On HBO, a tyrannical new Pope lusts for power
A NEW POPE BECOMES MANY THINGS at once: a leader whose decisions shape the lives of 1.2 billion believers, a geopolitical figure whose approval is sought by heads of state and, inevitably, a celebrity. It’s that last part The Young Pope exploits brilliantly.
On HBO’s new drama (debuting in the U.S. Jan. 15 after airing last year in Europe), Jude Law’s Pope Pius XIII cultivates his earthly image more assiduously than he does his relationship with the divine. He’ll shepherd his flock only after he’s dominated them with a punishing campaign of personal charm and terrifying force. The Young
