Ep 4. The Banquet Of Chestnuts

The Banquet of Chestnuts is the fourth episode of the third season of The Borgias. The episode revolves around the infamous Banquet of Chestnuts, a historical event that allegedly occurred in 1501 during the papacy of Alexander VI. The Banquet of Chestnuts was a scandalous event held by Cesare Borgia, the son of the pope, where guests engaged in various sexual acts with courtesans in full view of the pope and his cardinals.

The episode begins with Cesare Borgia relishing in his victory over the French army at the Battle of Forli. He is celebrated by the people of Rome and even by his own father, the Pope. However, as the celebrations die down, Cesare begins to fear that his accomplishments will not be remembered and that his legacy will be forgotten. He decides to host a grand banquet in order to cement his name in history.

Cesare enlists the help of his sister, Lucrezia Borgia, to organize the banquet. Lucrezia, who has been married off to Alfonso d'Este, the Duke of Ferrara, by her father, is still in love with her former lover, Paolo. She is hesitant to help her brother with the banquet but eventually agrees when she realizes that it will give her the opportunity to see Paolo again.

Cesare spares no expense in planning the banquet. He orders chestnuts to be imported from Naples, which are a rare and expensive delicacy at the time. He also invites courtesans from all over Italy to attend the banquet and entertain his guests. As the preparations for the banquet are underway, Cesare and Lucrezia reminisce about their childhood and talk about their hopes for the future.

On the night of the banquet, the guests arrive and are greeted by courtesans who are scantily clad and ready to entertain. The guests are shocked but intrigued by the spectacle that Cesare has created. They are served a sumptuous feast and are entertained by acrobats and musicians. The guests are encouraged to indulge in their desires, and many of them do so to excess.

As the night wears on, the guests become increasingly debauched. Cesare watches as his guests engage in orgies and other obscene acts. He is pleased with himself for creating a truly memorable event. Lucrezia, who has reunited with Paolo, watches in horror as the guests continue to indulge their carnal desires. She realizes that her brother's ambition has gone too far and that the banquet will have disastrous consequences.

The Banquet of Chestnuts is a tense and dramatic episode that explores the excesses of power and the consequences of ambition. The episode is well-written and well-acted, with strong performances from Jeremy Irons as the Pope, Francois Arnaud as Cesare, and Holliday Grainger as Lucrezia. The episode is a fitting tribute to a scandalous event that has fascinated historians for centuries.