Let the Backstabbing Begin! Review: Da Vinci’s Demons – “The Hanged Man”

Season 1 Episode 1

Air Date: Friday, April 12, 2013, at 10pm ET/PT on Starz.

RATING: ★★★★★

“History is a lie that has been honed like a weapon by people who suppress truth.” – Al-Rahim

I love when a new show premieres and I have no idea what to expect. So, I can happily say I am more than pleasantly surprised by the writing, acting, and cinematography of Da Vinci’s Demons—and that happens within the first 15 minutes of “The Hanged Man.” Events seem understated, yet the show hits you with a slap to the face. I attribute this to the actors and their skill in handling the material provided to bring these magnificent characters to life.

Observations and thoughts:

The enigmatic Da Vinci spending time doing what he does best.

The opening sequence of a show sometimes provides clues about what’s to come or to be experienced during an episode. The same can be said for Da Vinci’s Demons, and I made sure to watch each changing shape and object flowing across the screen. Did you happen to catch the few common items throughout each segment, i.e., the hawk flying from scene to scene? It will be interesting to see if the hawk remains a theme or symbol for our main character, Leonardo da Vinci’s (Tom Riley).

The camera effects are used beautifully to enhance the quality of a scene. Slow motion can be overdone and seems cheesy when used for ordinary things, but the way the director, David S. Goyer, chooses to showcase the flight of a few birds with an interchanging animated quality brings out the essence of Da Vinci’s thought process. The CGI leaves a bit to be desired, as you can clearly tell what’s real and what isn’t, but I’ve seen worse.

I can’t say I recall Da Vinci being ambidextrous, but it does come in handy for him during a sword fight. Watching the young Renaissance man in action while fighting, drawing, or simply thinking is mesmerizing. I’m hypnotized by the subtleties of Da Vinci’s quirks as he sketches a drawing in a matter of minutes—his unoccupied hand twitching along as if it’s drawing too. I wonder if that little oddity is Riley’s doing or something Goyer thought would add to the dynamic of the character. Either way, it grips your attention and piques your interest. The attitude and genius of Da Vinci’s machinations make me want to learn more about the man behind the mind. Not only does he have an amazing sense of humor, his sense of self and intelligence is astounding. Just look at the few inventions shown in “The Hanged Man.” You have to wonder if the opium he smoked contributed to some of his designs.

I’m assuming Lucretia and Da Vinci’s relationship will flourish as time goes on.

Lucrezia Donati (Laura Haddock) is an intriguing woman. She has beauty, grace and… a secret occupation. I am delighted to see a woman as so since women of that time weren’t looked to for their intelligence. But hey, sometimes it takes a woman to do a man’s job. I’m not sure she knows where she lies in the grand scheme of things, and she may decide to switch sides before too long. There is room for growth for Haddock’s character and I imagine it will be a tumultuous ride.

Count Riario (Blake Ritson) is calculating and unrepentant. He does what is necessary for the cause and doesn’t apologize for it. I happen to like this character and look forward to seeing how Ritson establishes him in the mysterious plot no one’s allowed to know about. “I am truly sorry… because you can’t have heard this,” are words he utters before slitting a boy’s throat for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yes, Riario is one to watch out for.

Lorenzo Medici (Elliot Cowan) is not a man to be trifled with either. He’s hired Da Vinci to build war machines but I think their relationship will become one of conflict and strife. I don’t yet understand his hand in the game, but I know he holds major weight. Cowan embodies the character with a cool control that oozes power and authority. He doesn’t have to raise his voice to get his point across. The name Medici is thrown around to induce fear and respect.

Nico (Eros Vlahos) is Da Vinci’s teenage helper. He’s quite the conundrum. I don’t know whether Da Vinci keeps him around for his use as a conscience of sorts or merely as his helper. I’d love to know where the kid came from, why he chooses to assist Da Vinci, and what role he plays in Da Vinci’s life. Otherwise, he’s just a gofer and the poor sap that gets to test new flying machines.

Zoroaster (Gregg Chillin) is another one of Da Vinci’s sidekicks with a great sense of humor. Just witness this witty banter between the men:

Zoroaster: “Come on, ball sausage.”

Da Vinci: “You know damn well that I’m a vegetarian.”

Zoroaster: “And I keep hoping to corrupt you.”

Da Vinci: “Oh, I’m corruptible; I prefer not to eat anything with eyes.”

Nico: “Potatoes have eyes.”

Zoroaster and Da Vinci: “Oh, fuck off, Nico!”

Not only that, the man has a talent for reading tarot cards. I wasn’t expecting that, nor was I expecting him to be a grave robber/procurer of corpses. How many occupations could one man have in that day and age? Talk about being a jack of all trades. Da Vinci only has two confidantes and now I realize why. These men are close to him and his work.

Who is the Turk, and should he be trusted?

I can’t forget the scary Pope Sixtus IV (James Faulkner). Apparently, he likes to fool around with knives (as well as young boys) and plot assassinations. Not the work of your average pope, but he seems perfectly capable doing of the job. I haven’t figured him out yet but I’m positive he is the one thing connecting all the major players to Da Vinci. So, the question is why?

Upon seeing Al-Rahim (Alexander Siddig) the first time, my inner nerd kicked in and I couldn’t help thinking, “It’s Doctor Bashir from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine!” Why that excited me so much, I can’t say. Just know that it did, and I expect to see great things from this actor and his character. There are plenty of mysteries surrounding “the Turk,” and I’m more than anxious to find out where he will lead Da Vinci and just what the quest to find the “Book of Leaves(?)” entails.

Memorable lines:

Da Vinci: “I think too much, all right. I need to dull my thoughts or I will be eviscerated by them!”

Verrocchio (Allan Corduner) to Da Vinci: “You have a gift, Leo. Kind of genius, the likes of which I’ve never seen. Because of that, people will always seek to destroy you. Please, don’t aid them in their endeavor.”

Da Vinci: “I believe man will fly. Hell, I vest this assumption on the fact that God has blessed us with minds that are capable of imagining it.”

Da Vinci’s Demons is definitely not for someone who just wants an hour of mindless television entertainment. You have to pay attention, keep track of all the players, and take notes to stay vested in the show. You never know who is to be trusted. I think the mystery of what’s going on in the background will be a major reason for the show’s success. The acting and writing do their part to keep viewers intrigued, but those can only do so much. I implore anyone who hasn’t watched yet to give it a try. It’s apparent I’m in need of a history lesson or two.

Tune in to Da Vinci’s Demons Fridays at 9pm ET/PT only on Starz.

For more on the show, visit the official site.

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Writer, mother, realist, cloud lover, daydreamer, dessert enthusiast, sweet tea addict, perfectionist, and lover of life and Christ, but not in that order. http://www.fanfiction.net/~vikingloverelle