The New Pope: Strange and beautiful...

3/20

In days like these, we need all we can get from the world of arts and culture. This blog will share reflections on works in various genres that explore ethics and esthetics, beauty and justice…

The recently concluded HBO series The New Pope was a strange and beautiful experience. This series was an extension of the previous The Young Pope starring Jude Law as Lenny Belardo, the first American pope serving as Pius XIII. And as his confidante and advisor, even mentor,  Diane Keaton as Sister Mary. Interesting from the start as it explored the implications of a young and dynamic arch conservative pope, the last several episodes were powerful in their exploration of Lenny’s spiritual growth and sense of mission. The final episode, in his final address, contains some of the most theologically intelligent discourse ever on television. The season ended with Lenny suffering’s a stroke and possibly dying.  While much about the series would  undoubtedly be found offensive by institutionalists and traditionalists,  especially with internal Vatican politics and sexual scandals, the exploration of the nature of God was truly unique. Although the show had a decidedly magical realist element to it, it stayed enough within the realm of reality to keep its viewers connected and safe from alienation.

It was thus  with great anticipation I awaited the series’ new embodiment, The New Pope. The new series begins with Pope Pius XIII in a coma and the Vatican needing to move on. After one false start, Sir John Brannox from England, played by John Malkovich, is elected pope, as John Paul III.  Deeply troubled (and haunted by addiction), Malkovich is perfect in the role. Among other plot elements are a seeming terrorist threat from the Islamic Caliphate (which feels suspiciously and dangerously cliche leading to suspicions as to what is up with that?), a growing crowd of Pius XIII fanatics hanging on his every (broadcast) breath, a Ray Donovan typeVatican fixer played by Mark Ivanir and the longtime Secretary of State Cardinal with Silvio Orlando’s Cardinal Voiello almost stealing the show.

I struggled with this season however. While still beautiful -even breathtakingly so - the strangeness grew stranger with Director Paolo Sorrentino steering from magical realism deeper and deeper into David Lynchian territory, the connection with reality more tenuous at every plot turn.  In addition to beauty, words like  blasphemous, provocative, transgressive began to also seem apt. A sense of alienation began to set in. Until Lenny rises from his coma and renters the plot.  The last three episodes are among the best television can be. Voiello’s eulogy for his dead friend, one with multiple physical and mental challenges, is one of the most moving and profound exegeses of the incarnation I have ever heard.  The two popes arias on love and our responsibility to each other and the ultimate unresolved mystery of God are profound, challenging and heartbreaking. The resolution of the terrorist angle is surprising, unexpected and absolutely right. In the end, the series is about the dangers of fanaticism - of any kind, even Catholic - and the arguably miraculous power of love. 

As a form of epilogue, Sorrentino serves us an unexpected, out of left field homage to "The Shining" as a playful end to our journey. Truly cinematic television.

At the end of the day, as challenging, or even troubling, as some of the plot elements and devices of these “…Popes” are, God is ever present. Sorrentino has created a thought provoking, spirit provoking exploration of the nature of holiness, the nature of God. Strange and beautiful. Worth it.