‘The New Pope’ Is Beautifully Bonkers

It’s been two years since we kneeled and praised The Young Pope on HBO, and while Fleabag did a great job of carrying the Hot Priest torch last year, it’s now time to get those pew cushions ready for The New Pope, which premieres Monday, January 13 on HBO.

The follow-up series takes place after Jude Law’s Lenny Belardo, aka Pope Pius XIII, falls into a coma, and while his performance is certainly one of the reasons you should watch this show, it shouldn’t be the only reason. Light spoilers ahead! Even though the trailer for the nine-episode series, all directed by creator Paulo Sorrentino, who wrote the episodes along with Umberto Contarello and Stefano Bises, promises much of Law, it doesn’t quite deliver on that promise until the back half of the season. Oh, but you’ll be plenty entertained until then.

Silvio Orlando is back as the scheming Secretary of State Voiello who is working overtime in this installment and as sneaky as ever. He’s able to recruit English aristocrat Sir John Brannox to fill the papal duties, and John Malkovich proves to be the perfect addition to this cast. The character must trade his eyeliner for religious garb, and there are few better actors than Malkovich to not only pull this off, but maintain the utterly ridiculous tone this series previously established, and now doubles down on with this new batch of episodes.

There is no shortage whatsoever throughout this season of old men being petty AF, because of course the Vatican is as ripe for drama as SUR on Vanderpump Rules is. And in this scenario, there’s just as much sex, gossip, and bickering to go around (no word on if the Vatican serves goat cheese balls though).

Perhaps the show’s teaser trailer, juxtaposing Malkovich in his traditional papal wear strolling through a Vatican corridor with Law strutting down a beach in glowing tighty whities, is the best example of the totally tongue in cheek tone this show has accomplished. And even though Law is only scarcely seen in the first handful of episodes, this show knows how to make it count.

Though he’s certainly not the only beautiful thing to look at here. Even in the age of Peak TV, there is no other show as intentionally pretty as this one and is sometimes worth watching just to stare at it. The story is great but the visuals are truly top-notch. The cinematography is unparalleled, and each shot is so specifically framed, lit, and lingered upon in such breathtaking and beautifully intentional ways. Each scene manages to feel so grand and elegant and once the unexpected pop music is added, it makes this show the greatest indulgence on TV today (get ready to love the opening credits which are presented over women writhing and dancing in front of a large, colorfully glowing neon cross to Sophie Tukker’s “Good Time Girl” feat. Charlie Barker).

There’s sex, there’s scandal, and yes, there’s Sharon Stone (Marilyn Manson also guest stars, natch), which are just a few of the reasons to watch this season. Few shows dare to get as meta and as weird and The New Pope does, and much fewer are able to tackle a topic as controversial as the Catholic Church in a way that doesn’t quite bother to bog down viewers with the bummer that is the real-life headlines the church often produces. But that’s because this show is way too busy having fun.

The New Pope premieres Monday, January 13 at 9pm ET/PT on HBO. 

Where to stream The New Pope