A fictionalised story based on historical persons, the series explores the early life of Leonardo da Vinci during the Renaissance in Italy. He is an eccentric genius who has struggled to deal with his inner demons and unruly imagination, as he yearns for acceptance from his estranged father. Their sometimes antagonistic relationship results in Leonardo's working for the House of Medici. While doing so, he becomes embroiled in a political scheme to control Florence, as he hunts for a spy who is revealing information to the Catholic Church and the Pazzi family. He also begins an affair with Lucrezia Donati, Lorenzo de' Medici's mistress. The series depicts many of Leonardo's inventions and subsequent works as a military engineer for the Duke of Milan and the Borgias. These events coincide with Leonardo's quest to uncover the Book of Leaves, which a mysterious cult known as the Sons of Mithras also consider very important. Mystics and the cult guide him to unlock the 'hidden areas of his mind' by accessing the Fountain of Memory, and inform him that he has the power to see the future and also to shape it.
Tom Riley was the first actor to be cast in the series, as The Hollywood Reporter announced he had landed the role of Leonardo da Vinci. Goyer and managing director Carmi Zlotnik revealed he was cast as he could portray the character with many dimensions that would appeal to a worldwide audience. They later reported that Laura Haddock had been cast in the female lead as Lucrezia Donati.
Season 1 has received favourable reviews from critics. It holds a 75% approval rating on aggregate review site Rotten Tomatoes, based on 32 collected critic reviews, with an average score of 6.1/10. The sites consensus reads: "Despite its preposterous plotting and lack of historical accuracy, Da Vinci's Demons is energetic, enjoyable escapist television." It also holds a Metacritic score of 62 out of 100, based on 27 critics reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".
I am a son of Earth and Starry Heaven. I am thirsty. Please give me something to drink from the fountain of Memory.
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The Jew
You have heard the phrase "time is a river"? What most fail to grasp is that the river is circular. One man's death opens the doorway to the birth of the next.
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Al-Rahim
Lorenzo: I'm also told that you are a trouble-maker, you are arrogant, impolitic, and utterly incapable of keeping your opinions to yourself.
Leonardo: Arrogance implies that I exaggerate my own worth. I don't.
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Becchi: If man were meant to fly...
Leonardo: ...he would have been born with wings, yes. But a similar assertion could have been made prior to the invention of gunpowder. Or the wheel. Or any other invention conceived…
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A clockwork loses its luster once one glimpses the gears beneath its face.
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Lorenzo
Piero: Shouldn't you be working on Lorenzo's musket?
Leonardo: Well, unlike you, father, I'm actually capable of doing two things at the same time.
Piero: Drinking and digging your own grave?
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