The New Pope Review: Season 1 Episode 2

On The New Pope Season 1 Episode 2, we are introduced to the man that will become Pope, and a dim light is shed on his background and motivations. It keeps with the abstract, transcendent weirdness with which both The Young Pope and The New Pope are suffused.

John Malkovich as Sir John Brannox fits well into this baroque setting and story with the character’s dark nobility and urbane manner. Malkovich makes interesting choices and uses disciplined subtlety to create an air of mystery around the man in question—so much so that the questions surrounding him multiply greatly. 

Jude Law had done the same with Pius XIII on The Young Pope, making it hard to pin down his moral character but in a captivating way that made one delight in their confusion rather than be frustrated by it.

I have similar feelings in getting to know Brannox. He could be a power-hungry ruler or a humble servant of God who believes in this profound message of love about which he speaks so passionately; Malkovich plays him in such a way that either extreme and everything in between is a possibility.

Having the titular role be such an enigma creates intrigue and arouses curiosity, and that lends itself to all facets of this unique series: the comedy, the drama, and the artistic approach. 

We spend most of our time on this episode at Brannox’s estate where he lives with his frail, ailing parents and the omnipresence of his dead twin brother. The information parceled out in this setting paints a morose familial picture, one that suggests there will be darkness behind Brannox’s motivations. Voiello (Silvio Orlando) says that Brannox has a depressive streak in him and the head butler, Duillo (Claudio Bigagli), implies as much.

Duillo: He is a magnificent person, but he is also fragile. Delicate, a piece of porcelain. Beautiful, glazed and molded by great artists, but he is porcelain nevertheless. His life has been burdened with crippling sorrows and unspeakable disappointments. We will not become another disappointment.

We see Duillo’s loyalty to the man he has known since he was a boy as well as concern for his future well-being. In telling this to Voiello, Duillo sets up the opportunity for another dynamic—one where Voiello feels a managerial obligation over Brannox.

That same relationship with Pius XIII caused much friction between the two men on The Young Pope, and there is the potential to see that again here with Brannox.

Another parallel to be made between the two popes is how their upbringing influences their ambitions. Pius XIII’s lack of a parental presence greatly played into his behavior and his relationships. The animosity between Brannox and his parents seems to be a big, motivating factor for him—he might be accepting the papal position out of spite.  

Spite is such an interesting emotion and I would love to see Malkovich’s Brannox exhibit this. The New Pope Season 1 Episode 2 serves to whet our appetites for some tempestuous drama. And with Malkovich’s admirable track record of depicting complex and strange characters with believable absurdity, we are sure to be in for a wild ride.

The New Pope continues to be a visual feast for the eyes (that you can wash down with a Cherry Coke Zero). Every frame is striking, giving the viewer the feeling of being in a museum—pause it at any moment and on your screen will be a work of art. 

Many of these artistic choices can speak volumes on behalf of the characters within these tableaus.

Brannox sprawled out on a chaise wearing an impeccable purple suit and a smokey eye denotes his eccentricity. Voiello in silhouette framed in perfect symmetry in front of the window shows the severity of his position, and he can easily be imagined as the subject of a painting by Titian or Holbein.

The imagery when Sofia is on screen is sensual and provocative just like the publicist herself and the seductiveness she tries to sell.

The cinematography goes hand in hand with the production design and costuming, giving the audience a unique perspective of the higher echelon of the Catholic Church and those that govern it.

What did you think of this episode of The New Pope? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The New Pope airs Mondays at 9/8c on HBO.

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