the show overdid it on occasion with the downwards spiral - syphilis and opium and threatening the baby, seriously? Just one or two wouldn't have been enough together with general incompetence and the Paolo slaying? However Juan also had his moments of pathos - as
wallace once said, he's Theon Greyjoy imagining himself to be Tyrion Lannister - throughout, and none of his actions, by itself, were unbelievable. So in the end... Savonarola wins. I disliked him historically the longest! (Not just for all those burned paintings, but for harrassing Lorenzo de' Medici on his deathbed. Sorry, but if you do that to someone who is literally dying and trying to reconcile with his enemies before he does, you fail as a priest.) But I really appreciate the way the show used him, bringing out both the appalling fanaticism and dictatorial mentality and the genuine courage and disgust at corruption; and they neither over nor underused him, killing him off at the right point. (Showverse wise, I mean.)
Day One ~ Picture or gif that expresses your reaction to the show.
Day 02 ~ Favourite female character.
Day 03 ~ Favourite male character.
Day 04 ~ Favourite antagonist.
Day 05 ~ Favourite quote from The Borgias.
Day 06 ~ Who do you ship?
Day 07 ~ Three words that describe The Borgias.
Day 08 ~ Favourite moment so far.
Day 09 ~ Least favourite character.
Day 10 ~ Would you rather be a cardinal or a soldier?
Day 11 ~ Favourite outfit worn by anyone.
Day 12 ~ Historical Crackship: Who belongs together, time and space be damned?
Day 13 ~ Re-Write History: Something you wish had happened.
Day 14 ~ Re-Write History: Something you wish never happened.
Day 15 ~ FREE DAY - Anything you’d like
Day 16 ~ Link to an interview or video you think is funny.
Day 17 ~ Favourite episode.
Day 18 ~ Give some advice to one of the characters.
Day 19 ~ Character that’s the most like you.
Day 20 ~ What do you like best about The Borgias?
Day 21 ~ Link to a Borgias blog.
Day 22 ~ Make or link to a graphic of your favourite ship.
Day 23 ~ Cesare, Juan & Lucrezia: Shag, marry, stab - what would you do?
Day 24 ~ Favourite quote from The Borgias.
Day 25 ~ Good riddance: Who have you not been sorry to see killed off?
Day 26 ~ A scene you can watch over and over again.
Day 27 ~ Fightin’ words: Who would you like to see in a fight to the death?
Day 28 ~ Fancast: Who would you like to see in a role on The Borgias?
Day 29 ~ Link to a fanvid you like.
Day 30 ~ How would you end the show?
