In a crucial scene, Rodrigo’s associate Gacet introduces him to Petronio, a valet-cum-spy who promises to aid him in gaining the necessary cardinal votes. Rodrigo then visits the elderly Ardicino della Porta, persuading him to become a cardinal again. He promises enacting positive moral change, though the old man remains deeply pessimistic about the Church’s "moral standards".
The episode opens with Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo Borgia, reeling from the events of the previous episode. His daughter, Lucrezia, has just given birth to a stillborn son, and his mistress, Giulia Farnese, is growing increasingly dissatisfied with her role in his life.
| Character | Actor | Main Plot in 1x03 | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | John Doman | Sends his children from Rome to avoid scandal. Engages in aggressive vote-buying in the Conclave. | | Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere | Dejan Čukić | Rodrigo's primary adversary who schemes to prevent his election. | | Cesare Borgia | Mark Ryder | Abandons his infant son as a sacrifice to the church, showing his brutal pragmatism. | | Lucrezia Borgia | Isolda Dychauk | Becomes gravely ill in a remote convent, a symbol of the family's vulnerability. | borgia 1x03 full
While the Conclave deliberates, Cesare (Mark Ryder) is separated from his family in Pisa, wrestling with a personal crisis. He has secretly fathered a child with his lover, the courtesan Fiammetta Micheletti.
As the cardinals gather for the traditional nine requiem masses for the deceased pope, Rodrigo learns that his trusted ally, Cardinal Carafa, has betrayed him and will not vote in his favor. With the election hanging in the balance, Rodrigo is forced to rely on promises of political favors, ecclesiastical offices, and outright bribery to secure the necessary votes. The atmosphere is tense, with cardinals arguing furiously as they try to decide the fate of Christendom. When the first ballots are drawn, no decision is reached, plunging the process into a tense stalemate. In a crucial scene, Rodrigo’s associate Gacet introduces
The heart of the episode is the conclave—the secretive process where cardinals lock themselves away to elect a new pope. Rodrigo is a leading candidate, but his path to the papacy is littered with obstacles. He must navigate a sea of treacherous cardinals, desperate rivals, and secret betrayals.
★★★★☆ (4/5) Best line: “God forgives everything. Men do not. That’s why we pay them first.” – Rodrigo Borgia The episode opens with Pope Alexander VI, Rodrigo
"A Sacred Vow" is more than just a transitional episode; it's a thematic powerhouse that establishes the central conflicts of the entire series.