The Medici
| Television series | |
|---|---|
| German title | The Medici - Rulers of Florence (Season 1) The Medici - Lorenzo the Magnificent (Seasons 2 & 3) |
| Original title | I Medici (Italy) Medici: Masters of Florence (UK) |
 | |
| Country of production |
Italy , United Kingdom |
| original language | English |
| Year (s) | 2016-2019 |
| Production company |
Lux Vide, Big Light Productions, Wild Bunch TV, Rai Fiction |
| length | about 50 minutes |
| Episodes | 24 in 3 seasons ( list ) |
| genre | Historical drama |
| idea |
Frank Spotnitz , Nicholas Meyer |
| music | Paolo Buonvino |
| camera | Vittorio Omodei Zorini |
| First broadcast | October 18, 2016 (Italy) on Rai Uno |
| German-language first broadcast |
December 27, 2016 on Sky 1 |
| occupation | |
The Medici , subtitled with Ruler of Florence in season 1, and Lorenzo the Magnificent in seasons 2 and 3 (original title: I Medici and Medici: Masters of Florence ) is an Italian - British television series whose production began in 2015. It came on television in Italy in October 2016. In the style of The Tudors and Borgia , an attempt is made to stage the story of one of Italy's most famous dynasties, the Medici , in the style of an opulent costume film and with a large ensemble of international actors .
In German-speaking countries, the first season from 27 to 30 December 2016 when was Pay TV transmitter Sky 1 broadcast. The eight episodes of the second season were broadcast on Rai 1 between October 23 and November 13, 2018 , while the German broadcast took place in four double episodes between December 24 and 27, 2018. The final third season aired on Rai 1 in Italy from December 2, 2019. The German-language broadcast will be on Sky 1 in double episodes from December 23, 2019.
action
The first episodes tell the story of the Medici banking family from Florence around 1410 in flashbacks . The Patriarch Giovanni de Medici helped the Count of Troia , Baldassare Cossa , to the papacy; In return, the bank is allowed to handle the Pope's finances, which leads to the family's rapid economic rise. Giovanni introduces his two sons Cosimo and Lorenzo to the banking business. During a visit to Rome, Cosimo, who would rather be an artist than a banker, met the artist Donatello , who in the following years created many works of art for Florence. A marriage with Contessina de 'Bardi is arranged for Cosimo , from which the son Piero emerges.
The main plot begins in 1429 and lasts in the first season until around 1435. Giovanni was poisoned in the vineyard. Cosimo receives his seat on the Florence city council, the Signoria , in a manipulated lottery procedure. For the technically demanding construction of the dome of the unfinished Florence Cathedral , Cosimo hired the architect Filippo Brunelleschi . When the plague broke out in Florence, Medici's opponents in the Signoria blamed the megalomaniac dome building and destroyed the work that had been started. Cosimo can end the demolition. A war with the Duchy of Milan over the city of Lucca brings the bank into financial difficulties, but can be defused and ended by a peace treaty.
While searching for Giovanni's killer, Cosimo's friend Marco Bello tracks down a pharmacist who had touched the poison. The pharmacist is stabbed to death with a dagger belonging to Lorenzo. Cosimo first accuses his brother, but then lets go of this suspicion. In the meantime, the Albizzi family gains in excess in the Signoria, so that Cosimo is sentenced to death because of the plague for which he is responsible and the unchristian usury demanded by the Medici Bank. Piero is able to prove that some of Abizzi's allegations were lies, and with Contessina's help, the sentence is converted into exile.
Cosimo and some family members (except Contessina) spend the 10-year exile in Venice . Cosimo meets Maddalena, whom he keeps as a mistress and takes with him to Florence after exile. Together with the Doge of Venice, the Medici were able to uncover a conspiracy between the Albizzi and the Duke of Milan after a few months, so that the exile ended immediately. The Medici return to Florence and have Rinaldo Albizzi arrested. Cosimo campaigns for Rinaldo to be sent into exile with his son in order to appear gracious to his opponent. After leaving, the Albizzis are ambushed by contract killers who were allegedly sent by Cosimo.
Since the security situation for the Pope in Rome is difficult (in connection with the Western Schism ), Pope Eugene IV seeks refuge in Florence in the Medici house. Although the family is God-fearing, there are considerable differences between Cosimo and Eugen because of the great wealth of the family. The break occurs when rumors arise about Cosimo's assignment to murder the Albizzis. The Pope leaves Florence and hands over his banking operations to the rival Pazzi family .
There is a liaison between Marco Bello and Maddalena. When Maddalena becomes pregnant, it is unclear whether Cosimo or Marco is the father. Maddalena confirms to Contessina that Cosimo must be the father. Marco is suspected of murdering Giovanni because he had a suspicious land purchase contract in his pocket, but Cosimo lets him go.
As a substitute for Rinaldo Albizzi, the Medici manipulate the well-meaning merchant Bredani into the Signoria, but he is murdered shortly afterwards. Andrea de 'Pazzi is elected as his successor. While searching for Bredani's killer, Lorenzo arrests the perpetrator with the help of Marco. A letter in his possession proves an involvement of Pazzi, who also seeks to dethrone Eugene IV. Bredani's murderer has Lorenzo killed. Piero raises funds from the other banking houses to raise an army and rebuild security in Rome for Eugene IV.
Two months after the murder of Lorenzo and the reinstatement of the Medici Bank with the Pope, Maddalena explains to the caretaker Ugo that Marco should be blamed for the murder of Giovanni. In flashbacks it becomes clear to the viewer that there is a quarrel between Ugo and Giovanni over a secret child of Lorenzo and his lover; Lorenzo was not allowed to find out about the child. Ugo poisoned Giovanni, murdered the pharmacist and tried the murder first on Lorenzo, then on Marco.
In the last scene the waves in Florence are smoothed out on the surface, the dome is about halfway finished.
Cast and dubbing
production
The series was shot exclusively in Italy, including in the original locations of the story, in Florence . Other locations were found in Rome , Bracciano , Tolfa , Santa Severa , Viterbo , Caprarola , Tivoli , Siena , Montepulciano , Volterra and Pistoia . All eight episodes of the first season were directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan , who has already made a mini-series of such a large scale with The Pillars of the Earth .
Episode list
season 1
| No.: | Title (original) | Title (german) | First broadcast - Italy | First broadcast - in German |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Original Sin | original sin | October 18, 2016 | December 27, 2016 |
| 02 | The Dome and the Domicile | cathedral | October 18, 2016 | December 27, 2016 |
| 03 | Pestilence | pest | October 25, 2016 | December 28, 2016 |
| 04 | Judgment Day | Death sentence | October 25, 2016 | December 28, 2016 |
| 05 | Temptation | temptation | November 1, 2016 | December 29, 2016 |
| 06 | Ascendancy | Ascent | November 1, 2016 | December 29, 2016 |
| 07 | Purgatory | purgatory | November 8, 2016 | December 30, 2016 |
| 08 | Epiphany | epiphany | November 8, 2016 | December 30, 2016 |
season 2
| No.: | Title (original) | Title (german) | First broadcast - Italy | First broadcast - in German |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Old Scores | Old bills | 23 October 2018 | December 24, 2018 |
| 02 | Standing alone | Single-handedly | 23 October 2018 | December 24, 2018 |
| 03 | Obstacles And Opportunities | Obstacles and Opportunities | October 30, 2018 | December 25, 2018 |
| 04 | Blood With Blood | eye to eye | October 30, 2018 | December 25, 2018 |
| 05 | Ties That Bind | Blood ties | November 6, 2018 | December 26, 2018 |
| 06 | Alliance | Alliances | November 6, 2018 | December 26, 2018 |
| 07 | Betrayal | Treason | November 13, 2018 | December 27, 2018 |
| 08 | Mass | Lamb Of God | November 13, 2018 | December 27, 2018 |
season 3
| No.: | Title (original) | Title (german) | First broadcast - Italy | First broadcast - in German |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01 | Sopravvivenza | Fight or go down | 2nd December 2019 | 23 December 2019 |
| 02 | I Dieci | The Council of Ten | 2nd December 2019 | 23 December 2019 |
| 03 | Fiducia | In the lion's den | 3rd December 2019 | December 24, 2019 |
| 04 | Innocenti | Ferrara | 3rd December 2019 | December 24, 2019 |
| 05 | La Santa Sede | Faithful service | December 9, 2019 | December 25, 2019 |
| 06 | Un Uomo Senza Importanza | Empty registers | December 9, 2019 | December 25, 2019 |
| 07 | Anime Perdute | Wounded souls | December 11, 2019 | December 26, 2019 |
| 08 | Il Destino Della Città | City of beauty | December 11, 2019 | December 26, 2019 |
Reviews
“No, these 'Medici' did not become the big history hit. There is a lack of fire, surprises, even unusual figures to really sweep the viewer away. Too many scenes have been seen many times, too many conflicts (including the one between Cosimo and the hitherto underemployed Lorenzo) build up very predictably. That doesn't mean that it wasn't enough for an entertaining journey through the Renaissance - sometimes a little cheesy, sometimes a little awkward and always too clean and polished. But that is similar in other series of this type, and those who do not mind these recognition effects will be served properly. "
Web links
- The Medici in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- The Medici rulers of Florence in the German synchronized files
- Official website of BetaFilm
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.gismonda.it/en/2017/01/26/medici-tv-series-location-castle-bracciano/
- ↑ http://www.gismonda.it/en/2017/02/26/medici-tv-series-locations-castle-of-rota/
- ↑ http://www.gismonda.it/en/2017/01/28/medici-tv-series-locations-castle-santa-severa/
- ↑ http://www.gismonda.it/en/2017/03/06/medici-masters-of-florence-tv-series-locations-palazzo-farnese-caprarola/
- ^ Medici , Review by Gian-Philip Andreas, published on Wishlist.de in October 2016, accessed on November 16, 2016.