The Young Pope

:

Season 1
User Score
7.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 167 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 124 out of 167
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 167
  3. Negative: 27 out of 167
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User Reviews

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  1. Iserlohn14
    Mar 21, 2017
    0
    Squabbling Vatican factions have elected a handsome young cipher to the Papacy, believing him easily manipulated for their own ends. Shockingly, he fast reveals himself to be far more politically shrewd, theologically conservative, and personally eccentric than any of them suspected. The Vatican and Catholicism at large are thrown into chaos as The Young Pope stakes out a bold newSquabbling Vatican factions have elected a handsome young cipher to the Papacy, believing him easily manipulated for their own ends. Shockingly, he fast reveals himself to be far more politically shrewd, theologically conservative, and personally eccentric than any of them suspected. The Vatican and Catholicism at large are thrown into chaos as The Young Pope stakes out a bold new direction for the faith that no one could have anticipated.

    How do you take a premise this inherently dramatic and interesting and screw it up so badly?

    The show is pretentious Eurotrash with a glacial pace, incoherent plotting full of loose ends and apathetically abandoned plot threads, and a gratingly affected visual aesthetic that mars the beautiful Vatican setting with overly-cutesy staging and horrendously clashing pop music.

    The whole thing hangs on the main character, and while Jude Law acts his heart out (and smokes a million cigarettes), Pius XIII remains an enigmatic failure of a character. His motivations, beliefs, personality, and even accent swing dramatically from one scene to the next; one minute he demands and receives (with full, unfeigned confidence) miracles directly from God, then a few minutes later he claims (also seemingly unfeigned) not to believe in God. He's full of odd tics and detached smugness, and even though he's the main focus of the action we're never given any hooks to let us properly understand him or empathize with him (or to the extent we are, they are abandoned or overturned shortly afterwards).

    The show makes a few interesting stabs at how a tradition-minded Pope might try to give the church back its backbone and dignity, but goes nowhere and does nothing with the premise. It seems likely the showrunners aren't believers themselves (though they may superficially profess to be) as they seem much more interested in the shiny surface of Vatican life than the dramatic potential of sharp theological conflict. If you're looking for a serious, thoughtful take on philosophical clashes within Catholicism this is not the show for you.

    There were occasional individual scenes that worked well, and the setting and costumes are spectacular, but that only increases my disappointment at what a huge missed opportunity this show represents. A complete letdown from start to finish.    … Expand
  2. paulaaron
    Jan 22, 2017
    0
    This show is touted as a "drama",but I'm not sure that is accurate. It is too melodramatic to fit that category. The way Jude Law chews the scenery is so over the top that I thought the director may have been aiming at comedy (a case could be made for either satire or slapstick)

    The only thing it does get right is the ruthless business that is the Roman Catholic Church. I once dated    This show is touted as a "drama",but I'm not sure that is accurate. It is too melodramatic to fit that category. The way Jude Law chews the scenery is so over the top that I thought the director may have been aiming at comedy (a case could be made for either satire or slapstick)

    The only thing it does get right is the ruthless business that is the Roman Catholic Church. I once dated a priest (it was his sin, not mine) and was privy to the behind-the-scenes machinations of the various schemes employed to rake in cash for the diocese.

    I'm not sure if La Cosa Nostra learned from the church, or the church learned from The Mob, but they operate in strikingly similar fashion.    … Expand
  3. LapsedWatcher
    Jan 17, 2017
    0
    Vicki Hyman in the Newark Star-Ledger wrote "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." She is absolutely spot on. It just goes to show that with enough money you can polish a turd. After Brexit and the election of Trump there should be no surprise that this is the treacle that appeals.
  4. Qldgamer
    Jan 27, 2017
    0
    This is was nonsensical and badly written, Jude law is capable within the role but due to the plot issues he never really gets to grip with this.

    Not worth the time to watch
  5. Ttwiggs
    Feb 1, 2018
    0
    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 not ever supposed to be about the Pope but about God and what God wants from all of us,,,peace, love,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 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
  6. rlian220
    Jan 31, 2017
    1
    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.

Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Best TV Season of 2017
48
#48 Most Discussed TV Season of 2017
1
#1 Most Shared TV Season of 2017

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 38
  3. Negative: 0 out of 38
  1. Under The Radar
    Reviewed by: Joseph Ragusa
    Jan 25, 2017
    85
    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.
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  2. New York Post
    Reviewed by: Robert Rorke
    Jan 17, 2017
    50
    The humorless Young Pope doesn’t exactly crackle as a backstage political drama. Many of the scenes seem stagey, with actors gliding in and out of large rooms to be received at a wooden desk.
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  3. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Vicki Hyman
    Jan 17, 2017
    50
    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
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