Ep 4. Wisdom of the Holy Spirit

In the fourth episode of Borgia season one, titled "Wisdom of the Holy Spirit," the power dynamics in Rome continue to shift as Cardinal della Rovere (played by Colm Feore) becomes increasingly desperate in his attempts to take down the Borgia family. Meanwhile, Rodrigo Borgia (Jeremy Irons) and his son Cesare (François Arnaud) work to secure alliances with other powerful families in order to solidify their grip on the papacy.

As the title implies, religion continues to play a major role in the series. In this episode, a wise old monk named Savonarola (played by Steven Berkoff) arrives in Rome, preaching a fiery and unorthodox brand of Christianity that challenges the authority of the Pope himself. Savonarola's influence grows quickly, attracting a large following of disenchanted faithful who hunger for a more pure and simple expression of their faith.

As one might expect, this puts Savonarola directly at odds with the Borgia family, who view him as a dangerous threat to their authority. At first, they attempt to bribe the monk into silence, offering him a lucrative position in the church if he will stop preaching his provocative sermons. But when this fails, they resort to more drastic measures, using their considerable political and military connections to have Savonarola arrested and charged with heresy.

Meanwhile, Cardinal della Rovere is still plotting his revenge against the Borgias. He enlists the help of a young artist named Michelangelo (played by Charlie Carrick), who agrees to create a scandalous painting of Rodrigo in order to undermine his reputation. The plan almost succeeds, but is ultimately foiled by Cesare, who proves to be a shrewd and resourceful opponent.

Throughout all of this, the show continues to explore the complex relationships between the various characters. Rodrigo's relationships with his mistress Vanozza (Joanne Whalley) and his daughter Lucrezia (Holliday Grainger) remain central to the plot, as does the tense dynamic between Cesare and his younger brother Juan (David Oakes). There is also a subplot involving a young woman named Dorotea (Emmanuelle Chriqui), who Cesare is determined to rescue from the clutches of her abusive husband.

Overall, "Wisdom of the Holy Spirit" is a tense and engaging episode that continues to build on the momentum of the previous three. With strong performances from the entire cast and a well-plotted storyline that keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat, it's a great example of the kind of high-quality drama that Borgia has become known for.