Da Vinci's Demons

As a young man in Renaissance Florence, Leonardo is restless, talented, and restless in ways the city doesn't understand. At 25 he paints, invents, fences, loves, and dreams on an almost feverish scale, sketching machines that seem ahead of their age and puzzling over visions that hint at what might come next. The series follows his early years as he courts patrons, tangles with powerful families, and builds a reputation that makes him admired and dangerous. Allies and rivals, including Lucrezia Donati, Lorenzo de Medici, Vanessa Moschella, and the enigmatic Zoroaster, push him toward choices that change how he thinks about art, science, and power, without giving away later twists.

Created by David S. Goyer, the drama premiered in 2013 on Starz, with Tom Riley starring as Leonardo. The show blends history with speculative invention and features a strong ensemble cast from the first season onward.

The series got some industry attention and a handful of nominations in genre and technical categories, reflecting appreciation for its production values. It wasn't a sweep at major awards shows, but craft elements like design and effects drew notice from peers who work on period and speculative television.

Da Vinci's Demons left a clear mark on how popular TV can treat historical figures, fusing adventure and speculative science. Fans responded with artwork, cosplay, and online discussion about its version of Leonardo, and the show helped make a more action-oriented, myth-tinted Renaissance a recognizable subgenre on television.

Critics and audiences gave mixed to positive feedback, reflected in an average rating around 7.5 out of 10 from viewers. Reviewers tended to praise the visual energy, production design, and Riley's restless lead performance, while noting the liberties taken with history. The show keeps recurring themes of creativity versus power, faith versus reason, and the personal cost of genius at the center of its drama.