The first few episodes of "The Young Pope" are a bit like the religious version of "A Song of Ice and Fire" or "House of Cards". The original interest lies in the special plot of the palace battle. But as the plot develops, the audience sees the mystery, surly, compassion and struggle of the Pope, and gradually realizes that what the director wants to say is more than just a game of power.
The protagonist Lenny is young, but the concept is relatively outdated, and his attitude towards the doctrine and congregation is narrow, harsh, and spare. Before the sixth episode, I thought this play was just a story about how a pope went his own way, which eventually caused the Vatican to go out of order.
Starting from the outcast background that the protagonist Lenny does not want to let go, he praises the goodness and ugliness of mortals, and describes the problems and predicaments of the world. "The Young Pope" is a comedy, about the protagonist's self-exploration, about a person who has the advantage of faith, but still has the right and the need to question this faith, and finally understand that the answer is still in his own body.
The Pope, who has a crisis of faith, also wants the world to question him, test himself with personal delusions and bigotry, and judge himself with the eyes of the world. The death of close friends, the separation of guards and couples, and the death of the spiritual teacher, these sufferings not only brought him pain and sorrow, but also the last few pains of transformation. After that, a brand new pope was born.
He is still young, but he feels tired and old. He has thought about the major problems in life, and the answers have been pondered over and over and corrected. He did not destroy himself. During his reign, he established enemies and allies, saved and sanctioned some people, gained and lost some vital things. After growing up, Lenny's views on specific things are still quite controversial, but not as domineering as in the past. For example, he hired a comrade priest as his secretary, because he knew that the other party was the one who could really advise him. He began to find a compromise management method, adopted a rigorous and unbreakable posture, and allowed fierce discussion and confrontation.
"The Young Pope" is not about the story of "how the arrogant pope was transformed into the pope loved by all mankind", but the legend of a person who just happened to become a pope. When it comes to ending, as a pope, his greatest gift to the world is nothing more than that innocent and touching love letter. But as a human, Lenny has finished the path of self-salvation.
Gorgeous scenes and oracle shots are everywhere, with explicit desires and refined humor. Jude Law changed one set of costumes in the play. This pope is not old and very handsome. He holds authority, steps on high-profile red shoes, wears sunglasses, and soaks in the swimming pool from time to time, creating a seemingly Mysterious and dignified, but with a strong sense of fashion.
The selection of the soundtrack can also be described as superb, full of neon and electronic sense of the title, the story itself is intertwined with classics and modernity, first creating the holy, solemn, mysterious and even closed of the Holy See, and then as the situation changes, it is like singing the praises of religion. Zong tends to compromise due to his growth, and injects his revised vitality, popularity and self.
The closer to the end of the play, the more reckless the selection was. Andrew Bird's "Logan's Loop" has almost become the chorus of the whole play. Even the Scottish orchestra Belle and Sebstaine, which I like very much, is also involved. When Stuart Murdoch's sweet and silky voice sang "Ever Had A Little Faith", it was really overjoyed.
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