The second season of DA VINCI’S DEMONS continues a unique blend of historical fact mixed with fantasy as we get blood transfusions, a submarine, a trip to the Machu Picchu (in South America) where Leonardo meets the deluded Inca High Priestess Ima Parma which leads to some moments that wouldn’t feel out of place in an Alejandro Jodorwosky film, and more of the mystery involving Leo’s mother.  It also reveals the journey it took for Da Vinci and Riario took to get to the first scene of the first episode (and that journey isn’t over by the end of episode five). The first two episodes wrap up the cliffhangers from the end of the first season before Da Vinci gets back on his quest for the Book of Leaves and answers about his mother, but Riario is also taking the same journey.   Lucrezia Donati plots her revenge against Pope Sixtus IV and the story is very interesting indeed, but I thought parts of that story were already revealed in season one.

 

Still I like how the second season is shaping up with the new characters they are throwing in like Amerigo Vespucci and the bastard child of the Medici family.  David S. Goyer and the writing staff are definitely taking creative license with Leonardo Da Vinci since he had a two year gap where no one knew where he was while they also weave in the usual historical events of the time.   I do like how they are involving what are (probably) the Incas in this season and the production design seems to have a bigger budget than last season with some location work for the South America scenes.   I am a big fan of the small moments like Leonardo posing as Riario in the first scene of THE VOYAGE OF THE DAMNED that it made me think of Riario for a few moments before I realized it was Da Vinci and also the same episode features a moment where Da Vinci has to draw a better picture of himself on a wanted poster (when he complains it doesn’t anything like him).   The second half of season two resolves the Inca Empire plot and show how easy alliances can shift when faced with a new enemy.   Da Vinci and Riario have to team up in South America while another alliance between enemies form when a threat arises from the East.

 

David S. Goyer and the production team develop a very deep historical action fantasy which ends in another series of cliffhangers to be resolved in season three.   The production design is beautiful as they create various locations with rich detail and the music reflects each location.   Riario looks to redeem himself for his sins, but he is trapped by his past and present.  I just wonder how that is played out as the enemies of Man continue to plot against Da Vinci finding the Book of Leaves.

 

 

SPECIAL FEATURES:

THE JOURNEY BEGINS: SEASON 1 RECAP (4:15)

A CLOSER LOOK (10:50)- cast and crew talk about season 2 from the characters, the storylines, production design, building 22 new sets, costumes, music, and more

CREATING THE NEW WORLD (3:41)- a look at how they created South America by combining stuff shot in Wales and Mexico and using CGI to marry the two of them together for the show

NEW SETS (4:30)-  the production design of 22 new sets for the various settings that include a ship, Rome, Naples, and the Inca Empire along with how they used set extensions for various scenes.

 

FINAL ANALYSIS:  If you enjoyed the first season of DA VINCI’S DEMONS, the second season will delight.  If you are a fan of historical fiction mixed with conspiracy, you should start with season one and then watch the second season.   They continue to blend history with fantasy to create a very entertaining series.

 

This review is ©3-9-2015 David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission.  Send all comments to feedback@enterline-media.com

 

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