1x03 Full !!install!!: Borgia

In the third episode of the first season of The Borgias, titled "The Moor," the newly elected Pope Alexander VI (Rodrigo Borgia) begins to realize that the papacy is as much about managing a checkbook as it is about ruling souls. Having depleted his personal coffers to secure his election, Rodrigo must now find creative—and often ruthless—ways to fund his reign and solidify his family's precarious power. A Diplomatic Hostage: Prince Djem

The episode's central plot revolves around the arrival of Prince Djem (played by Elyes Gabel), a charming and refined royal from the Ottoman Empire. Djem is effectively a diplomatic hostage; his brother, the Sultan, pays the Pope a staggering 40,000 ducats annually just to keep him "safely" detained in Rome.

Djem quickly becomes a favorite among the Borgia siblings, particularly Lucrezia, who is fascinated by his foreign customs. However, political necessity soon trumps personal affection. When the Sultan offers an additional 400,000 ducats for Djem’s permanent "departure," the Pope hands the task of disposing of the prince to his son Juan, leading to a tragic and brutal end for the young royal. The Hunt for Della Rovere

While the Borgias consolidate power in Rome, their most dangerous enemy, Cardinal Giuliano Della Rovere, has fled to the Kingdom of Naples. There, he attempts to forge an alliance with King Ferrante and his ruthless son, Prince Alfonso, to depose the Pope.

Recognizing the threat, Cesare Borgia dispatches the assassin Micheletto to follow Della Rovere. Micheletto attempts a garrote assassination in a crowded public bath, but the mission fails, allowing the Cardinal to continue his plotting against the papal throne. Financing the Papacy

To replenish the Vatican's treasury, Rodrigo implements several shrewd financial maneuvers: borgia 1x03 full

Safe Haven Fees: He offers sanctuary to Jews fleeing the Spanish Inquisition, but only in exchange for a significant fee.

Political Marriages: Rodrigo begins vetting suitors for Lucrezia, seeking a match that offers both a massive dowry and a strategic alliance with powerful families like the Sforzas of Milan. Episode Details and Cast

Directed by Simon Cellan Jones and written by series creator Neil Jordan, "The Moor" originally aired on April 10, 2011. The Borgias episodes 3 review: The Moor | Den of Geek

Key Themes:

• Power and Corruption: The struggle for power within the Vatican and the lengths to which the Borgias will go to maintain and expand their influence.
• Family Dynamics: The relationships and tensions among the Borgia family members, particularly focusing on the ambitions of Cesare and the actions of their father, Rodrigo.

A Papal Conclave on the Brink

The episode picks up in the chaotic aftermath of Pope Innocent VIII’s declining health. Cardinal Rodrigo Borgia (played with magnetic menace by John Doman) is no longer just a contender for the papacy—he is a predator circling a dying deer. The “assault” of the title refers first to the physical siege of a rebel-held fortress, but it’s a clever misdirection. The real siege is happening inside the Apostolic Palace.

Rodrigo, alongside his brilliant and terrifying son Cesare (Mark Ryder), orchestrates a campaign of simony (the buying of church offices) that is breathtaking in its audacity. We watch as Rodrigo offers bribes—a cardinalate here, a lucrative diocese there—not with shame, but with the weary pragmatism of a man who believes that God helps those who help themselves. In the third episode of the first season

Key Scene: The quiet negotiation between Rodrigo and Cardinal Orsini. There are no threats, only economics. “How much for your vote?” Rodrigo asks, not as a sinner, but as a businessman. This scene encapsulates the series’ thesis: the Renaissance Church wasn’t corrupted by the Borgias; the Borgias were simply the best at playing the game.

The Enemy Within: Djem’s Tragic arrival

The titular "Moor" is Prince Djem (played with tragic nobility by Elyes Gabel), the brother of the Ottoman Sultan, Bayezid II. Djem arrives in Rome seeking asylum, accompanied by his immense wealth and a looming shadow of death. On the surface, this is a diplomatic subplot. Beneath the surface, it is a gold mine.

Rodrigo Borgia (Jeremy Irons) is cash-poor but influence-rich. The arrival of Djem presents a moral quandary that Rodrigo solves with terrifying pragmatism. The Sultan offers the Vatican a fortune to keep Djem "safe"—a euphemism for imprisonment. Rodrigo, ever the financial strategist, sees the Ottoman gold as the solution to his empty coffers.

However, the episode excels in its juxtaposition of Rodrigo’s cold politics with Djem’s genuine warmth. Djem is not a villain; he is a man of culture and faith who becomes a pawn in a game he cannot win. His interactions with the Borgia children, particularly a budding friendship with Cesare, highlight the tragedy of his position. He is the "noble savage" trope deconstructed—he is more civilized than the Romans, yet he is the one marked for death.

Reception:

The series, including this episode, received attention for its portrayal of historical figures and events, with some critics praising the performances and the show's ambition, while others criticized it for historical inaccuracies and explicit content. Key Themes:

Episode 1x03 Summary:

In the third episode, titled "The Confession," the story unfolds with Rodrigo Borgia now firmly established as Pope Alexander VI. The episode explores the intrigue and political maneuvering within the Vatican and the Borgia family.

• Plot Points:
  • The episode delves into the complexities of Rodrigo's (Pope Alexander VI) relationships with his family, particularly his sons Cesare and Juan.
  • Giulia Farnese's storyline continues as she navigates her position within the Borgia household and her relationship with Rodrigo.
  • The character of Lorenzo de' Medici and his interactions with the Borgias adds to the tension, as Florence and Rome's political powers interact.

The Cardinal’s Calculus

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.

Historical Note: While the show condenses timelines, the real Rodrigo Borgia (later Pope Alexander VI) was infamous for his use of simony during the 1492 conclave. Contemporary accounts suggest he won by promising lucrative positions and castles to his rivals. Borgia doesn’t exaggerate—it merely illuminates.

Borgia 1x03 Full: A Deep Dive into "The Moor" – Intrigue, Heresy, and the Birth of a Criminal Mastermind

When discussing the golden age of prestige historical dramas, names like The Borgias (Showtime) often dominate the conversation. However, for fans of raw, unflinching, and deeply political storytelling, Tom Fontana’s Borgia (2011–2014; Canal+/ZDF) remains the superior, albeit grittier, alternative. If you are searching for Borgia 1x03 full, you are not just looking for a placeholder video link; you are looking for the moment the show transforms from a family drama into a relentless machine of political warfare.

Episode 3, titled "The Moor" (original title: Il Moro), is widely considered the hook of Season 1. It is where the young Rodrigo Borgia (played with terrifying subtlety by John Doman) stops reacting to the world and starts reshaping it in his image. This article provides a complete breakdown of the episode, where to find it legally, and why this specific entry is the key to understanding the entire series.