'The New Pope' Episode 8: Can Pius XIII save the Vatican as John Paul III gives in to his dirty desires?
John Paul III (John Malkovich) is the liberal Pope the Vatican needed following the rule of his predecessor Pius XIII (Jude Law) whose unbending ways and orthodox approach had instilled a strange sense of fear in the modern world.
But, as the new Pope’s fragility seems to be doing more harm than good to the church, the return of the old Pope and his stringent measures has become the need of the hour.
Episode 8 of HBO’s ‘The New Pope’ exposes the uncharted behavior of Sir John Brannox aka Pope John Paul III, who has been missing from the scene since his episode of withdrawal during the latest interview.
He goes AWOL to confront his traumatizing past, while the Church awaits its messiah, in the wake of the new terror attack within the limits of the Vatican.
Meanwhile, the ambassador of the Holy See, Bauer (Mark Iavnir), is seen doing everything in his power to convince Angelo Voiello (Silvio Orlando) to reassume his position as the Secretary of the State, while the latter says he’s found solace in his retired life.
Lenny Belardo on the other hand, bound by the obligation of saving people, who have come to believe that he’s beyond Pope, a ‘saint’, learns about the recent attack in the Vatican and its downward spiral since his absence.
Sofia (Cécile de France), unable to watch her beloved Pope suffer, follows him to his place of hiding, placed among hundreds and thousands of Vatican properties. She emerges successful in not just tracing Brannox but also uses her sensuality to turn a broken John Paul III further vulnerable, as he gives in to his dirty desires.
While the new Pope, who hasn’t been consoled since the tragic death of his brother continues to feel he’s profoundly alone for a lifetime, Pius XIII makes an appearance, but only to be seen by Voiello.
The latest episode sees a major flip in Voiello’s character, owing to the death of his only and dear friend Girolamo. Having lost the only purpose of his life, a highly-persuasive Voiello works plan with Pius XII to stage his magical reappearance.
Pope Pius XII expresses his desire to spark a revolution in the Vatican as the terrorists are now showing their faces. So now, with the rumors of the young Pope’s miraculous return afloat, the world is plagued with doubts while the Vatican continues to be faced with external threats.
'The New Pope' airs on Fridays on Sky Atlantic.
