The Young Pope: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 38 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 167 Ratings

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7.4

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7.4	Your Score
7.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 167 Ratings

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The Young Pope

Now Playing: The Young Pope

Season Details & Credits

ABC | HBO | SKY | Canal+ | Season Premiere Date: January 15, 2017

Summary: Newly named Pope Pius XIII, Lenny Belardo (Jude Law) grapples with the inner workings of the Vatican and comes into conflict with Cardinal Voiello (Silvio Orlando), who thought the 47-year-old would more biddable than another cardinal. Instead, Lenny has his own ideas and prefers seeking advice from Sister Mary (Diane Keaton), who raisedNewly named Pope Pius XIII, Lenny Belardo (Jude Law) grapples with the inner workings of the Vatican and comes into conflict with Cardinal Voiello (Silvio Orlando), who thought the 47-year-old would more biddable than another cardinal. Instead, Lenny has his own ideas and prefers seeking advice from Sister Mary (Diane Keaton), who raised him at the orphanage.

The 10-part miniseries from Paolo Sorrentino premiered at the Venice Film Festival in September 2016.… Expand

Genre(s): Drama, Movie/Mini-Series, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Tenth Episode
Air Date: February 13, 2017
tbd
S1:E9. Ninth Episode
Air Date: February 12, 2017
tbd
S1:E8. Eighth Episode
Air Date: February 6, 2017

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Tom Long

Jan 13, 2017

Lush, often surreal, filled with contradictory characters and backstabbing intrigue, The Young Pope is one of the more remarkable television shows in memory. Read full review

Joseph Ragusa

Jan 25, 2017

In the end, it's Law's incredible performance--certainly one of his best--that makes Lenny compelling, mysterious, and complex. We can't help but fall under his charismatic spell and stick with him through trying moments. Read full review

Caroline Framke

Jan 17, 2017

At all times, The Young Pope is a meticulously filmed series featuring a fantastic central performance--plus a bonus Diane Keaton as the Young Pope’s nun mentor!--that knows better than to take itself completely seriously. Read full review

Deborah Young

Sep 7, 2016

Sorrentino's taste for the grotesque at times gets out of hand, but generally serves him well in this comic approach to the hidebound traditions of the miniscule Papal state. Read full review

Ken Tucker

Jan 12, 2017

It really depends on how drawn in you are by the Vatican intrigue crafted by show creator Paolo Sorrentino, and how beguiled you are by Jude Law’s performance. Read full review

Vicki Hyman

Jan 17, 2017

With its over-the-top plot and rococo themes, it just comes across as Eurotrash--intellectually pretentious, but it sure is pretty to look at it. Read full review

Collider Chris Cabin

Jan 10, 2017

The Young Pope is TV’s equivalent of a dorm-room poster of Bob Marley blowing smoke or the Lenny Bruce mugshot: a depleted symbol of a radical reaction to society that finally most clearly represents the status quo. Read full review

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User Score

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7.4

User Reviews

JorgeLestre

Jan 16, 2017

The Young Pope is provocative because it needs to be. Jude Law gives a remarkable performance and the series tries to show you how religion can be a blatant excuse for behavior. It's magnificent, well-acted and Sorrentino's writing doesn't care for those who don't get it or understand it,The Young Pope is provocative because it needs to be. Jude Law gives a remarkable performance and the series tries to show you how religion can be a blatant excuse for behavior. It's magnificent, well-acted and Sorrentino's writing doesn't care for those who don't get it or understand it, just like Lenny Belardo.… Expand

10 of 17 users found this helpful107

Sean66

Jul 22, 2018

The Young Pope is a riveting series, and I'm hoping for a sequel. The show takes an open mind. Some might suggest the show reveals hypocrisy, but that sort of interpretation is too naive. The common foiling of characters who symbolize human passion and spiritual devotion drive the tensionThe Young Pope is a riveting series, and I'm hoping for a sequel. The show takes an open mind. Some might suggest the show reveals hypocrisy, but that sort of interpretation is too naive. The common foiling of characters who symbolize human passion and spiritual devotion drive the tension that makes the series so good. The show follows the life of a Pope who believes the church must be more loving and actually encourage boundaries in a world that is fearful of boundaries and sees boundaries as a limiting of self-expression and freedom. By the end of the series, it's easy to like the main character (Lenny, the Young Pope). One of my favorite elements of Lenny's character is his smoking. Yes, the Pope smokes. This simple elements makes him flawed just enough but not enough to realize he is a saint. There is little doubt this character loves the innocent, wants to protect the less fortunate and abandoned, and encourage sinners to change; even those within his religious circle. One thing is clear: the world has sin and the world has love and hope. The Pope (Jude Law) symbolizes that hope for the world.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

theschekster

Feb 23, 2017

I have to say that I'm blown away at the less than stellar scores that this amazing show has received. I thought it was captivating from the start. Jude Law's performance was his best ever, if not perfect in its own right. Silvio Orlando was equally as good. Some of the conversationsI have to say that I'm blown away at the less than stellar scores that this amazing show has received. I thought it was captivating from the start. Jude Law's performance was his best ever, if not perfect in its own right. Silvio Orlando was equally as good. Some of the conversations between Lenny and his mentor drove the script to a higher level and caused me to replay them in order to get the most out of them. The only episode that, ironically, I found a bit of a letdown from was the last one, when, what appeared to be Lenny's death, came at the end. But then again, I didn't know at that time that this would be a continuing series. I can't wait for season 2 and can't imagine where it's going.… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

brockcheese

Feb 16, 2017

This show is really interesting and shines in serene beauty. However, I think the show might be a bit too esoteric for the average viewer, reveling in beautiful cinematography and bible passages.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Soothsay3r

Jan 20, 2017

This show has a great start, daring, outrageous, but it is dragged down by a cheesy and dumbed down second act that fits better in a Sunday afternoon matinée film, with such an abrupt transition that makes the viewer feel that he missed some episode. There are even examples that the ideaThis show has a great start, daring, outrageous, but it is dragged down by a cheesy and dumbed down second act that fits better in a Sunday afternoon matinée film, with such an abrupt transition that makes the viewer feel that he missed some episode. There are even examples that the idea seems to be someone is being two-faced, but in the end is just a feelgood narrative tool.

Shame such a daring idea ended up in the most boring tone one could imagine.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

rlian220

Jan 31, 2017

I had high hopes for this show because it's HBO and the previews seemed interesting. But it's turned out to be a huge disappointment. Lots of style...no substance...boring.

2 of 10 users found this helpful28

Ttwiggs

Feb 1, 2018

I am a Catholic. Jude Law as the rest of the cast gave an incredible performance. You must watch all the episodes. The last three are the turning point. It all makes sense towards the end and reveals that he always believed in God, but that God was more powerful and the attention was notI am a Catholic. Jude Law as the rest of the cast gave an incredible performance. You must watch all the episodes. The last three are the turning point. It all makes sense towards the end and reveals that he always believed in God, but that God was more powerful and the attention was not ever supposed to be about the Pope but about God and what God wants from all of us,,,peace, love, happiness.
Yes it does expose the corruptness of the church but that there was a pope as this to also bring down the evils that exist in her,,,I wish there was a pope such as this to do what we all pray for. He was a saint in this series as evident in his miracles. I give this five stars,,wonderful!!!… Expand

1 of 4 users found this helpful13

SEE ALL 25 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

68

Series Overview
Season 1

68
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: January 15, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E10. Tenth Episode
  Air Date: February 13, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E9. Ninth Episode
  Air Date: February 12, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E8. Eighth Episode
  Air Date: February 6, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E7. Seventh Episode
  Air Date: February 5, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E6. Sixth Episode
  Air Date: January 30, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E5. Fifth Episode
  Air Date: January 29, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E4. Fourth Episode
  Air Date: January 23, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E3. Third Episode
  Air Date: January 22, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E2. Second Episode
  Air Date: January 16, 2017
- tbd
  S1:E1. First Episode
  Air Date: January 15, 2017