Here is the greatest summation of “The Young Pope,” an upcoming HBO mini-series already captivating many prior to its premiere:
oh i just found out the young pope is a real show, i thought all of you were making it up
— BAKOON (@BAKKOOONN) January 5, 2017
Why might anyone consider this legitimate show fake? Has Facebook and the election unnerved our faith, shook us so deeply we don’t believe in anything anymore?
For some certainty, we turn to HBO’s official description of “The Young Pope”:
From Paolo Sorrentino, […] “The Young Pope” tells the controversial story of the beginning of Pius XIII’s pontificate. Born Lenny Belardo, he is a complex and conflicted character, so conservative in his choices as to border on obscurantism, yet full of compassion towards the weak and poor. The first American pope, Pius XIII is a man of great power who is stubbornly resistant to the Vatican courtiers, unconcerned with the implications to his authority.
Yeah that’s not doing it for me. Programs to be seen, not heard, though. To understand its mood and aesthetic, let us instead turn to the show’s trailer.
“I don’t have any sins to confess. My only sin is that my conscience does not accuse me of anything.”
“I don’t care about your opinions, if I’m up for the task. I don’t care if you think I’m weak or a scoundrel.”
“Everyone is afraid of you.”
“That’s not exactly true. But it will be.”
“I know everything a powerful man needs to about the people he works with. And I am the most powerful man of all.”
*inhales deeply while face shakes uncontrollably* That’s the stuff.
The Young Pope in its teasers appears to teeter between farce and self-serious tyranny. Jude Law is giving off some serious Dickie Greenleaf eccentric vibes while Diane Keaton scoffs and skulks, as if she were saying, “I dealt with Godfathers—as in plural—and pretended Woody Allen was a lovable kook for 90 minutes; you think you worry me?” Thus far, it has captured the crossroads of the so-weird-is-he-real, lawless political leader and the meme/fan culture community who thrives on that kind of stuff.
The Young Pope: This ain't your daddy's Pope pic.twitter.com/q18fqxNJEz
— pixelatedboat aka “mr tweets” (@pixelatedboat) January 10, 2017
the young pope
2young 2pope
the young pope: vatican drift
young & papal
infallible 5
young pope: holy seequel
papal VII
f8th of young pope— elaine filadelfo (@ElaineF) January 5, 2017
Better perhaps, is the trend to transform *hip* and *young* songs to include The Young Pope. You know, because he appeals to the kids and what better way to appeal to kids than through their tunes.
TEEN 1: Church is so boring.
TEEN 2: It's so out of touch.
THE YOUNG POPE approaches pulpit: "Some…BODY once told me–"
TEENS: HOLY SHIT— anne t donahue (@annetdonahue) January 5, 2017
https://twitter.com/markhoppus/status/817546836135133185
https://twitter.com/BRANDONWARDELL/status/817469379319242753
Tonally, the show seems moody, macabre, and mature—who we kidding? It’s called The Young Pope. He will be immature and insolent and hopefully piss off some people and ruin some relationships—and possibly a whole religion!—in the process. You bet your ass we’ll be watching.
