The Young Pope : Really Confused on What This is Supposed to be!

As someone who enjoys costume dramas - from The Fall of Eagles to Conspiracy to The Crown - I'm really lost with this one. It looks fantastic, and throughout the pilot I was intrigued at how this looked. But the story seems as if there is no point, no structure and I can't figure out where it is going.

Not being Catholic I'm not offended, but I found it insulting to the institution. Is this satire, social commentary? What exactly is the point?

It doesn't seem like there is an agenda? This isn't like House of Cards, the UK or U.S. versions - so I'm not seeing power plays.

The closet thing that comes to mind is that stupid John Goodman movie King Ralph, but The Young Pope is trying to do that in a semi-serious way. I'm really lost and I won't be surprised if HBO cancels this one quick.

I'm not looking for car chases or terrorist plots, as I stated I enjoy dialog driven costume dramas but this one is simply so surreal that it seems like a show hipsters would watch ironically!

an institution of oppression deserves to be insulted, and Catholics who are getting offended are not watching closely enough and turning off after the first scene

but the point while some is satire, it is more a character examination, to do with lenny's creation, evolution and psychology

HBO does not have any power to cancel it, it is primarily a Italian production, the day before it aired in Italy it was renewed for a second season

it wasn't tailored for the HBO audience, or even the american audience,
it has more akin to a European art-house film, then anything

it is a slow burn, with heavy emphasis on the dialogue,

as well as being an examination of the hypocrisies of the catholic church

nothing wrong with surrealism if it shows a purpose,

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hypocrisies of the catholic church

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This is why the Catholics are offended understandably so.

I've only watched 2 episodes and am confused by where this is going but I will finish the season.

can't outrun your own shadow

why is pointing out hypocrisies offensive?
if something is blatantly hypocritical it is wrong, so therefore should get changed,
but i guess some people are so closed minded and shut in that they can't see the true issues
world poverty, human rights abuses
nah NO SEX BEFORE MARRIAGE AND IF YOU DO NO CONDOMS WAHHHHH,
PRIESTS CANT GET MARRIED, WE CONDEMN GAY PEOPLE, BUT IF YOU RAPE A KID, WE WILL COVER IT UP! WAHHHHH

No Sex Before Marriage, and No Condoms if/when you have Sex

I have to point out that this is NOT an example of hypocrisy. Hypocrisy would be to say one thing, and do another. These are actually absolutely related due to the underlying moral lesson: Sex is only for procreation (as is mentioned several times in the first couple episodes). Sex for anything other than procreation is a sin. That is why condoms are not condoned; and it is why sex is not permitted before marriage.

Now, is this, when looked at from outside of a religious perspective, immoral? Of course. Is it offensive? Of course. Is it irrational, unhealthy, and anti-man? Of course. Bu it is not hypocritical.

It IS hypocrisy when half the people preaching it are doing the exact same thing they are preaching against. That's the problem with religious leaders of all stripes and why I ignore them.

"Nothing is more ill bred than trying to steal the affections of someone else's dog."

its old fashioned, old rules, written back in a time when men owned their wifes,
the indoctrination needs to be changed
i grew up and was raised in a catholic school environment, and it has still damaged my perception of sex, and morality,
being taught "all guys want is sex, and girls don't want it" is extremely harmful, sexist and downright wrong

creativity stiffled all in the name of protecting a 1700-1500 hundred year old book,(new testament at least)

as for the old testament i think any point made it is moot, when the Leviticus has lines like 20:13 "if a man lies with another man as he would a woman it is an abomination and they shall be put to death" contains this passage,9 chapters before(indicating it is more important)

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Leviticus 11:9-12King James Version (KJV)

9 These shall ye eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales in the waters, in the seas, and in the rivers, them shall ye eat.

10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:

11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.

12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.

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Can we really believe these old texts? why live our life by a book that isn't evolving, society is evolving faster and faster everyday

You sound like a scary extremist full of hatred and vile.

Inspirational Drama with dynamic dialogs and a bit of humour.

Wait until Anthony Hopkins steps out somewhere in Episode 7 & we realize this is all just "Westworld: Vatican"

HAHA! Yes, please!


~That which didn't kill me gave me a host of unhealthy coping mechanisms and a really dark sense of humor.~

It's half House of Cards, and half Popetown.

I saw one episode. Honestly, I just figured Jude Law would turn out to be the Devil in disguise - similar to Al Pacino in The Devil's Advocate. I guess watching later episodes will dispel that notion.

he doesn't

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I found it insulting to the institution

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The institution IS insulting to catholicism. Is an organization run by men, what else could you expect?
This is what most people don't get. It's not a show about catholics. It's about the men who run the vatican

Like all religions and institutions Islam, Hinduism, even Buddhism

Same sh!t different flavor

can't outrun your own shadow

This response is why I think IMDB probably decided to close the message boards. I get tired of trying to discuss a movie, when somewhere, on every board it seems, someone is knocking God or the belief in Him. If I don't believe in something, I just don't comment out of consideration for those that do. It just gets old. You have a right to your own opinion, but it seems that the message boards have become a breeding ground for bullies, knocking other people's beliefs and insulting people who comment on the boards. All that does is what has happened..the boards get shut down. Thank you.

IMDB boards do need to be shut down. There's no constructive criticism. People rate out of the a$$es whether they've seen a movie or not. There's no freedom of speech here - it's freedom to hate, bully, belittle and whine. They can create a new board, but only to discuss MOVIES, EVENTS (award shows, etc.) Too many attack actors and go on their boards just to discuss their personal lives, assumption, gossip, making up stories, etc.

Social media is next - you'll be able to express and make less mess.

can't outrun your own shadow

Insulting men makes you no different than the sexists who insult women. You people are 2 sides of the same coin.

The confusion and not knowing what it's supposed to be is what makes it fun. It's like a puzzle. Makes you think.