Is Jude Law really the right actor to play the iconic Pope? The British star is simply too handsome and recognizable to portray such an exemplary leader of Catholicism, and I suppose none of that would matter if his character, Pope Pius XIII (Lenny Belardo), was actually compelling, but alas, he isn't. He makes it clear from the get-go that he "doesn't eat much, and needs a Cherry Coke Zero on a daily basis". Stand back, everyone: this man is BOLD!
Smoking a cigarette throughout and speaking in slow, methodical American accent in a manner that is supposed to resemble quotable rather than spoken speech, Pius XIII battles the different ideology of his Cardinal staff, and challenges abortion, pedophilia within Churches, and even the advances of a sexual vixen (Ludivine Sagnier), a woman intent on seducing him by request of Cardinal Voiello (Silvio Orlando, spewing every line of dialogue as if he was reading it coldly for the first time).
There is also Sister Mary (Diane Keaton), Lenny's maternal figure, who raised him in an orphanage after his (supposedly) hedonistic parents abandoned him when he was a boy. Keaton, sadly, does not have much to say or do of any relevance in The Young Pope; her role seems to be primarily a superficial one. Perhaps creator Paolo Sorrentino believed that an iconic American actress' face would be enough to embody a certain wisdom that his protagonist simply couldn't. Imagine Cersei Lannister, but without the charisma, fiery speeches, contempt for everyone who doesn't share her bloodline, and her killer instincts. Instead, all we know about Sister Mary is that she likes to play basketball in her downtime at the Vatican (whoo-hoo!). The show's cinematography is also surprisingly lifeless and flat; as a result, its saving grace falls squarely on the shoulders of its exotic Italian setting.
The Young Pope (HBO, Canal+, Sky Atlantic), ultimately, is a failure, but at least it's an ambitious failure. Its pilot episode, which includes a strangely deranged dream in which Lenny crawls out of a mountain of baby fetuses, only to proceed by giving a very lewd and provocative speech in front Vatican's faithful, was bold and promising. However, it didn't take long for this inexperienced pontiff, whose idea of a effective papacy is extreme reclusion, to come across as a dull, boring young man whose flaws are simply not interesting enough for an effective drama. Walter White he surely isn't, but I had hoped he would at least have something - anything - fascinating to do or say. There are several references peppered throughout about him being an atheist, a theory that the series' finale leaves open to debate. Ultimately, what we're left with, more or less, is Pope Pius XIII pleading, "My parents! My parents! My papacy for my parents!" for the majority of the TV series' 10 episode run.
The show also suffers from a cohesive and tense storyline, which is evident in its underwhelming finale, where, instead of building to an explosive climax, it simply whimpers and stumbles across the finish line, its weak and uninspired writing having lead it to a dead end. The Crown (Netflix), a thematically similar series involving another inexperienced person coming to power of great influence before her time, manages to present the drama and tension of such a thankless - but unquestionably very demanding - public role in a much more provoking and captivating manner. Perhaps Sorrentino can take a page out of its book if he should ever consider continuing The Young Pope with a second season. That, of course, is a big if.
C-
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