In one of the show's most shocking moments, Lenny confesses that he might not actually believe in God
"There will be no more compromises. No more rock music in the pews. No more priests who look like social workers. From now on, fear returns. Fear of Hell. Fear of the Father. Because love without fear is just a habit. And I intend to break every habit you have." The Young Pope Season 1
, it was met with equal parts confusion and awe. A series about a young, American Pope played by Jude Law who drinks Cherry Coke Zero and smokes in the Vatican sounded like it might be a "trashy" soap opera. Instead, it turned out to be a hypnotic, cinematic meditation on faith, power, and the "secret of loneliness". The Plot: A Machiavellian Mystery The series follows Lenny Belardo , a 47-year-old cardinal from New York who becomes Pope Pius XIII In one of the show's most shocking moments,
More importantly, it changed the aesthetic of prestige television. Suddenly, every drama wanted Sorrentino’s slow-motion, synth-infused, surreal style. The show was so successful that it spawned a second season titled The New Pope (2019), featuring John Malkovich as a rival pontiff, though fans often argue the tight, self-contained arc of Season 1 remains superior. From now on, fear returns
However, the secret weapon is the soundtrack. While classical requiems and Gregorian chants fill the Vatican hallways, the anachronistic thump of electronic music signals the show's true nature. The opening credits feature Juju & Jordash’s "Plastic Love" as Lenny floats through a surreal sea of priests. But the defining moment is the use of Leonard Cohen’s haunting "You Want It Darker" over a montage of Vatican scheming. The lyrics—"I’m ready, my Lord"—echo Lenny’s twisted spiritual surrender.