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[RatskyWatsky]

In a world where thought and faith are controlled, one man fights to set knowledge free.

The secret history of Leonardo da Vinci's tantalizing life reveals a portrait of a young man tortured by a gift of superhuman genius. He is a heretic intent on exposing the lies of religion. An insurgent seeking to subvert an elitist society. A bastard son who yearns for legitimacy with his father.

He finds himself in the midst of a storm that has been brewing for centuries. A conflict between truth and lies, religion and reason, past and future. His aspirations are used against him by the opposing forces of the time—luring him into a game of seduction where those who despise his intellect need him most.

Leonardo must take up the fight against foes who use history to suppress the truth. A hero armed only with genius,
da Vinci stands alone against the darkness within, and the darkness without.

Facing an uncertain future, his quest for knowledge nearly becomes his undoing as he explores the fringes of his own sanity. Da Vinci throws himself into his genius and emerges as an unstoppable force that lifts an entire era out of darkness and propels it into light.

His story becomes a mirror into our own world, calling us all to join his fight to Free the Future.

From David S. Goyer, Co-Writer The Dark Knight Trilogy and Man of Steel.

Cast

Left to right:

• Leonardo da Vinci is a genius, hungry for knowledge but frustrated that he has not found his true calling. Eventually he will become the most famous artist of all time, some say the most recognized figure after Jesus, but when we first meet him he is an outsider, a bastard who grew up as
  a peasant.

• Wife, mistress and celebrated beauty of Florence - Lucrezia Donati. Although her relationship to her upper‐class husband gives her some status, it’s really her role as “royal mistress” that cements her renown and influence. As a beautiful woman, Lucrezia is well aware of her seductive skills and doesn’t hesitate to employ them to her ends.

• Publicly, Lord Girolamo Riario, Count and Captain-general of the Holy Roman Church, is known as Sixtus’ nephew. Only a select few are aware of his true lineage, and like Leonardo, he has a desire to cement his position and legitimacy in society.

• Lorenzo Medici is a reluctant leader. Despite his coarse appearance, he is a shrewd and sober man. His love of the arts makes him far more suited to be a poet than a prince, but he was forced at a young age to become head of the Medici Bank, and thus the de facto ruler of Florence.

Left to right:

• Clarice Orsini married Lorenzo Medici by proxy when she was 16. Despite the initial circumstances of their marriage, Clarice quickly proves herself to be much more than a political pawn. Sharp, patient, and deeply committed to Lorenzo, she’s a valuable advisor to her husband.

• When not with da Vinci, Nico is often found with their mutual friend Zoroaster, who undoubtedly has a less wholesome influence on him. They both agree that following da Vinci’s lead may get them into trouble, but in Nico’s case, it’s worth it as long as he gets to spend time with Vanessa, of whom he is especially fond.

• Zoroaster is charming, humorous and handsome. A thief, hustler, grave robber and a jack of all underhanded trades—in short, someone who never stops looking for an angle in any situation that could benefit him. Although he serves as da Vinci’s connection to Florentine underworld, Zoroaster also grounds da Vinci and is often the voice of reason in the midst of da Vinci’s grand quests. Zoroaster has no interest in rising above his station.

• Vanessa’s vital spirit and pleasure-loving nature were ill-suited to convent life. With da Vinci’s help, Vanessa escaped the strict religious environment, to which she’d been confined as a girl, and happily chose to earn a living as barmaid and model.

Videos and Articles

Official Trailer
Genius Teaser
Coin Teaser
Combo Tease
The New Series
Comic-Con 2012 Panel

The Renaissance Artist Gets 'Batman' Treatment On Starz
Tom Riley Talks Leonardo's Sexuality & Daddy Issues
Channel Guide interview with Tom Riley
Bear McCreary on Composing ‘Da Vinci’s Demons’

Impressions

The show is a good deal of fun, while indulging in all the lusty debauchery one has come to expect from period cable dramas. For Starz, it’s a welcome reinforcement as longtime staple “Spartacus” breathes its last. - Variety

It seems as though the cheese is in the right proportion to the meat of plot, sauce of acting, and crust of setting. There's something to be said for a guilty pleasure, and Starz is proving to be the network of guilty pleasures. - DenOfGeek

Da Vinci’s Demons -- described as “historical fantasy” -- is a lot of fun, has base material that should be endlessly fascinating and focuses on a man who was as mysterious as he was talented.

You could make a series about all the man’s achievements or a series about the mystery that surrounded his life or perhaps take the historical and religious elements and weave a tapestry out of that. Or you could do what Goyer has done, which is mix them all together. And yet, his best move might be that he -- and Starz -- took the stuffiness and pomposity out the period-piece, costume-drama ideal so popular with the BBC and PBS and made it unapologetically entertaining. - Tim Goodman

Promo Photos

​

 

[Loxley]

I wonder if he'll actually be gay.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

I wonder if they'll address his sexuality.

Tom Riley Talks Leonardo's Sexuality & Daddy Issues In "Da Vinci's Demons"

AE: Is it something that becomes a part of the show as the episodes roll out?
TR: The problem is that I desperately want to tell you. But it’s such a key plot point. And the spoiler for something that happens later in the series that reveals too much about it, it’s a real spoiler. Because for me, the thing about Da Vinci is there’s a huge amount of speculation about his life anyway. But I think it was Dan Brown who originally wrote in The Da Vinci Code that he was a flamboyant homosexual. which is a bizarre thing to write, whatever that means, whatever that entails. Speculation exists about him and people are saying that because he’s mainly had male apprentices [he was gay]. But, of course, you couldn’t have a female apprentices anyway. There’s no writing in any of his journals about lovers…but because that speculation exists, it’s certainly something that we want to honor.

I think the first trailer came out and people saw a flash of a sex scene [with a woman] and went, ‘Oh, obviously this is what happens.” But you know in the opening credits of Mad Men, you see a guy leaping out of a skyscraper. And you don’t think ‘well that’s the only way this guy ever leaves a building.’ So sometimes Da Vinci will take the elevator and sometimes he’ll choose the stairs. He had a passion for the human body and a passion for the people’s minds and whatever sexuality they are. And why we would want to eradicate something that makes the character more complex. It will come into play in a way that, yeah, I’m proud of.

 

[obin_gam]

Tom Riley Talks Leonardo's Sexuality & Daddy Issues In "Da Vinci's Demons"

haha, now that's what I call a non-answer
I really hope they dont give him a female love interest just because they're afraid the audience cant handle the truth. When he says

Speculation exists about him and people are saying that because he’s mainly had male apprentices [he was gay]. But, of course, you couldn’t have a female apprentices anyway.

I kinda get the feeling they are going to make him straight anyway.

 

[dead souls]

I'm looking forward to checking this out. With Spartacus and Touch both nearly done there won't be anything to watch on Fridays except for Bill Maher and possibly Vice.

 

[LQX]

Ugh, my DVR is running out of space nearly every week. A lot of promising shows are on right now.

 

[Cornballer]

Looks fun but kinda silly. I'll check it out.

 

[Bladenic]

Sort of interested in this.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

I really hope they dont give him a female love interest just because they're afraid the audience cant handle the truth.

The truth is a very muddy thing. Da Vinci's sexuality is a mystery - no one knows for certain whether he was gay, straight, bi, or something else. Since we don't know his definitive sexual orientation, I think that they should just go with bisexual for the show. That way they can have their cake and eat it too; appease the straight and gay audience with one fell swoop!

And if Riley says that they're going to touch upon it on the show, I believe him. This is Starz, remember? Questionable sexuality is a practically a prerequisite!

 

[Gila]

Let's see what he can do without Nolan

 

[obin_gam]

Let's see what he can do without Nolan

Let's not :/

 

[Cornballer]

Sounds like Starz is doing a free preview on a few carriers, so it's worth checking your tv provider if you're not currently a subscriber.

 

[Cornballer]

Sounds like Starz is doing a free preview on a few carriers, so it's worth checking your tv provider if you're not currently a subscriber.

Details on the free preview can be found here.

The STARZ and ENCORE Spring Free Preview comprises up to 24 STARZ and ENCORE channels and the popular STARZ ON DEMAND, ENCORE ON DEMAND, STARZ HD ON DEMAND, and ENCORE HD ON DEMAND services.

AT&T U-verse® TV and Verizon FiOS TV subscribers will enjoy the STARZ and ENCORE free preview from April 11 through April 15, including all STARZ and ENCORE channels and more than 400 on-demand titles.

DIRECTV and DISH subscribers will enjoy the STARZ and ENCORE free preview from April 12 through April 14. DIRECTV and DISH will offer all STARZ and ENCORE channels. DIRECTV will offer additionally 20 great STARZ movies on its on demand platform during the preview.

Cox Communications will offer all STARZ linear channels including
STARZ HD, STARZ ON DEMAND, and STARZ HD ON DEMAND from April 12 through 14.

Other participating affiliates include (alphabetically):

Bend Broadband, Blue Ridge Communications, Choice Cable TV Puerto Rico, Conway Corporation, DIRECTV Puerto Rico, Fidelity Communications, Hawaiian Telecom, HTC Digital Cable, Service Electric Cable TV, (dates and availability of channels vary by distributor).

 

[RatskyWatsky]

More reviews are starting to come in!

Slant - Da Vinci's Demons: Season One (SPOILERS)

Goyer's fanciful dialogue walks a steady line between melodramatic and campy, and the CGI-spangled city of Florence is luminous and sprawling, but much of Da Vinci's Demons's crowded supporting cast is lost in the flashiness of Da Vinci's preposterous exploits.

That's a shame, because when Da Vinci's Demons is barreling at top speed, unapologetically defiling history with its macabre absurdity, as in the surprisingly exciting second episode, "The Serpent," which ditches the disconnected structure of the pilot for a full-on detective yarn [...] (think Sherlock Holmes set in the Renaissance), the show's faults, however obvious they may be, gradually fall by the wayside.

2 1/2 stars out of 4

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Mercury News - RENAISSANCE MAN

"Da Vinci's Demons" takes full advantage of cable's artistic liberties, unleashing plenty of throat-slashing brutality and gratuitous nudity. [...] Tom Riley is instantly appealing as the show's charismatic title character, and he's supported by a strong cast.

Newsday - 'Da Vinci's Demons' review: Renaissance Batman

TV is where Goyer really belongs. He's got an interesting voice, big cinematic ideas and a comic-book sensibility, which TV (and viewers) covet these days. In fact, with "Demons," Goyer makes the case that Leonardo -- with his protean talents and taste for gadgets -- was really just a Renaissance Batman. And Riley rises to the challenge of making him one. His Leo is full of antic energy, but also full of himself, plus he has Batman's keen sense of both justice and self-glorification.

The Florence of "Demons" is a little bit like a Renaissance Gotham City, too -- a dark seething place packed with intrigue, beauty, debauchery and sinister forces. This makes the series sumptuous to look at but also makes you wonder whether this is just another ambitious comic book bristling with the usual sex, violence and historic bowdlerizations we've come to expect at Starz ("Spartacus," which ends Friday, by the way).

In fact, "Demons" -- at least so far -- promises something richer and deeper.

 

[UrbanRats]

I'll give the pilot a shot.
I'm not liking the costumes and visuals of it that much, with all that leather, but it could be fun in a silly way.

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

Shoulda just called it Renaissance Batman. But I'm in.

Man, it'd be awesome if Ezio just randomly showed up out of nowhere in the season finale.

Another shitty Ubisoft mindfuck.

 

[MilkLizard]

Sounds pretty interesting. I will watch the Pilot.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

boston.com - TV review: ‘Da Vinci’s Demons’: A madcap visionary

The plot strands don’t always come together smoothly, some of da Vinci’s mystical, drug-addled visions are pretentious, and the CGI re-creating 15th-century Florence is spotty. And the general tone of the show will not satisfy anyone looking for a serious take on a historical figure or era. But “Da Vinci’s Demons” is an entertaining series with one huge factor working in its favor: Unlike so much of what we see on TV lineups, it aims to be different.

Cinemablend - Da Vinci's Demons Review: David S. Goyer's Exciting Drama Takes Flight On Starz This Friday

Da Vinci's Demons isn't Spartacus. It's a different story about a different character, set in a different time with a very different tone. But based on the first few episodes, the show does have the potential to be as engaging, exciting and unpredictable as Spartacus. Da Vinci's Demons imagines its title character as he might have been during his younger years, when he's just at the cusp of greatness and desperate to realize all of the things that his mind has created. There are so many places they can take this adventure, and based on the start of it, Da Vinci's Demons is aiming for the skies.

Bloomberg - ‘Da Vinci’s Demons’

More lighthearted (if no sillier) than “Spartacus,” the gladiator fest it’s replacing, “Demons” is a historian’s nightmare and an idler’s diversion.

Despite the obvious “Da Vinci Code” nods, the eight-part “Demons” aims closer to the playful spirit of the BBC’s better sci-fi time-jumper “Torchwood.”

2 1/2 stars

Sounds pretty interesting. I will watch the Pilot.

Most of the critics seem to agree that the pilot is easily the weakest episode, so I wouldn't necessarily take it as an indication of the season's overall quality.

 

[Cornballer]

A couple early thoughts from Poniewozik:

DA VINCI'S DEMONS (Starz) is an odd thing. Like a kids' adventure, except with nudity and gore. Not deep but fun; both dark & lighthearted.

I watched it thinking, "I'd totally show this to my 11 year old, except all the T&A and impalings!"

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Red Eye Chicago - Fact or fantasy, 'Da Vinci's Demons' a delight

The mystical mumbo jumbo nearly derails the proceedings, but Goyer reins in the hookum in favor of frolicking adventure that's more fun than fact.

Like Leo and his pals, "Da Vinci's Demons" never takes itself too seriously. Yet it's serious about delighting viewers.

SFGate - 'Da Vinci's Demons' review: Liberties with Leo

Once you get used to the noise, sex and violence, you may begin to realize that the plot trudges along at a snail's pace. But somehow, I'm guessing many viewers will be more than content with the noise, sex and violence and not worry about the mystery of the missing plot.

A couple early thoughts from Poniewozik:

Hehe, sounds fun!

 

[Cornballer]

- Sepinwall's review

Ultimately, I found "Da Vinci's Demons" ridiculous but fairly amiable. (I could imagine 14-year-old Alan really enjoying it, and not just because of the topless women.)

 

[Cornballer]

- The entire pilot is up on Starz' youtube channel

Also note that Starz is doing a free preview this weekend on a lot of carriers, so you can watch there, as well.

EDIT: Presumably that youtube version is edited for content, as well.

 

[Cornballer]

A couple more reviews:

- Poniewozik for Time.com

This all makes Da Vinci’s Demons not a terrible show, nor a terribly good one, but a peculiar hybrid invention whose parts don’t match and that never quite takes flight. This Renaissance drama is at its best when it’s a very simple thing: a history-based caper about the wonders and power of knowing stuff. But it gets bogged down in the attempt to be the adult pay-cable drama that it’s not up to being, for no seemingly better narrative reason than that it’s on Starz.

- LA Times

It's all great fun, a feast of eye and mind candy into which a few shreds of leafy greens have been added for content. If you think about "Da Vinci's Demons" too hard, you might become dispirited by the underlying assumption that a more realistic portrayal of a life even as extraordinary as Leonardo Da Vinci's needs to be embellished with hot carnival sex and murderous mysticism to make good TV. But with secret societies, prototypical machine guns and the "Mona Lisa" lurking somewhere in the future, there's really no need to think. Just put down the remote control for an hour and enjoy.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

NY Daily News - 'Da Vinci's Demons' - TV review

This production comes from the “too much is never enough” school of plotlines. It feels at times like part “Da Vinci Code,” part “National Treasure,” part “Borgias” and part “Sherlock,” all with its own underlying tongue-in-cheek bemusement.

Those who can follow all of this won’t be disappointed. Tom Riley makes Da Vinci spirited, energetic and more than a little mischievous, which keeps everything and everyone around him lively.

3 out of 5 stars

Vulture - The Funniest Unintentional TV Comedy of the Year

Da Vinci’s Demons is too committed to hate, but not brilliantly weird enough to achieve camp status. It’s more fun to make fun of than it is to watch. But watch I will, if only to witness the inevitable moment when we learn that da Vinci put that smile on Mona Lisa’s face with another of his inventions.

Chicago Tribune - 'Da Vinci's Demons' Review: Renaissance Man, Meet Batman

In one scene, Da Vinci watches birds fly from a cage and sketches their movements. We see the birds freeze, as they do in his mind, and his sketches appear in place of the birds. It's a brilliant way to show us how Da Vinci's mind works. Later, in another sweeping sequence, we see how Da Vinci translates life into art and then into a merger of the two.

Here's hoping "Da Vinci's Demons" can do the same.

- The entire pilot is up on Starz' youtube channel

Oh nice, maybe I'll watch it this afternoo-

EDIT: Presumably that youtube version is edited for content, as well.

 

[Deified Data]

God damn this looks silly.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Nerdreactor - Da Vinci’s Demons review: Inside the mind of a genius

I’m not yet sold on Da Vinci’s Demons, but I’m hoping future episodes will get better. So far the plot hasn’t really interested me yet, but I do like the idea of a bastard child genius trying to come up in the world.

Wall Street Journal - Renaissance Fare

With this giant canvas and a license to invent, "Da Vinci's Demons" goes wild in every genre now attracting viewers to a range of pre-modern entertainments—generally those covering any period when women still wore bodices, men carried swords, and life, even when it did not end in decapitation, was often brutish and short. The series is duly full of blood, torture devices, maggots, skeletons, gay clergy, sadistic tyrants, topless models, full-frontally nude men and lascivious temptresses.

Thank goodness for the Renaissance and Leonardo. These bring moments of transcendent beauty to the series, which was written by David S. Goyer, and is laced with aha moments of glorious invention and the scent of mysticism.

 

[Cornballer]

Oh nice, maybe I'll watch it this afternoo-

Yeah, it's blurred out in scenes and presumably the just cut out some of the more racy stuff. Not that I was watching it at work or anything when trying to figure this out.

 

[Eidan]

Da Vinci's hair looks great.

 

[dead souls]

Pretty weak pilot, though it was interesting enough for me to give it a few more shots, especially since the critics say the pilot was the weakest of the episodes Starz sent out. I loved the opening and Bear McCreary's score.

It's nice to see Alexander "Dr. Bashir" Siddig back on television.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Not that I was watching it at work or anything when trying to figure this out.

Brave man.

BTW, the pilot is also up on Starz' website - Here. Not sure if it's edited, but there's an age gate, so I don't see why it would be.

 

[ambientmystic]

Definitely keeping an eye on this show, the pilot shows promise. Plus it's a Starz show, and they don't often start well. Also, the added TnA enhances the experience if nothing else.

Remember the first few episodes of Spartacus Blood and Sand anyone?

 

[dead souls]

Definitely keeping an eye on this show, the pilot shows promise. Plus it's a Starz show, and they don't often start well. Also, the added TnA enhances the experience if nothing else.

Remember the first few episodes of Spartacus Blood and Sand anyone?

Yeah, Spartacus took damn near half a season to get going before it became awesome. There's definitely enough here to keep watching, especially since the season is only eight episodes, so it isn't a huge time investment.

 

[REV 09]

Pilot was ok...getting strong assassins creed 2 vibes from it. And then strong AC4 vibes from the trailer of Black Sails, Starz new pirate themed show starting in 2014.

 

[Hamlet]

Pilot was a lot of fun not great television but still fun (really needed it after the Spartacus finale)
Some of the special effects looked really dodgy though but the title sequence is superb

 

[obin_gam]

Just saw it, not good at all. Very boring characters and the story didn't intrigue me at all. I will watch the second episode though, since it had a few sparkles of what could be described as an OK show.

 

[Dennis]

An Assassins Creed Starz show featuring Ezio is something I would (maybe) watch.

 

[Clevinger]

Black Sails, Starz new pirate themed show starting in 2014.

That actually looks good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVaQE6KHGHM

 

[Cornballer]

That actually looks good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVaQE6KHGHM

That looks fun.

Still have to get around to watching the premiere of Da Vinci's Demons...

 

[a secret-boss]

not bad. I was confuse at first what the show was about. Is it a biography or fantasy?
but by the end of the episode it seems like an adventure with some Assassin's Creed secret society.

Interesting enough. I'll give it a season like I'm giving The Following (augh)

 

[RatskyWatsky]

That actually looks good

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yVaQE6KHGHM

Yeah, that looks pretty awesome. We all need a pirate TV show in our lives.

Is it a biography or fantasy?

'Historical fantasy' is what they're labeling it.

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

Watched the pilot. I liked it. It's kinda silly and hokey, but I dig it. Plus, Lorenzo's mistress is damn gorgeous.

The whole myth arc stuff is hilarious though. I'm looking forward to how ludicrous this will get.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

I thought the pilot was okay. It wasn't particularly compelling, but it wasn't awful either. I thought Tom Riley was charismatic enough though, and the supporting cast seemed pretty good. The CG was mostly pretty darn good, much better than I expected, with only one or two green screen looking shots sticking out.

Seems like it has a lot of potential.

 

[smr00]

Watched the pilot. I liked it. It's kinda silly and hokey, but I dig it. Plus, Lorenzo's mistress is damn gorgeous.

The whole myth arc stuff is hilarious though. I'm looking forward to how ludicrous this will get.

I think the silly/hokey parts is what gives it the charm and makes it watchable. If it took itself too serious it would be unwatchable IMO.

It's goofy in a good way. Like The Adventures of Brisco County Jr only darker.

 

[NotTheGuyYouKill]

I think the silly/hokey parts is what gives it the charm and makes it watchable. If it took itself too serious it would be unwatchable IMO.

It's goofy in a good way. Like The Adventures of Brisco County Jr only darker.

Agreed

 

[Cornballer]

What an oddball premiere episode. The goofy, fun atmosphere is entertaining enough, but it's strangely disrupted with the occasional burst of nudity or throat slashing. It's a bizarre mix in terms of tone. This is probably something I'll end up watching eventually, but I can't see myself tuning in every week to check it out.

 

[Napoleonthechimp]

It's nice to see Alexander "Dr. Bashir" Siddig back on television.

He was on Primeval (UK television) in 2011. I'll definitely be checking this one out.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

Starz Hits Viewership High With ‘Da Vinci’s Demons’ Debut

The April 12 premiere of Da Vinci at 10 PM was watched by 1.04 million overall viewers. In total, the David S. Goyer created series garnered over 2.14 million viewers over all its plays over the weekend to nudge ahead of the 2.09 million in total who watched the series premiere of Camelot to hit a new high for a Starz Original series premiere.

 

[Clevinger]

I forgot Starz made that terrible Camelot show.

Anyways, kinda eh on the ratings news. The show didn't do much for me.

 

[RatskyWatsky]

What an oddball premiere episode. The goofy, fun atmosphere is entertaining enough, but it's strangely disrupted with the occasional burst of nudity or throat slashing. It's a bizarre mix in terms of tone.

Think so? Honestly, the only bit that felt out of place to me was the scene where the old dude gets out of the pool/bath naked and then has the kid's throat slashed. That was a little WTF, like something out of The Borgias. I thought the other scenes felt perfectly in line with the rest of the stuff, though, tonally speaking.