User reviews

Rarely the first episode of a season isn't good enough to show you everything you need to fall in love with how it is, how it's made and what's about so easily, so early and so well.

This introduces us to Pius XIII, the new young Pope, played by Jude Law. He is a harsh, demanding man, who has his own ways of doing things. He begins to challenge the way things are done. He sees the excesses and the silliness of the ancient rules. The show begins with a dream where he says outrageous things to the masses in St. Peter's Square. He says he favors abortion, gay marriage, divorce when necessary, masturbation, on and on. We also are introduced to Sister Mary (Diane Keaton) who has had an influence on him since his childhood. There is also the figure of James Cromwell, who plays the man who thought he would be Pope.