In Rome, a corrupt Pope Sixtus IV (James Faulkner) learns of the assassination and plots to seize control of Florence. His fanatically loyal nephew, Count Girolamo Riario (Blake Ritson), is dispatched to Florence to sow chaos and find a mysterious figure known only as "The Turk".
[The Vatican (Pope Sixtus IV)] <--- Spies On ---> [Florence (Lorenzo de' Medici)] | | Employs Count Riario Employs Leonardo da Vinci | | +-----------> Secretly Intersects With <----------+ da vincis demons season 1 episode 1
: Leonardo is shown using hallucinogens to quiet his "endlessly raging thoughts" and cope with visions of a lost past involving a cave and blood. A "Renaissance Superhero" : Portrayed by In Rome, a corrupt Pope Sixtus IV (James
Upon release, the pilot was recognized for its high production values and a commanding lead performance by Tom Riley. The Sci-Fi Bulletin review noted that while some of the CGI was artificial, the episode effectively set in motion a multi-layered mystery, with enough intrigue to secure a second season almost immediately. A "Renaissance Superhero" : Portrayed by Upon release,
Leonardo tracks clues to a hidden dungeon beneath Florence, where he finds the Hanged Man’s workshop—and a massive, unfinished bronze horse statue. Here, he meets a mysterious prisoner (played by Ian Pirie) who speaks of a secret book called the Book of Leaves , said to contain all knowledge, including the truth about Leonardo’s mother. The prisoner hangs himself (or is made to look like a suicide), but not before handing Leo a Tarot card: The Hanged Man.
In Tarot, The Hanged Man represents suspension, sacrifice, and seeing the world from a new angle. Leonardo, literally hanged from a crane during the episode’s climax (when he stages his own fake hanging to escape guards), must learn to pause his frantic mind and observe. The card will recur throughout the series as a symbol of Leo’s journey toward enlightenment.
Leonardo secures a commission from Lorenzo de' Medici, the ruler of Florence, to design military weapons and paint a portrait of Lorenzo's mistress, Lucrezia Donati. Unknown to Lorenzo, Leonardo and Lucrezia embark on a passionate affair. Lucrezia, however, hides a dark secret: she is a spy for Pope Sixtus IV, Rome’s ruthless leader who seeks to crush the Medici family and control Florence. The Sons of Mithras and the Book of Leaves
In Rome, a corrupt Pope Sixtus IV (James Faulkner) learns of the assassination and plots to seize control of Florence. His fanatically loyal nephew, Count Girolamo Riario (Blake Ritson), is dispatched to Florence to sow chaos and find a mysterious figure known only as "The Turk".
[The Vatican (Pope Sixtus IV)] <--- Spies On ---> [Florence (Lorenzo de' Medici)] | | Employs Count Riario Employs Leonardo da Vinci | | +-----------> Secretly Intersects With <----------+
: Leonardo is shown using hallucinogens to quiet his "endlessly raging thoughts" and cope with visions of a lost past involving a cave and blood. A "Renaissance Superhero" : Portrayed by
Upon release, the pilot was recognized for its high production values and a commanding lead performance by Tom Riley. The Sci-Fi Bulletin review noted that while some of the CGI was artificial, the episode effectively set in motion a multi-layered mystery, with enough intrigue to secure a second season almost immediately.
Leonardo tracks clues to a hidden dungeon beneath Florence, where he finds the Hanged Man’s workshop—and a massive, unfinished bronze horse statue. Here, he meets a mysterious prisoner (played by Ian Pirie) who speaks of a secret book called the Book of Leaves , said to contain all knowledge, including the truth about Leonardo’s mother. The prisoner hangs himself (or is made to look like a suicide), but not before handing Leo a Tarot card: The Hanged Man.
In Tarot, The Hanged Man represents suspension, sacrifice, and seeing the world from a new angle. Leonardo, literally hanged from a crane during the episode’s climax (when he stages his own fake hanging to escape guards), must learn to pause his frantic mind and observe. The card will recur throughout the series as a symbol of Leo’s journey toward enlightenment.
Leonardo secures a commission from Lorenzo de' Medici, the ruler of Florence, to design military weapons and paint a portrait of Lorenzo's mistress, Lucrezia Donati. Unknown to Lorenzo, Leonardo and Lucrezia embark on a passionate affair. Lucrezia, however, hides a dark secret: she is a spy for Pope Sixtus IV, Rome’s ruthless leader who seeks to crush the Medici family and control Florence. The Sons of Mithras and the Book of Leaves