Such an underrated show, and i prefer it over other historical dramas like The borgias and Tudors.
Richard madden and Daniel were amazing and fit for the characters.
The show gave me assassin's creed brotherhood vibes, which made me love it even more.
Loved storyline, the historical period and settings.
203 Reviews
History reboot for modern audiences. No less convincing than other narrative works about the Magnificent.
Shehasgreeneyes21 November 2018
You can watch this one without having to watch the first (however I did and liked the first as well)
I'm quite fond of the Medici's history and I appreciated these two italian series for what they are: a fictional product inspired by historical characters that celebrates them, but doesn't have the goal to be a documentary. It's a homage without the presumption of being the one and only truth. If you want to know more about the real people, read history books (tho, sometimes even historians have more fiction in their books than actual facts, but this is another issue..). I think this series has nothing to envy from other historical tv shows: the cast is great, music and cinematography excellent. In terms of flaws, it does have many of course. Characters arcs are a bit doomed by the fact you have relatively few episodes to develop them. Also, I think that while I appreciate the cast includes talented italian-born actors too - since it's about italian's culture, history and people - I noticed a pattern in that the italian actors are only cast for secondary roles.
As for the differences with the 'real story', you have many because the writers have to still create their own fictional world around these characters otherwise it would be boring and predictable. I, however, find the differences are, for the most part, functional to the narrative and this version of the characters thus the writers' vision. In general, I think it is easier to notice the differences in known real life events that may get changed (there are many. And let me say that Lorenzo is a bit too much a saint here..), than the personal life of Lorenzo and the other characters because those are aspects that, we like it or not, we don't really know so much about and what we know is, for the most part, only speculations from historians that don't always base them on concrete evidence. For example, some may complain that this series romanticizes the relationship between Lorenzo and his wife Clarice, but is that aspect really the most unbelievable thing? The two had 10 kids together and in a time where men having lovers and illegitimate kids was considered almost the norm in society, Lorenzo had none. His father and grandfather did, Lorenzo didn't. The only lover we kind of know he had is Bartolomea Nasi, whom he had relations only years after his wife's death anyway. We know from the correspondence between him and his wife, as well as accounts of friends, that Lorenzo had a great affection and respect for his wife (as well as his kids and the rest of his family). If we know that she was a sweet woman and important to him, it's because of his own written words (most touching is the letter he wrote after her death where he expressed authentic grief and sorrow over the loss). He may have not written poetry for her (which isn't surprising because "amor cortese" poetry traditionally excludes marriage for specific reasons you may not understand nowadays but made perfect sense at the time ), but some of their correspondence is, perhaps, more authentic in its lack of fanciness and as an expression of affection than most of his poetry for other women is. It may have been an arranged marriage, like most where at the time, but it doesn't mean it was a loveless one on the long run so I don't find their relationship in the series is the most far fetched thing (even the first time he saw her is, I think, a little nod to a letter written by Lorenzo's mother where, upon meeting the girl for the first time as a possible bride for her son, she said he had seen the girl himself and it seems she had made an impression on him). The series ending credits include some historians whom the writers consulted, I guess those are among the ones who, using sources, simply have a different interpretation of their relationship, along other personal aspects, than how previous narrative products about Lorenzo had romanticized and 'invented' his private life before. In short, you can't criticize the writers just because their story may not align with romanticized stuff made by others.
After all, even other aspects are romanticized in the series as much if not more than the relationship between husband and wife. Like I mentioned before, Lorenzo is far more a 'good boy' here than he was in real life. His 'lover' Lucrezia Donati is portrayed as being his mistress here but in real life, she never was his lover, as his love for her was only platonic, and he even was the one who helped her father find a husband for her in the businessman Ardinghelli. Yes, he wrote poetry for her and it is important and makes it reasonable to believe that she probably was his first love, but people should take it in context and not make the huge mistake of wanting to project a modern ideal of romantic love on their relationship. His poetry for her followed a long established tradition by Petrarca that celebrated platonic love and she was, in many ways, one of the popular girls of his time that he choose for the purposes of amor cortese, as it was the trend for all the guys in his circle to have one. Real life, however, is another thing and aside from Age of Innocence speculations, there is no proof there was any relationship between them before and after he married miss Orsini. In fact, if you are looking for realism, perhaps it would be more fitting to represent them like they represent the connection between Botticelli and his muse Simonetta. Speaking about Simonetta, we know that her relationship with Giuliano is romanticized too because in reality, it's likely that the woman he actually was in love with, and whom he had an intimate relationship with during the historical time developed in the series, was in fact another (Fioretta Gorini, who isn't even mentioned here but she gave him a son that he unfortunately never saw because he died before his birth)
So yeah, the series absolutely isn't faithful to history about everything, and it does romanticize characters and relationships (all of them, even the friendship between Lorenzo and Francesco Pazzi, that I loved!) to better fit nowadays peoples' sensibilities.. but I don't think they wanted the series to be a documentary, nor I think their novelization of these people is any more ridiculous or invalid than the way countless of other authors had done in their novels before them (including the most praised Strukul). If you criticize this series for that, you might as well not watch any series about historical characters because I can guarantee you few of them, if any, don't romanticize things. Just my two cents.
I'm quite fond of the Medici's history and I appreciated these two italian series for what they are: a fictional product inspired by historical characters that celebrates them, but doesn't have the goal to be a documentary. It's a homage without the presumption of being the one and only truth. If you want to know more about the real people, read history books (tho, sometimes even historians have more fiction in their books than actual facts, but this is another issue..). I think this series has nothing to envy from other historical tv shows: the cast is great, music and cinematography excellent. In terms of flaws, it does have many of course. Characters arcs are a bit doomed by the fact you have relatively few episodes to develop them. Also, I think that while I appreciate the cast includes talented italian-born actors too - since it's about italian's culture, history and people - I noticed a pattern in that the italian actors are only cast for secondary roles.
As for the differences with the 'real story', you have many because the writers have to still create their own fictional world around these characters otherwise it would be boring and predictable. I, however, find the differences are, for the most part, functional to the narrative and this version of the characters thus the writers' vision. In general, I think it is easier to notice the differences in known real life events that may get changed (there are many. And let me say that Lorenzo is a bit too much a saint here..), than the personal life of Lorenzo and the other characters because those are aspects that, we like it or not, we don't really know so much about and what we know is, for the most part, only speculations from historians that don't always base them on concrete evidence. For example, some may complain that this series romanticizes the relationship between Lorenzo and his wife Clarice, but is that aspect really the most unbelievable thing? The two had 10 kids together and in a time where men having lovers and illegitimate kids was considered almost the norm in society, Lorenzo had none. His father and grandfather did, Lorenzo didn't. The only lover we kind of know he had is Bartolomea Nasi, whom he had relations only years after his wife's death anyway. We know from the correspondence between him and his wife, as well as accounts of friends, that Lorenzo had a great affection and respect for his wife (as well as his kids and the rest of his family). If we know that she was a sweet woman and important to him, it's because of his own written words (most touching is the letter he wrote after her death where he expressed authentic grief and sorrow over the loss). He may have not written poetry for her (which isn't surprising because "amor cortese" poetry traditionally excludes marriage for specific reasons you may not understand nowadays but made perfect sense at the time ), but some of their correspondence is, perhaps, more authentic in its lack of fanciness and as an expression of affection than most of his poetry for other women is. It may have been an arranged marriage, like most where at the time, but it doesn't mean it was a loveless one on the long run so I don't find their relationship in the series is the most far fetched thing (even the first time he saw her is, I think, a little nod to a letter written by Lorenzo's mother where, upon meeting the girl for the first time as a possible bride for her son, she said he had seen the girl himself and it seems she had made an impression on him). The series ending credits include some historians whom the writers consulted, I guess those are among the ones who, using sources, simply have a different interpretation of their relationship, along other personal aspects, than how previous narrative products about Lorenzo had romanticized and 'invented' his private life before. In short, you can't criticize the writers just because their story may not align with romanticized stuff made by others.
After all, even other aspects are romanticized in the series as much if not more than the relationship between husband and wife. Like I mentioned before, Lorenzo is far more a 'good boy' here than he was in real life. His 'lover' Lucrezia Donati is portrayed as being his mistress here but in real life, she never was his lover, as his love for her was only platonic, and he even was the one who helped her father find a husband for her in the businessman Ardinghelli. Yes, he wrote poetry for her and it is important and makes it reasonable to believe that she probably was his first love, but people should take it in context and not make the huge mistake of wanting to project a modern ideal of romantic love on their relationship. His poetry for her followed a long established tradition by Petrarca that celebrated platonic love and she was, in many ways, one of the popular girls of his time that he choose for the purposes of amor cortese, as it was the trend for all the guys in his circle to have one. Real life, however, is another thing and aside from Age of Innocence speculations, there is no proof there was any relationship between them before and after he married miss Orsini. In fact, if you are looking for realism, perhaps it would be more fitting to represent them like they represent the connection between Botticelli and his muse Simonetta. Speaking about Simonetta, we know that her relationship with Giuliano is romanticized too because in reality, it's likely that the woman he actually was in love with, and whom he had an intimate relationship with during the historical time developed in the series, was in fact another (Fioretta Gorini, who isn't even mentioned here but she gave him a son that he unfortunately never saw because he died before his birth)
So yeah, the series absolutely isn't faithful to history about everything, and it does romanticize characters and relationships (all of them, even the friendship between Lorenzo and Francesco Pazzi, that I loved!) to better fit nowadays peoples' sensibilities.. but I don't think they wanted the series to be a documentary, nor I think their novelization of these people is any more ridiculous or invalid than the way countless of other authors had done in their novels before them (including the most praised Strukul). If you criticize this series for that, you might as well not watch any series about historical characters because I can guarantee you few of them, if any, don't romanticize things. Just my two cents.
Great Show, one problem
keil198519 May 2017
I love period dramas, and I particularly like the idea of a drama centered around the Medici family. Acting is great, story line is great. There's one problem though, the audio engineering is HORRIBLE. It's often difficult to hear the dialogue, even when it's not being drowned out by the overbearing score. It's just not mixed well.
Enthralling Viewing
npvarley11 January 2020
Let me start by saying that I simply don't understand how this series seems to have been largely ignored by mainstream media. It has a devoted fanbase, but hasn't really taken off. Given the quality of the show, that's a travesty.
Anyway, about the show. Through all three seasons, with the changing cast as generations pass on, the quality of acting has been stellar. Actors are well cast and do a superlative job of bringing characters to life.
Needless to say, the stunning backdrops in Italy are magnificent. The productions values are right up there too, whether it be costumes, sets, whatever.
And a grate theme song by Paolo Buonvino and Skin.
If you haven't watched this, you really should!
Anyway, about the show. Through all three seasons, with the changing cast as generations pass on, the quality of acting has been stellar. Actors are well cast and do a superlative job of bringing characters to life.
Needless to say, the stunning backdrops in Italy are magnificent. The productions values are right up there too, whether it be costumes, sets, whatever.
And a grate theme song by Paolo Buonvino and Skin.
If you haven't watched this, you really should!
I love this series!
famkewijnen18 October 2019
I really enjoyed season 1 and 2 of this series. And I am impatiently waiting for season 3!
There is just one thing I need to say. I am so tired of people complaining that series like this are not good because they do not follow the exact history of these people and this time. I am a History student and I truly love shows like this. That the history is not completely accurate does not mean you can not enjoy this. Sovstop jammering about this!
There is just one thing I need to say. I am so tired of people complaining that series like this are not good because they do not follow the exact history of these people and this time. I am a History student and I truly love shows like this. That the history is not completely accurate does not mean you can not enjoy this. Sovstop jammering about this!
Surprisingly engrossing
jessicahersha8 January 2017
I am honestly baffled by the negative reviews for this show. While it wasn't perfect, for me the good far outweighed the bad. First, the strengths:
1) The soundtrack! The opening sequence is strong, and sets the tone beautifully for what is to come, and the moody instrumental music throughout the show added to the scenes without being distracting. 2) The entire thing is visually stunning. Seriously. From the landscapes to the sets, costumes, food, colors... the whole thing is a feast for the eyes. 3) Medici: Masters of Florence is a study in the dynamics of both a family and a city. If you enjoy political intrigue, relationship drama, or the arts, this show is where it's at. 4) The acting in this show is beautiful. Annabel Scholey's many layered performance as Contessina was stunning. Richard Madden can say more with just his eyes than anyone currently on television. Stuart Martin and Guido Caprino as Lorenzo Di'Medici and Marco Bello own the screen with their charisma.
I only saw two issues that detracted from the program. 1) The casting of Dustin Hoffman as Giovanni was a real head-scratcher. His accent and demeanor did not mesh with everything else, and the performance had the air of being something his agent forced him to do. Normally I really do love DH, but this was not his best.
2) This quality is a little harder to put into words, but I felt like the show took a while to find its footing--like it wasn't quite sure which direction it wanted to take. In spite of that, I couldn't stop watching, and really enjoyed this show. Looking forward to season 2!
1) The soundtrack! The opening sequence is strong, and sets the tone beautifully for what is to come, and the moody instrumental music throughout the show added to the scenes without being distracting. 2) The entire thing is visually stunning. Seriously. From the landscapes to the sets, costumes, food, colors... the whole thing is a feast for the eyes. 3) Medici: Masters of Florence is a study in the dynamics of both a family and a city. If you enjoy political intrigue, relationship drama, or the arts, this show is where it's at. 4) The acting in this show is beautiful. Annabel Scholey's many layered performance as Contessina was stunning. Richard Madden can say more with just his eyes than anyone currently on television. Stuart Martin and Guido Caprino as Lorenzo Di'Medici and Marco Bello own the screen with their charisma.
I only saw two issues that detracted from the program. 1) The casting of Dustin Hoffman as Giovanni was a real head-scratcher. His accent and demeanor did not mesh with everything else, and the performance had the air of being something his agent forced him to do. Normally I really do love DH, but this was not his best.
2) This quality is a little harder to put into words, but I felt like the show took a while to find its footing--like it wasn't quite sure which direction it wanted to take. In spite of that, I couldn't stop watching, and really enjoyed this show. Looking forward to season 2!
Good Historical Fiction
traceyjohnson331 December 2016
I love period pieces, and this one does not disappoint. Unlike DaVinci's demons, which borderlines on corny, this series has a lot of drama, some sex and a decent accounting of the Medici household. Of course it takes some liberties, but for the most part it is a good solid watch- and the scenery is stunning. The costumes are beautiful and so are the interior sets. The characters seemed a tiny bit flat, but that was more of a writing error than a acting issue. However, most history - shown in the day to day- isn't all sex and roses, so I thought this was well done. I think that the influence of the church should have been examined more closely, as the Popes during that time were not pious men. I look forward to future installments.
Too many missing historical persons
phaeded216-182-33995410 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I get it, that most people with a passing interest are probably already confused by the time period, but I'm sick of seeing bad history. And if your core viewership is people who care about history, then the show fails.
Its not the contractions of some historical persons' roles into others (e.g., Pazzi assumes the role of Strozzi in 1434 in not supporting Albizzi, presumably because the Pazzi play a bigger role in later Florentine politics in the 1478 Pazzi Conspiracy; in a later season?), but it's the omissions that bother me.
What really marked Florence was her humanism. Perhaps not that dramatic, but the humanist's war of words lead to actual sword play. Florence's very chancellor, Leonardo Bruni, perhaps the most famous man in Italy (certainly the most read humanist of his time), is completely absent, with Guadagni apparently performing his functions. Moreover, the humanist Filelfo was the one in the not-finished duomo who railed against Cosimo on behalf of the Albizzi faction (the show has Rinaldo do this himself), before being exiled himself and ultimately fleeing to Visconti Milan. Filefo, now Visconti's primary humanist (in a role that was regime PR mixed with foreign relations), rallies the exiled Albizzi faction to attack Florence in 1440, backed by a Visconti army. Strozzi, Bruni and Filelfo were just as important as Rinaldo Albizzi (Cosimo and his brother had Filelfo attacked by an assassin!), but all are AWOL. Instead, way too much time was wasted on the made-up dreams of Cosimo the artist. He was simply a patron (who did not solely underwrite the dome - that was a civic project from the get-go). Opportunity missed here to do history right....
Its not the contractions of some historical persons' roles into others (e.g., Pazzi assumes the role of Strozzi in 1434 in not supporting Albizzi, presumably because the Pazzi play a bigger role in later Florentine politics in the 1478 Pazzi Conspiracy; in a later season?), but it's the omissions that bother me.
What really marked Florence was her humanism. Perhaps not that dramatic, but the humanist's war of words lead to actual sword play. Florence's very chancellor, Leonardo Bruni, perhaps the most famous man in Italy (certainly the most read humanist of his time), is completely absent, with Guadagni apparently performing his functions. Moreover, the humanist Filelfo was the one in the not-finished duomo who railed against Cosimo on behalf of the Albizzi faction (the show has Rinaldo do this himself), before being exiled himself and ultimately fleeing to Visconti Milan. Filefo, now Visconti's primary humanist (in a role that was regime PR mixed with foreign relations), rallies the exiled Albizzi faction to attack Florence in 1440, backed by a Visconti army. Strozzi, Bruni and Filelfo were just as important as Rinaldo Albizzi (Cosimo and his brother had Filelfo attacked by an assassin!), but all are AWOL. Instead, way too much time was wasted on the made-up dreams of Cosimo the artist. He was simply a patron (who did not solely underwrite the dome - that was a civic project from the get-go). Opportunity missed here to do history right....
the sound is killing me
rondamaxwell2 February 2019
So while I love period pieces and feel the actors chosen to depict the main characters are stars in their own rights, I'm struggling to watch Medici. Struggling because I want to watch it and conversely because I can't hear a good portion of the dialogue. Can someone turn down the music and background noise please so I can hear the speeches? It goes super loud and then so quiet that the music drowns everything. majorly irritating because I actually care and want to devour this show....
Very interesting!
obeycrossliving12 December 2016
Let me start off by saying, this series does take some getting use to. The initial few episodes are not very interesting, but they are worth watching. If anything the amazing chemistry and acting of Richard Madden and Annabel Scholey makes the slow pace of the first few episodes a lot more entertaining and definitely worth watching. And the final few episodes turned a decent series into a great one. The main characters are very well cast, maybe with the exception of Dustin Hoffman. And as the season progressed, I find myself connecting and caring with many of the characters, and their interesting backstories. Whether it's Cosimo's love story, or the long family feud, I genuinely do care about what happens to some of the characters. I have to say Annabel Scholey probably gave the best performance out of the whole cast and really made the show great.
Its not perfect and at times does seem a bit slow. But overall the series was great.
PS: It's very historically inaccurate, more of a drama then anything. So if that bothers you don't watch it.
Its not perfect and at times does seem a bit slow. But overall the series was great.
PS: It's very historically inaccurate, more of a drama then anything. So if that bothers you don't watch it.
How hard would it have been to be historically accurate?
moggie48-380-31957229 March 2019
Warning: Spoilers
As long as you watch this as fiction, not historical fiction, it's entertaining. It would have made a lasting mark if they'd been true to the facts, which offer ample opportunity for drama. Giovanni di Bicci de Medici was not murdered, nor was his son Lorenzo, nor was Rinaldo degli Albizzi. This are significant departures from history.
It only gets better! One of my favorite shows, drastically underrated
egrw13 July 2020
I notice several reviews that mention the first season only, IE Dustin Hoffman's role, etc. On my first viewing, I found the first few episodes to be slightly boring, but the show only got better as it went along. I truly enjoyed season 1, but season 2 is on a whole other level and I urge anyone who didn't care for season 1 to keep watching. I find Lorenzo (seasons 2-3) to be much more likeable as a main character, and the Pazzi storyline was captivating. I gasped and cried throughout this show and I found myself very attached to the characters. The Medicis have their faults but for the most part, they're good characters who you root for. I really enjoyed some of the character and relationship arcs, and the romance is done well. More of a slow burn between the two main couples, infuriating at times, but entertaining to watch as there's good chemistry. Not a ton of sex or nudity, mostly in the first season and then it drops off after that. The costuming is gorgeous, and the soundtrack! I'm currently obsessed with it and listen to it frequently. The music is very prevalent throughout the series, but to me it just helps tie everything together. The acting is great and Daniel Sharman especially is amazing as Lorenzo. I can't imagine anyone else in that role as he IS Lorenzo.
I think anyone who loves history, politics and scheming, and family drama will enjoy this show. It's very underrated and I had never heard of it until I came across it randomly on Netflix. As much as I loved Game of Thrones, I think I enjoyed the Medicis much more. It's simply one of the best shows I've ever watched, personally.
I think anyone who loves history, politics and scheming, and family drama will enjoy this show. It's very underrated and I had never heard of it until I came across it randomly on Netflix. As much as I loved Game of Thrones, I think I enjoyed the Medicis much more. It's simply one of the best shows I've ever watched, personally.
Felt like an SNL skit
booksandschnauzers15 December 2016
Costumes and scenery were enjoyable but the music was so overdone I kept waiting for a sudden pause and a fart sound effect. This takes itself too seriously. I started to picture ways to turn each scene into an SNL skit, which isn't good. Also, Dustin Hoffman is Dustin Hoffman in every role he plays. That's cool, but perhaps not for a Medici? And can we just talk about how they all have different accents. What up with that? I don't know if it's just my TV but the music was so loud it was ridiculous and then the characters spoke so low they were practically whispering and I was all, "What'd that guy just say?" but then the music was like "DUN DUN DUN SOMETHING REALLY IMPORTANT IS HAPPENING" and I was like I GOT IT! This is serious! Also, these people look awfully well groomed for the time period. I'm not saying they should be missing teeth or have steam coming off them but just a bit more realism? Is anyone even reading this? I could totally be eating a sandwich right now.
Dustin Hoffman
kbabcock-7563727 January 2019
great series
adencrane11 December 2016
I think this is a great series for entertainment and history....It did inspire me to do more research on the Medici family. I discovered the series isn't entirely historically accurate but then we are talking about events that happened or not over 500 yrs ago..The setting is lush and is everything required for the series to be believable...The actors are all incredible and convincing...even Dustin Hoffman!!The soundtrack is pretty good despite the more modern beats ..I think they should have included more period music. The soundtrack is a bit repetitive but that is my main criticism!The intrigues are complicated by historical flashbacks which takes getting used to but all in all i cant wait for the second season!
Brilliant acting, solid script, looked beautiful!
jilena0081 January 2017
Loved it! Cosimo (and Lorenzo) De Medici are fascinating historical characters and the story line weaves with the intrigue and political tightropes of the day. Of course there are historical liberties but the script and sets recreated the era well. The story drew me in and the acting is brilliant! Loved Contessina's character and Annabel Scholey pulled it off! Hats off to Richard Madden, Giudo Caprino and the entire cast. The real Cosimo was a key player in the formation of the Renaissance, no small thing. Love that a series would tackle the era and the real pressures that such a significant person faced. "Medici" was inspiring, educational and looked beautiful. Another review said the dialogue was boring which surprises me but it wasn't really an age of "zingers", maybe that's what they were looking for.
Do these people ever catch a break????
LauraAnnG30 December 2019
I was a bit confused by Netflix and started watching the second series first, before realizing I needed to go back to the first season.
My main takeaway from spending 16 or so hours (give or take, see below) watching the first two seasons is that the entire show is just relentlessly distressing. What happens to these poor characters is a steady stream of horror. The Plague. Betrayal. War. Imprisonment. Betrayal. Beatings. Murder. Oh... And did I mention Betrayal?
I was so desperate as I got into the second half of the second series for something good to happen that I started fast forwarding. I just couldn't take it any more. I needed it to end.
Maybe that's in part due to binge watching this. The relentless "drama" (really, that's too tame a word for what transpires in these 16 episodes) just becomes too overwhelming.
I can't fault the acting, the production, etc. (aside from the music and sound problems). And the history is interesting -- I know quite a bit about Lorenzo, but Cosimo was less well known to me and I found those episodes intriguing.
I had trouble HEARING some of the dialogue. Due in part to the awful and overly loud music that they inflict on the audience, but also I swear that at times the actors are mumbling or that the audio was faulty. I even turned on closed captioning but (AND NETFLIX DO YOU KNOW THIS?) it appears many lines of dialog are totally missing. Like maybe 1 out of 3 or 4! What is going on here? At any rate, it was frustrating not hearing what the actors were saying -- especially at extremely key moments. That is something that is pretty unforgivable.
I wish I could say I recommend this. I wish there was more happiness and humor. Surely those times could not have been so ubiquitously dark and depressing? I read that a third series is on its way (more Lorenzo, it would seem) and I'm not even sure I want to watch it.
P.S. There is one reviewer who provides details on watching series 3. Is this person like the only person on the planet who has seen it? That is just bizarre.
My main takeaway from spending 16 or so hours (give or take, see below) watching the first two seasons is that the entire show is just relentlessly distressing. What happens to these poor characters is a steady stream of horror. The Plague. Betrayal. War. Imprisonment. Betrayal. Beatings. Murder. Oh... And did I mention Betrayal?
I was so desperate as I got into the second half of the second series for something good to happen that I started fast forwarding. I just couldn't take it any more. I needed it to end.
Maybe that's in part due to binge watching this. The relentless "drama" (really, that's too tame a word for what transpires in these 16 episodes) just becomes too overwhelming.
I can't fault the acting, the production, etc. (aside from the music and sound problems). And the history is interesting -- I know quite a bit about Lorenzo, but Cosimo was less well known to me and I found those episodes intriguing.
I had trouble HEARING some of the dialogue. Due in part to the awful and overly loud music that they inflict on the audience, but also I swear that at times the actors are mumbling or that the audio was faulty. I even turned on closed captioning but (AND NETFLIX DO YOU KNOW THIS?) it appears many lines of dialog are totally missing. Like maybe 1 out of 3 or 4! What is going on here? At any rate, it was frustrating not hearing what the actors were saying -- especially at extremely key moments. That is something that is pretty unforgivable.
I wish I could say I recommend this. I wish there was more happiness and humor. Surely those times could not have been so ubiquitously dark and depressing? I read that a third series is on its way (more Lorenzo, it would seem) and I'm not even sure I want to watch it.
P.S. There is one reviewer who provides details on watching series 3. Is this person like the only person on the planet who has seen it? That is just bizarre.
Visually interesting.
paulcreeden23 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
I start by saying that I study medieval European history. This Netflix series is best consumed as a visual experience, but not as an accurate historical representation. The art direction is admirable. It creates the atmosphere of medieval Florence in scale, if not a little too clean.
The vicious rivalries between banking families is probably the most accurate aspect of the history. Vicious rivalry in medieval Italy was an all-consuming pastime. The small village of San Gimignano, about 20 miles south of Florence, once boasted 72 family towers in medieval times, some over 200 feet tall. The towers were small castles where families could retreat from violent rivalries.
Richard Madden's hypnotic eyes serve his part well. He does a good job of holding the somewhat scattered script together. Guido Caprino (Marco) and Alessandro Sperduti (Piero) deliver engaging performances. Dustin Hoffman as the Medici patriarch is badly placed. He seems like a modern patriarch of a Manhattan garment business who traveled to Florence in a time machine. Brian Cox, looking suitably bored, delivers a usual Brian Cox. Lex Shrapnel delivers one of the best supporting performances as the villainous Ricciardo.
It's better than the Starz-BBC's horrific "DaVinci's Demons" of recent cable TV production which portrayed historically homosexual DaVinci as a womanizer. "Medici" is on the level of Netflix production of "Marco Polo" or HBO's "Borgias", but not as interesting in content.
The vicious rivalries between banking families is probably the most accurate aspect of the history. Vicious rivalry in medieval Italy was an all-consuming pastime. The small village of San Gimignano, about 20 miles south of Florence, once boasted 72 family towers in medieval times, some over 200 feet tall. The towers were small castles where families could retreat from violent rivalries.
Richard Madden's hypnotic eyes serve his part well. He does a good job of holding the somewhat scattered script together. Guido Caprino (Marco) and Alessandro Sperduti (Piero) deliver engaging performances. Dustin Hoffman as the Medici patriarch is badly placed. He seems like a modern patriarch of a Manhattan garment business who traveled to Florence in a time machine. Brian Cox, looking suitably bored, delivers a usual Brian Cox. Lex Shrapnel delivers one of the best supporting performances as the villainous Ricciardo.
It's better than the Starz-BBC's horrific "DaVinci's Demons" of recent cable TV production which portrayed historically homosexual DaVinci as a womanizer. "Medici" is on the level of Netflix production of "Marco Polo" or HBO's "Borgias", but not as interesting in content.
Great show
trricky25 December 2016
I believe that this series deserve a lot of credit to create a complex story to Florentine republic. I know some people might disagrees, but I'm enthusiastic to follow the schemes and the art of intrigue as old politics were. I wish to see soon the second series of it. Cosimo life is a small part of Medici legacy and I hope to see more of the Lorenzo saga in the next series. Cosimo for sure put them in the history book, but Lorenzo is the one that create the Renaissance and he would deserve a series... I don't know how they will jump ahead of a century but I wish they do, Anyway I've enjoyed the series and I believe the wife/ husband relationship is overrated, since at that age women's were not supposed to act in behalf of their husband. I wish they could
Promised a lot but delivered less than expected
sberridge776 January 2017
The story, the cast, the location all promised a lot but the dialogue let the overall standard down. The early story of the growth of the Medici family to the height of influence in medieval Florence was told by switching the setting 20 years backwards and forwards, which made it tricky to grasp who all the characters were and what exactly was going on. The main characters of father and two sons were clear but you really need to know who the subsidiary characters are to get the full story. With that caveat the settings are gorgeous, the two brothers are well cast, Lorenzo in particular is good, and I hope that as the story progresses the other characters fall into focus. Historical accuracy is a bit hit and miss but quite honestly only to be expected.
It was like watching an ALL STARS game
Shak0M7 February 2021
God, what a period it was. And this series shows it all with class. They're all here: Donatello, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Vespucci, Michelangelo, Machiavelli and of course the Medici... Just to think that all this giants lived in the same era, same country and some just couple of streets far from each other... How much they achieved, what a huge impact they had and still have nowadays...
What they did back then, will never die
and it never should.
Awaiting new season, but would appreciate more historical adherence
svetlana-4317819 March 2017
The show was captivating, I watched the entire season in 3-4 days. Yet I do think there was too much soap opera there: when you watch a historical show like this, I think sticking more to the history, the actual events would be much better than showing some legs and sex. This is the mid-15th Century, yet it seems to have glossed over or completely ignored some of the most important things happening in Europe then: the Black Plague wiped out a quarter of Europe - yet it is only briefly mentioned; the Inquisition that had been gutting Europe for 300 years prior - and 400 years after - is not mentioned at all. The Crusades, the famines, the civil wars in Europe (with the influx of refugees everywhere including Florence) - Nada. Not to mention the décor that is totally out of place - Fleur De Lis wall coverings? That'd be French, not Florence. The beautiful baroque-ish other wall coverings? Knock-offs of Fortuny, circa mid-19'th century (doubt they had the real thing, that costs $400/yard to the trade), not 15th Century Florence. Many other historical mishaps. That DID spoil the show a lot for me. Those were easily researched and easily implemented things, yet they didn't seem to care that much.
High quality show about Italian history
christinakuhlmann24 July 2019
Usually I don't write reviews because of my bad English. But this show is so great but underrated, so I make an exception.
If you like tv shows about history, Medici is a must-watch. The story takes place in Florence, Italy, in the 15th century. I don't want to spoiler the plot, so I only name some of the topics: Family, intrigues, politics, religion, arranged marriage, bankers, war, aristocracy - all in all, everything a good historical tv show needs. Even though it's an unknown show, it looks like high-budget.
Most actors are unknown but very talented - I'm sure some of them will have a great career. But there are also well known faces like Richard Madden, Sean Bean and Dustin Hoffman. Most actors are British or Italian.
The costumes look authentic. Most scenes are shot in real Florence, so the scenery is very authentic, too.
A special commendation goes to the music. This is the only show (and I watched many of them) where I never skip the outro.
All in all Medici - Masters of Florence reminds me of the Kings Landing storylines in the first Game of Thrones seasons, especially the scenes with Tyrion, Litllefinger, Cersei, Tywin and the rest of the gang. So if you enjoyed that, I'm sure you should give Medici a chance.
Sorry if my English was too bad, and thanks for reading!
Sorry if my English was too bad, and thanks for reading!
All that glitters
maggie_wondercat10 December 2016
Warning: Spoilers
Oh look, Guido Caprino is galloping across the countryside on the same horse on what appears to be a different day though the scenery and the weather are all suspiciously similar. That is what I found myself saying by episode four. I had lost count of these instances while watching Medici: Masters of Florence. Warning: a few vague spoilers ahead The show opens using the ancient device of flashbacks to tell the story of how Cosimo De' Medici learned the arts of politicking, deception, and supply chain management from his now dead father, artfully played by Dustin Hoffman who left his occasional dampness at home and brought his most refined Shylock with him. The problem is that this particular storytelling device is so clumsily introduced it is distracting instead of absorbing. This continues from episode to episode with varying degrees of success and relevance. I appreciate the writing of Nicholas Meyer who brought us The Prince of Egypt and Star Trek IV - "the one with the whales" but there is little fluidity to be found here. The real art of the show lies in its cinematography, costuming, and locale. Even the CGI is magnificent and it is clear that is where the budget went. A host of cultivated actors fill out the cast and do their best with a script that requires you believe that the 1400's were really fraught with hygiene, good teeth, and a Florence that has a population of 12 people - and those 12 move to Rome when it too needs a population. The wink and nod at Game of Thrones in episode two might make a few fans laugh or gawk at the screen for a moment but that moment then leads to a reminder that we are watching a TV show and not immersed in the rich history of one of the renaissance's finest, most ingenious, most insidious families that impacted the rule of kingdoms far flung and for generations to come. I will not nit pick at historical accuracy. These shows invariably reshape the story to make a point or to move the plot along and this is storytelling, not a history class. If you are taking these shows as gospel, then you are doing it wrong. If you are taking it as inspiration to learn more, you are doing it right. The best performances come from the often purse-lipped but quietly determined Annabel Scholey as Contessina "You can't rob Peter to pay...Peter", David Bamber who always is supremely cast as the complication - see BBC's Pride & Prejudice and try not to shift uncomfortably at his Mr. Collins - portraying Pope Eugenius IV, and Frances Barber as the glorious and devious Piccarda whose role leaves a lasting mark throughout the first season. Brian Cox embraces his supporting role as Guadagni with such subtlety that, although a big name, his presence adds depth rather than detracts from his scenes. Unfortunately, Lex Shrapnel, a standout in K-19 The Widowmaker, doesn't quite know what to do with his hands or his character. His gestures are stiff and awkward, sometimes dramatically holding a pose for a photographer that isn't there which works on stage but is jarring on screen. And, instead of demonstrating the internal struggle of a once good man twisted with his desire for revenge, he goes for all out deluded and irredeemable. Bad guys need to be just likable enough that their impetus, their struggle is something that can garner, even subconsciously, the audience's empathy - unless they're inexplicably and completely mad with evil. Shrapnel's Albizzi is sometimes smug, sometimes self-righteous, and quickly loses credibility. Warning: super-vague spoiler ahead: Richard Madden does what he can with a character that only seems to develop off-screen. Bad things happen "around" Cosimo not "because of" Cosimo. He doesn't appear to learn anything until much much later from his father's often blunt and brutal lessons and, in fact, doesn't seem to merit them anything more than a sad sideways glance and a shrug in the moment. His transformation is happenstance. His behavior toward Contessina is supposed to be explained in the flashbacks but slides back and forth from hot to cold in a manner that defies explanation. A sudden and completely forced change of character comes about mid season upon Cosimo's return home that leaves the viewer wondering just what the heck happened on that stretch of road between Venice and Florence because it sure didn't happen in the city of canals. By the end of the season, it seems like all the actors know where they need to be in their performances but Mr. Madden continues to bear the appearance of a young man in the clothes of an adult, both in form and in role. Whether this is the result of weak writing or weak directing or a combination, I'm unsure. Perhaps in season two he will have found his sea legs. Ultimately, the show is watchable and, in many places, very enjoyable. One cannot escape, however, the feeling that the viewer is being fed little pieces of digestible candy for story. There's an almost patronizing simplicity to the writing that removes the "vanishing point" and generates a two-dimensional result. Great actors can do a lot with very little and the very good actors here satisfy more than enough. Now let's watch Guido Caprino gallop across the same countryside on the same sunny day for the nineteenth time. That horse never gets tired.
Please stabilize the sound
christachandler7 August 2021
I love the plot / story line. It's a very interesting story. I would have given it 10 stars but I have to constantly turn the volume up to hear the voices & immediately turn it back down because the music & sound effects are blaring. I even tried the standardize sound feature on my TV with no relief. This is the only show I'm watching on Netflix that has this issue & it's quite annoying.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
