The Young Pope is a story following the world’s first ‘young’ and American pope in his journey of discovering the true roll of the Catholic prophet, testing its boundaries, and baptizing the house of the holy. Jude Law is Pope Pius Xlll, aka Lenny Belardo, the first American pope and the youngest to have ever reigned. He’s somewhat of a contrarian, smoking in his office, refusing direction from his advisors, and rejecting his predecessor’s liberal views. Lenny feels like a typical power hungry leader, fueled by ego, doing as he wants once elected into office. (This sounds SO familiar….hmmmmm…HMMM) Akin to Game of Thrones’ Joffrey, Pius Xlll takes charge in his own way much to the horror of those designated to guide his rule. The show is setting us up to be shocked and appalled by his actions, aaaaaand that is what I’m here for, personally. Who doesn’t love watching a dissenter stomp all over people? IN FICTION, LET’S BE CLEAR.
HBO has set a standard. I’m not aware of any big misses they’ve made. (Anyone?) Much like Westworld, the trailer has done an excellent job of setting me up to expect a HBO-level of flawless television. The Young Pope made it’s visual theme clear from the get go. We see extremely artistic imagery. This is not a typical American-made show crafted from the hands of big name Hollywood. The show is created, written, (with others,) and directed by the wholly Italian Paolo Sorrentino. No, you don’t know anything he’s made. He’s as Italian as my great-grandmother, who hails from Canavese, Italy. Clumsy comparison, but not untrue. This is not a Prego, Papa John’s, Bertolli version of Italian camera craft. This has not been watered down and American-ized for our pleasure. It is pure Fellini-core, with many moments and shots serving solely as visual allegory. And ohhhh do I WELCOME IT. It’s so refreshing to see “cinemaaahhhhhh” (as my british Film History teacher would declare) on the small screen. I really appreciate the heavy handed foreign/un-American look of this show. There’s a moment when the pope frees a Kangaroo from the giant warehouse of gifts he’s received, and we later see it peeking and lock eyes with someone in the vast Vatican garden. This moment doesn’t progress the story, it doesn’t make any immediate metaphorical connection to me, but it’s just beautiful and takes breath out of the character, bringing pause and beauty for the sake of pause and beauty.
FLASH FORWARD SOME ODD EPISODES WORTH: I’ve finished The Young Pope Season 1. Much like HBO’s fellow newbie Westworld, the show left something to be desired, it peaked before it wrapped up, it held its viewers with its captivating style and intriguing plotline. I was giddy to see each week’s new episode for both shows. I was taken on a ride that was exciting and interesting. My problem with each is that they just…kind of fizzled out. Anyone agree? With Westworld I can blame Vanity Fair for their extensive dissections and fan theory break-downs being too tempting and ultimately spoiling everything for me. With The Young Pope I think I expected some grand, giant climax the size of the Catholic Church itself. All thematic elements, motifs, and visual splendor aside, when it ended it felt like “………well, ok, then.” I’m not hating or loving the characters, I’m not invested in their lives, I don’t care about them really, and I don’t think a Season 2 would really be necessary. I don’t think there’s much else about this Young Pope that we need to see, other than him shirtless, Jude Law. If the show will have a second season, they’ll really need to ramp up the drama. Pius can’t be bothered with slanderous attempts at blackmail, political brawls, or sexual advances. The only struggle he showed was an eagerness to fill the void where his parents should have been, having abandoned him when he was eight. Nine? Ten. He was ten. Was he ten??? He fights with this demon of abandonment. The problem with it, was that it was somehow just not compelling enough.
The show only has a 75% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, so, take it as you will.
