Thoughts on 'The Young Pope' Premiere

Hello, fellow moviegoers!
   Wow! Twice in one week I’m talking about a TV show rather than a movie! Maybe I should consider changing that intro? Probably not…
   The Young Pope is the latest limited series to be aired on HBO. It stars Jude Law and Diane Keaton, and it tells the story of Lenny Belardo (Pope Pius XIII) the newest Pope of the Catholic Church. In addition to the pressures of being the new Pope, he is also the first American Pope and the youngest Pope in history. This show explores him as a character and how he will be a controversial figure in the Catholic Church. The show just premiered this week, and I wanted to give my thoughts on its first episode and what the series could end up being.

​   Based on the premiere episode, The Young Pope could be one of the most interesting series I’ve seen. It could also be the strangest. From the opening shot of the episode, this show is not what you expected it to be. It is a great hook, though; it makes you curious to see what is going on with this show. You’re confused about what is on the screen, yet, you want to continue watching. In that respect, the entire first episode is reminiscent of that opening shot. You don’t exactly know what is going on, but you want to find out.
   The first ten minutes of this premiere really hammer in the fact that this isn’t going to be your average show about the goings on in the Vatican. There are some things shown, said, and done in the opening to this episode that really set it apart from other stories like it. This show may take place in the Vatican, but it is by no means saintly. However, that makes the show all that more interesting. This new Pope, brilliantly played by Jude Law, is the black sheep. He’s the odd man out in the Vatican, and that makes all of his relationships really entertaining and intriguing to watch.
   The cast in this series so far is fantastic. Jude Law, as I mentioned, is sensational in the lead role, and I cannot wait to see what his performance will bring the rest of the season. As for Diane Keaton, she didn’t have a whole lot to do in this first episode, but what she did she did very well. The other standout to me was Silvio Orlando as Cardinal Voiello. He played wonderfully against Jude Law, and his character looks to be yet another really interesting part of the show.
   This first episode, of what will end up being a ten-episode miniseries, did exactly what it needed to do. It introduced these characters, showed what they were like, and gave the audience an overall feel for what the show is going to be. In many aspects, this premiere knocked it out of the park. However, the ballpark that it is in might not be one for everybody. I have a feeling that this show is going to be about as controversial as its main character. Some people may absolutely love this show, others may absolutely hate it. It seems to be playing out that way at least.
   I’m looking forward to seeing what the rest of The Young Pope will bring. It could be an incredible show that is yet another crowning achievement from HBO. Or, it could be a weird show that doesn’t really go anywhere and leaves the audience wondering “What did I just watch?”. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.

​   So what did you think of the premiere of HBO’s The Young Pope? Is this a show that you’re interested in watching? Let me know by commenting on this post! Also, if you enjoyed this article, share it on Facebook and Twitter! It really helps! Don’t forget, I post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, so check back then for more movie reviews and miscellaneous movie thoughts!
Thanks for stopping by!