History Recap / TheBorgiasS2E4StrayDogs

* StuffedInTheFridge: Poor, poor Ursula. And all other nuns in the convent too.

-->'''Cesare'': [[EnemyMine So why should we now make common cause with Milan?]]\\
'''Rodrigo'': Because, when the French have left this fair paradise, the Milanese will still be with us.\\
'''Cesare'': So?\\
'''Rodrigo'': This league cannot beat the French, even in their weakened state. And I doubt the French can beat this league. So if the two armies were to batter each other to death, as the lawyers often say, "cui bono"?\\
'''Cesare'': "Who benefits"?\\
'''Rodrigo'': A weakened Milan. A weakened Venice. A weakened Mantua. Hm? [[MagnificentBastard Has to be worth a weekend in Tuscany, surely.]]\\

--> ''Cesare'': You have bad news?
--> ''Micheletto'': Is there any other kind, your eminence?
* BitchInSheepsClothing: Ludovico Sforza is trying to look and act noble, but Cesare is having none of it and utterly mocks his speech to Rodrigo. His face makes it clear he's doing it out of necessity, for once not being able to react with HairTriggerTemper LargeHam like did with his cousin, his nephew and Della Rovere in the first season.
*** [[spoiler: And as we later learn, Duke Gonzaga is also a violent brute [[WouldHitAGirl in things that don't concern warfare]].]]

* DivideAndConquer / LetsYouAndHimFight: Discussed. Rodrigo's long-term intentions for helping the alliance against the French is weakening Milan, France and Venice by having them fight each other, though no side can truly win, leaving their armies crippled, plus taking all the loot from the battle by convincing Gonzaga to donate it to the church. Even Cesare is impressed by his father's political genius.
--> ''Cesare'': [[EnemyMine So why should we now make common cause with Milan?]]
--> ''Rodrigo'': Because, when the French have left this fair paradise, the Milanese will still be with us.
--> ''Cesare'': So?
--> ''Rodrigo'': This league cannot beat the French, even in their weakened state. And I doubt the French can beat this league. So if the two armies were to batter each other to death, as the lawyers often say, "cui bono"?
--> ''Cesare'': "Who benefits"?
--> ''Rodrigo'': A weakened Milan. A weakened Venice. A weakened Mantua. Hm? [[MagnificentBastard Has to be worth a weekend in Tuscany, surely.]]
--> (Cesare shakes his head in incredulous amazement while Rodrigo chuckles)

* HonorBeforeReason: Francesco Gonzaga. He is the one that wants to attack the French while they are ''leaving'', out of honor. He thinks warfare is an art, and considers the use of cannons to be dishonorable. Deconstructed, as it serves Rodrigo's purpose of weakening his enemies and potential enemies both and increasing his power at their expenses.
-->'''Rodrigo''': Interesting concept honour, isn't it? Like its cousin, valour. (...) And they've all led kings and armies to their doom.
-->'''Bianca''': Let's hope it's not a tragic art.

--> Cesare: She chose God, Micheletto. And God repaid her with mutilation.
--> Micheletto: I know little of God, your Eminence.
--> Cesare: God is deaf, God is blind and pitiless.

--> Micheletto: Vengeance is sweet.

* TortureTechnician / ToThePain: Micheletto's expertise, as the French scouts responsible for Ursula's murder and mutilation find out. By the time he gets all information Cesare wanted, all of the prisoners but one are dead, having preferred to talk and die quickly than spend more time near that psycho. Interestingly, by the end of it, Micheletto himself looks haunted and disturbed.

--> Cesare: You have bad news.
--> Micheletto: Is there any other kind, your eminence?

--> Cesare: So why should we now make common cause with Milan?
--> Rodrigo: Because, when the French have left this fair paradise, the Milanese will still be with us.
--> Cesare: So?
--> Rodrigo: This league cannot beat the French, even in their weakened state. And I doubt the French can beat this league. So if the two armies were to batter each other to death, as the lawyers often say, "cui bono"?
--> Cesare: "Who benefits"?
--> Rodrigo: A weakened Milan. A weakened Venice. A weakened Mantua. Hm? [[MagnificentBastard Has to be worth a weekend in Tuscany, surely.]]

* StuffedInTheFridge: Poor, poor Ursula.

* TortureTechnician / ToThePain: Micheletto's expertise, as the French scouts responsible for Ursula's murder and mutilation find out. By the time he gets all information Cesare wanted, all of the prisoners but one are dead, having preferred to talk and die quickly than spend more time near that psycho.

* LetsYouAndHimFight: Discussed. Rodrigo's long-term intentions for helping the alliance against the French is weakening Milan, France and Venice by making them cripple themselves. Even Cesare is impressed by his father's political genius.

* TortureTechnician/ToThePain: Micheletto's expertise, as the French scouts responsible for Ursula's murder and mutilation find out. By the time he gets all information Cesare wanted, all of the prisoners but one are dead, having preferred to talk and die quickly than spend more time near that psycho.

* SheHeWomanHater: Cardinal Vespucci, previously criticizing the Pope for putting Giulia Farnese to clean up his swindling, decides, [[TooDumbToLive against all logic and survival instincts]], to ask the Pope if a woman (i.e. [[PapaWolf his daughter]]) can sit on the Pope's chair while Rodrigo's gone. [[AskAStupidQuestion Since Lucrezia is already sitting]], [[CaptainObvious Rodrigo points out clearly one does and can]].

* HeSheWomanHater: Cardinal Vespucci, previously criticizing the Pope for putting Giulia Farnese to clean up his swindling, decides, [[TooDumbToLive against all logic and survival instincts]], to ask the Pope if a woman (i.e. [[PapaWolf his daughter]]) can sit on the Pope's chair while Rodrigo's gone. [[AskAStupidQuestion Since Lucrezia is already sitting]], [[CaptainObvious Rodrigo points out clearly one does and can]].

-->'''Rodrigo''': Let's hope it's not a tragic art.

* CombatPragmatist: Cesare looks down on the concept of "honorable combat", and his stray dogs are given weapons meant for dirty fighting.

*** [[spoiler: And as we later learn, Duke Gonzaga is also a violent brute [[WouldHitAWoman in things that don't concern warfare]].]]

*** [[spoiler: And as we later learn, Duke Gonzaga is also a violent brute [[WouldHurtAWoman in things that don't concern warfare]].]]

*** [[spoiler: And as we later learn, Duke Gonzaga is also a violent brute in things that don't concern warfare.]]

* HonorBeforeReason: Lord Gonzaga. He thinks warfare is an art, and considers the use of cannons to be dishonorable.

''Rodrigo:''' Let's hope it's not a tragic art.\\

* VolleyingInsults: Cesare makes no mystery of his scorn for Ludovico Sforza's offer, despite Rodrigo trying to keep things civil. Ludovico tries ignoring the jabs to keep on with his obviously rehearsed speech, but his face makes it clear he's not used to someone dropping the façade and spitting at him like he likes doing as Duke of Milan.

BitchInSheepsClothing: Ludovico Sforza is trying to look and act noble, but Cesare is having none of it and utterly mocks his speech to Rodrigo. His face makes it clear he's doing it out of necessity, for once not being able to react with HairTriggerTemper LargeHam like did with his cousin, his nephew and Della Rovere in the first season.

HonorBeforeReason: Lord Gonzaga. He thinks warfare is an art, and considers the use of cannons to be dishonorable.

VolleyingInsults: Cesare makes no mystery of his scorn for Ludovico Sforza's offer, despite Rodrigo trying to keep things civil. Ludovico tries ignoring the jabs to keep on with his obviously rehearsed speech, but his face makes it clear he's not used to someone dropping the façade and spitting at him like he likes doing as Duke of Milan.

''Rodrigo: Let's hope it's not a tragic art.''