Radio Times: Review by:; Alison Graham

The Pope, that posturing old fraud, continues his quest for self-abasement by washing the gnarled and filthy feet of a peasant woman. Worse, he makes everyone eat sardines as it’s Lent. Unluckily for him, as he’s reminded by his comely main mistress while she languishes in the bath, Lent also means denying himself the pleasures of sex. Jeremy Irons’s face is a picture.

Rodrigo’s son Cesare, meanwhile, seeks advice from Machiavelli, who has greasy hair and skulks in alleyways: a foolish move since his advice is always Machiavellian. Cesare, don’t you know anything? As for Cesare’s flighty sister Lucrezia, she’s been told to find another husband, but isn’t at all keen until a cutie with perfect eyebrows hoves into view.

About this programme

6/10. Cesare is forced to come to terms with both the spiritual and political consequences of murdering Giovanni Sforza after confessing his crimes to Rodrigo. Determined to swap his holy vestments for the Gonfaloniere's armour, the headstrong cardinal joins forces with Machiavelli in a scheme to rob the Medici banks. Meanwhile, Florence remains in the thrall of Girolamo Savonarola, who plots to purge the Tuscan capital with fire, and Giuliano della Rovere's apprentice assassin begins a horrific training regime.