Ep 2. The Assassin

The Borgias season 1 episode 2, titled "The Assassin," follows the aftermath of the previous episode's events in which Rodrigo Borgia becomes the new Pope Alexander VI.

The episode opens with the pope's acceptance speech in which he promises to restore the Catholic Church to its former glory. Meanwhile, his children, Cesare and Lucrezia, continue to adjust to their new roles in Rome. Cesare, who has been studying to become a cardinal, is urged by his father to continue his studies. Lucrezia, on the other hand, is reluctant to leave her fiancé, who is living in Naples.

As the Borgias settle into their new roles, they also begin to face their first challenges. A group of cardinals who opposed Rodrigo's election as pope begin to plot against him. One of them, Cardinal Orsini, hires an assassin to kill the pope, hoping to gain power for himself.

The assassin, a young man named Michelotto, is sent to Rome to carry out the plan. He poses as a messenger and gains access to the inner sanctum of the Vatican. However, when he is about to strike, he is interrupted by Cesare, who had become suspicious of him. The two engage in a tense confrontation, but Michelotto eventually manages to escape.

The failed assassination attempt sends shockwaves throughout the Vatican and further divides the cardinals. Rodrigo begins to suspect that Cardinal Orsini is behind the plot, but he can't prove it. He decides to take matters into his own hands and meets with the cardinal, offering him a deal in exchange for his loyalty.

Meanwhile, Lucrezia continues to struggle with her feelings for her fiancé and for her brother, Cesare. Her father arranges for her to meet with her fiancé, but the encounter does not go well. Her fiancé becomes angry with her for not leaving Rome as she promised, and he storms out of the room.

As the episode comes to a close, Rodrigo meets with Cardinal Orsini and offers him a position in the Vatican in exchange for his loyalty. Orsini agrees, but it's clear that their relationship is far from over. The episode ends with Rodrigo and his family coming together to celebrate their new positions of power, but it's clear that there are many challenges still ahead.