History Heartwarming / TheBorgias

* In the finale, Rodrigo tries ''reaching out to Savonarola'' just before he's executed, declaring they're all sinners, and is willing to forgive him for all of his sins (and possibly spare him?). Savonarola, JerkAss KnightTemplar he is, spits on his face (though it's not like he could speak, since Micheletto cut out his tongue). But it's clear Rodrigo was sincere in his offer(he didn't know about the tongue thing, or that Savonarola's confession was false), and he had no reason or need to pay Savonarola that kindness in any way. It's also another scene that shows that the Borgias, bad as they are, ARE the comparatively noble ones, if only because they're willing to make peace, admit their flaws and offer sympathy, while people like [[TheRival the Sforza]], [[SinisterMinister the Cardinals]], [[TheFundamentalist Savonarola]] and [[KnightTemplar della Rovere]] are completely self-centered jerks and/or convinced of their own righteousness, and would never offer that courtesy. Also, while Savonarola screams and burns, [[KickTheSonOfABitch only Cesare looks pleased]]. [[EvenEvilHasStandards Rodrigo looks disturbed]].

** Particularly lovely - at least, to this troper - is when Giulia and Rodrigo walk in, and they and Vannozza are in the same room for the first time. No screaming, ranting, raving, or other nastiness goes on. Instead, the worst that happens is that Vannozza is a bit chilly toward Giulia, which is understandable, and she and Rodrigo reminisce about the birth of their own children and how much they loved them.

* When Juan brazenly admits to having [[spoiler:murdered Paolo in cold blood,]] Rodrigo's reaction is to charge him straight across the dinner table, enraged. Juan hurriedly reminds him that Rodrigo's own plans for Lucrezia would have demanded it in any case, which sort of calms his father down, but all hypocrisy aside, the scene makes it clear that while Rodrigo is fine with the assassination of political enemies, his own sons killing innocents does NOT fly with him, at least not on an emotional level.

* In the episode "The Borgia Bull", Rodrigo keeps his EqualOpportunityEvil path by keeping Vittorio/[[SweetPollyOliver Vittoria's secret]] and employ her for his plans. The fact he's more confused by why she's hiding her beauty rather than worry about a woman being an artisan also shows he's far better than the likes of [[HeSheWomanHater Cardinal Versucci, whose dialogue in the second season entails in a) complain about Julia Farnese replacing him as the Vatican's accountant]]([[CorruptChurch Which he used to steal the money meant for the people]]) [[HeSheWomanHater and b) complain about Lucrezia standing for her father while he rides to fight King Charles.]]

* Cesare's efforts to reunite Lucrezia with Paolo despite knowing full well that neither his father nor his brother would approve it. And later, he scatters a staring crowd by waving his sword furiously to protect Lucrezia [[spoiler:as she weeps over Paolo's dead body]].

** Becomes more obvious in the next episode when [[spoiler: Micheletto ''takes'' Giovanni from his nurse so he can hand-deliver him to Lucrezia himself.]]

* Your mileage may vary ''very'' heavily on this one, but [[spoiler: Lucrezia and Cesare consummating their incest]] in season 3 episode 3 is the first time we've seen both of them genuinely happy in a long time, and while they know they're crossing a line, the scene itself is very tender, and if [[spoiler: they weren't brother and sister]] it would be one of the most gentle and loving sex scenes in the series.

** Vannozza's involvement as well, allowing Lucrezia and Paolo to use her home despite the risk inherent. It's not the first time she's gone against Rodrigo's wishes, and she knows Juan disapproves as well. Add that to the fact that she "knows something about secrets" and loving a man who should be unattainable, and you can see that while she hates to see Lucrezia in this situation, she'll do what she can to make it better.

* Cesare's efforts to reunite Lucrezia with Paolo despite knowing full well that neither his father nor his brother would approve it. And later, he scatters a staring crowd by waving his sword furiously to protect Lucrezia [[spoiler:as she weeps over Paolo's dead body]]

* In the episode "Paolo", the titular character, Lucrezia's estranged lover and [[spoiler:the father of her child]], after seeing Lucrezia in Rome for the first time with the promise of seeing her again, is so joyous that he says he has seen Heaven (and might again). His devotion and sincerity is so obvious that the world-wise prostitute who was acting as his tour guide, who sneered at the wealth flaunted by the Borgia family, and who ''just finished going down on a priest'', is moved to tears and gives him a hug. [[spoiler:How things work out, though, is more of a TearJerker.]]

* The ending to "Nessuno", if you ignore [[spoiler: the shots of the piled-up bodies of Black Plague victims in Naples]]. The entire extended Borgia family - Rodrigo, Vannozza, Cesare, Juan, Gioffre, Sancia, and even Ursula and Giulia - are gathered together for [[spoiler: the birth of Lucrezia's son]]. Happy, smiling Borgias! No one committing murder or conspiracy for once!
** Particularly lovely - at least, to this troper - is when Giulia and Rodrigo walk in, and they and Vannozza are in the same room for the first time. No screaming, ranting, raving, or other nastiness goes on. Instead, the worst that happens is that Vannozza is a bit chilly toward Giulia, which is understandable, and she and Rodrigo reminisce about the birth of their own children and how much they loved them.