The New Pope Review: Season 1 Episode 8
It’s reunions and goodbyes on The New Pope Season 1 Episode 8.
The convoluted plots, as well as the high number of plots, may have finally caught up with them. A lot happens on this episode, but the storytelling is lacking in vim and vigor. I feel the last episode is a bit to blame—The New Pope Season 1 Episode 7 stalled out and then took us in a different direction.
This shift is noticeable and results in a rather clunky and unwieldy episode overall.
Pius XIII (Jude Law) is back and his many reunions comprise much of the episode. His scenes with Voiello (Silvio Orlando) and Sister Suree (Nadie Kammallaweera) are a nice call back to The Young Pope as is the appearance of a fridge stocked with Cherry Coke Zero.
The goodbyes are bittersweet. Bitter is the death of Girolamo and sweet is the demise of “the terrible triad.” It is so satisfying to see these horrible men get their comeuppance, and that it’s at the hand of the mysterious Bauer (Mark Ivanir) and his creepy henchman, Essence (J. David Hinze), makes it even sweeter.
Although the episode is muddled down with complex alliances and blackmailing, there is one element that rises above. And that is Silvio Orlando’s performance, especially in his scenes regarding Girolamo.
Voiello’s reaction after realizing that Girolamo has passed is heartbreaking. He walks away from the greenhouse and it cuts to a low-angle shot of him with a majestic cliffside behind him which gives the moment so much weight and dignity.
John Paul III (John Malkovich) has reached a low point with his depression and his enthusiasm for the job as the pope, but he is unwilling to just hand it all over to Pius XIII. Voiello uses this opportunity to ensure that Girolamo gets the send-off he deserves.
Voiello’s eulogy is the highlight of the episode. It is moving and heartfelt and inspiring. A message of love and kindness is what the world needs to hear both in this fictional universe of The New Pope and in reality.
Voiello: Girolamo is the word that suffers. Girolamo is the word that loves. And I thank God for giving me the extraordinary opportunity to be his best friend. Thank you, Girolamo. You and only you who knew intimately the anguish of suffering, the beauty of sacrifice, and the power of love.
It looks like the next episode which is the season finale will be a pope face-off between Pius XIII and John Paul III which I am excited for, especially coming off of this lopsided episode. I think the entire season could’ve been a battle for the papacy since Law and Malkovich are both such dynamos in these roles.
Nevertheless, I am looking forward to the showdown.
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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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.