The second episode of Da Vinci’s Demons was far stronger than the premiere episode. The storytelling was more concise, rather than trying to introduce every character all in one hour, and Tom Riley plays the artist and inventor with such passion and glee. He’s a true joy to watch.
Leonardo, following the advice of the Turk, examines the decomposing body of the Hanged Man, who inspired the title of the first episode. In a postmortem worthy of Dr. G, Medical Examiner, he notes that the man’s fingernail is missing. Upon further inspection, he discovers that the fingernail, as well as a key, were ingested by the deceased.
Enter Count Riario. Nephew of the Pope, Bad Guy Extraoidinaire. He wants the key and the Book of Leaves that Leonardo is searching for, and he’s willing to go to great lengths to get it. He tortures Leo’s friend Nico by forcing him to put his hand in a box called the Widow’s Tear. Droplets of his red blood seep from the eye on the sculptured relief on the side of the box, but during the scene I kept thinking, “I must not fear. Fear is the mind–killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear . . .” Also, there is a beheading. We are meant to know that this Hand of the Pope is a dangerous rival for Leonardo.
But the artist is a genius in many ways. He paints! He draws! He is Sherlock Holmes! He uses his powers of deduction to find a particular book in the bookshop, following the trail left by the Hanged Man. But he is nearly thwarted by Riario. At least, until he holds up a grenado, and everyone stops in their tracks. Naturally, I say to myself, “Because he’s holding a thermal detonator!” and then I laugh like Salacious Crumb. But da Vinci’s plan isn’t successful, and they all run away.
To complicate matters, his musket has proven a failure in the eyes of Lorenzo de Medici, and he has to find a way to prove himself.
In a quieter moment in the episode, da Vinci sketches Lucrezia Donati. I’m reminded of Titanic when Rose poses for Jack. The close-up of his eyes as they dart from subject to drawing, the sexual tension. The knowledge that this relationship likely won’t end happily ever after.
And, with the series already renewed for a second season, the possibilities are endless.