“These kinds of grand historical reimaginings can be a scrumptious combination of costume drama acting, soap opera theatrics and pay cable promiscuousness.” The Hollywood Reporter · 15 years ago

Reviewers widely praised the show's production values, often describing it as "a thing of beauty" that captured the rich, painterly quality of Renaissance art. Critics noted that while the first season took time to establish its world, it successfully delivered a blend of "mechanical exposition and soulless melodrama" that kept audiences engaged through intrigue.

Despite their crimes—including murder, simony, and incest—the Borgias were depicted as a "close-knit and loving family" prioritizing each other's survival.

The show was frequently criticized for prioritizing entertainment over accuracy, with some reviewers noting that it smoothed over the era's more shocking realities to appeal to modern sensibilities. Human Voice Quotes

Critics and viewers often highlighted the show's "guilty pleasure" nature and its balance of historical drama with soap opera theatrics.

Jeremy Irons received high praise for his portrayal of Rodrigo Borgia (Pope Alexander VI), capturing the character’s internal conflict and political ambition.

The season followed Rodrigo’s rise to the papacy through bribery and his subsequent transformation into a "holy figure" who left "dirty deeds" to his son, Cesare.