‘The Young Pope’ episode 4 preview: Lenny welcomes controversy
If you are on a show all about the Vatican, there is effectively one thing that should be expected more so than anything else: Heated debate. Even though everyone within the church may follow similar teachers, it is the applicable to them that differs. Also, add to that an outside world that is not altogether trusting of the Catholic Church. They’ve never fully recovered from the scandals of the past few decades, and one of the struggles at the center of Monday’s fourth episode of “The Young Pope” will be Lenny taking one of those on.
As you would imagine, no matter what Lenny would choose to do in a sex-abuse case, there would be disagreements. Now, go back to the age question. The show’s title has become a bit of a meme and a running joke across the internet, but there is a practical application in terms of how he is perceived. Would a younger Pope’s decision on such a controversial case be perceived differently than someone older? Is there stigma that goes with a perceived lack of wisdom? Both are questions that could be explored.
Of course, this is not a show that is so linear, either, as there are so many other stories to come — including a Prime Minister of a country that you almost never hear about on television. Check out some of the official details below.
Synopsis – “Tonino (Franco Pinelli), a rural shepherd, appeals to the Vatican to recognize his miracle-working stigmata. Lenny (Jude Law) councils a nun whose sister is gravely ill in Sri Lanka. Ester (Ludivine Sagnier) is torn by a threat from Voiello (Silvio Orlando) and her devotion to the pope. Lenny makes a bold decision regarding a sex-abuse case in New York, deciding to send an unlikely envoy. A visit from the prime minister of Greenland (Carolina Carlsson) stirs Lenny’s musical sensibilities.”
We would be the first to admit that tonally, “The Young Pope” is far from the perfect show. Yet, there is something almost purposefully enigmatic about it. This is a product that draws you in and makes you question the characters, and for a man who is so steeped in being the most-powerful man of his religion, Lenny’s outside quirks continue to make him endearing.
Where do you want to see the story on “The Young Pope” go moving forward? Share in the comments, and head over here to retrieve some further news regarding the show. (Photo: HBO.)