'The Borgias' Versus 'Borgia': Will Fans of the Showtime Series Like the Internationally Made Version?

"Borgia," also known as "Borgia: Faith and Fear," premiered in North America on Netflix late last year. Currently available on Netflix streaming, this international co-production covers much of the same era of history as "The Borgias," which airs on Showtime in the U.S. So the question on the mind of every fan of "The Borgias" is this: Should I be watching "Borgia," as well?

The opening credits are, both in terms of visuals and in terms of music, a low-rent knockoff of the Showtime series. Both shows start in 1492, though admittedly "Borgia" does a better job bringing us up to speed to the current historical and political situations. Pope Innocent sticks around a lot longer in "Borgia" than he does in "The Borgias," though he doesn't say that much.

The Borgia kids in "Borgia" are under the illusion that Rodrigo is their uncle, not their father, which is quite interesting. As for their Rodrigo, however, he lacks the gravitas that Jeremy Irons brings to the same role on "The Borgias."

"Borgia" actually films in Italy (and Prague), while "The Borgias" films in Hungary. And yet, "The Borgias" presents sets that are both more lush and more seeped in the history of the period. The same can be said for the costumes, which often look cheap because of bad lighting or inherent tattiness.

Their Cesare (played by Mark Ryder) pales in comparison to Francois Arnaud, though the "Borgia" Cesare isn't without merit. Still, Francois Arnaud brings a darkness to the role that seems more in step with history, and more likely to draw in viewers.

Both series have their share of nudity, and while both are international co-productions, "The Borgias" seems like a more coherent production, mostly because it features a consistent accent choice across the whole cast. One of the issues with "Borgia" is the slate of accents that can be jarring as we jump from character to character. Some characters speak with American accents, others with British, still others with Italian, and in the case of Lucrezia, a German accent by way of Russia.

If you like "The Borgias," but want to explore other players of that historical period without focusing solely on the Borgia clan, you might find the expanded scope of "Borgia" intriguing. But be warned: "Borgia" lacks the impassioned, believable acting of "The Borgias," as well as some of the eye candy you've become accustomed to.

Still, "Borgia" may be to your liking, particularly if you're feeling withdrawal during the months when "The Borgias" isn't on the air.