S01.E09: Episode 9

[formerlyfreedom]

Quote

Gutierrez grapples with his alcoholism while investigating the crimes of Archbishop Kurtwell. As Spencer's condition worsens, Lenny opens up about the mysteries of his past. Meanwhile, Kurtwell attempts to retaliate against Pius by leaking unsent love letters to the press.

Airing in the US on Sunday, February 12, 2017.

[Miles]

So I don't get it. It was heavily implied that the archbishop was a pedophile who had raped young boys. But then, during the episode, he went after a young man who has to have been at least 21, since he worked in a liquor store. And how does that bring him down in the end? It proves that he's a homosexual and isn't keeping to his vows, and the current pope does seem to have a holy war against that at the moment, but it really wouldn't play well in the press if that was the reason he got excommunicated in the end and you certainly couldn't get any criminal charges filed against him. So he would get off scott free, except for being kicked out of the church.

Edited February 1, 2017 by Miles

[Mumbles]

Wow, what an interesting episode. I guess Gutierrez, alcoholism and all, did his job. And I dunno, Lenny is too smart to accidentally leave those letters in the desk. But why? Because he wanted to give Kurtwell a false sense of security? Because he wanted them published but needed someone else to leak them?

Given that Pius XIV is toddling around pretty sturdily, looks like some time has lapsed.  

And  now we know why Sister Mary reveres Lenny so much. Looks like he performed a miracle with his friend's mom.

[FemmyV]

On 1/31/2017 at 9:32 PM, Miles said:

But then, during the episode, he went after a young man who has to have been at least 21, since he worked in a liquor store. And how does that bring him down in the end? It proves that he's a homosexual and isn't keeping to his vows, and the current pope does seem to have a holy war against that at the moment, but it really wouldn't play well in the press if that was the reason he got excommunicated in the end and you certainly couldn't get any criminal charges filed against him.

Just because he went after a 21 YO doesn't mean he wasn't going after 14 YOs. But that's besides ... the security camera shows grounds for sexual harassment. Tennis lessons at Flushing Meadows, out of church funds? If they have DNA from the Wig guy, and it matches, Kurtwell is toast.

2 hours ago, Mumbles said:

And I dunno, Lenny is too smart to accidentally leave those letters in the desk. But why? Because he wanted to give Kurtwell a false sense of security?

Could be. He knew Kurtwell was under the spotlight when he left for Rome; Kurtwell, scheduling meetings with governors, etc., looked a lot like someone who was confident of impunity in spite of being front page material. That's huevos.

[MyPeopleAreNordic]

This was my favorite episode so far. More like this, please!

I just realized Gutierrez is Benino from Almodóvar's Hable con ella (Talk to Her). He was magnificent in this episode and in this role as Gutierrez.

Jude Law was beautiful as usual.

Also....I got the impression before when Lenny talked about the girl he met on the beach that they had had sex.

But then the letters made me think they didn't (she said he could touch her legs but he didn't or something?). I wish that had been clearer.

 

Also, the woman playing Lenny's mother looks familiar but I can't quite place her....

[revbfc]

Gutierrez's journey in this episode was heartbreaking.  All that time so desperately looking, drinking, hearing the same truth from multiple people but unable to gather his case.  I really felt his pain (and everyone else's).  I was so happy that he won.

[WatchrTina]

9 hours ago, MyPeopleAreNordic said:

This was my favorite episode so far. More like this, please!

Really?  It was my least favorite.  I think this show is weird with a capital W but all the Roman scenes are so voluptuously gorgeous I'm willing to tune in just for the visuals.

I lived in NYC for years.  Those visuals did nothing for me and the plot-line just made me sad.  The idea of a creepy old pedophile priest swanning around immune from prosecution was too close to the reality that we learned about in the movie "Spotlight."  As for the sick lady who was so fat she could only leave her apartment via a crane . . . WTF was the point of that?  "What's Eating Gilbert Grape" did that plot-line better.  

I'm glad we'll be back in Rome for the finale episode.

[Pallas]

What is more beautiful, my love? Love lost or love found? 

Don’t laugh at me, my love. I know it: I’m awkward and naive when it comes to love. And I ask questions straight out of a pop song.  

This doubt overwhelms me, and undermines me, my love. To find or to lose?

All around me, people don’t stop yearning. Did they lose or did they find?

I can’t say. An orphan has no way of knowing. An orphan lacks a first love, a love for his mama and papa. That’s the source of his awkwardness, his naivete.  

You said to me, on that deserted beach in California, “You can touch my legs.” But I didn’t do it. There, my love, is love lost.

That’s why I’ve never stopped wondering, since that day, where you’ve been, and where you are now. And you. Shining gleam of my misspent youth -- did you lose? Or did you find.

I don’t know.  And I’ll never know. I can’t even remember your name, my love. And I don’t have the answer.

This is how I like to imagine it. The answer. In the end, my love, we have no choice. We have to find.

[IrishPirate]

I think Kurtwell had molested the guy in the liquor store for a long time. And now, knowing an investigation is underway, right in front of the camera? Did he want to be caught?

[MV713]

I'm late to the party...but this was my favorite episode of the series so far.

[cpcathy]

Brilliant episode. Just loved it.

[refugee]

...'What is more beautiful, my love? Love lost or love found? '...

That was the most prescient and wonderful ending of TV show that I can ever remember.

This show is so well written...segueing back and forth in different languages, stunning Vatican City visuals...all the sins that men can commit etc.

I've come to love this show so much that I'm not hoping for a season 2. 

...as an aside I never heard of the 'young pope' but was offered free HBO for Presidents weekend so I dvr'd all 10 episodes expecting the usual secular hit piece.

 What a stunningly great show.