Les Médicis: Maîtres de Florence

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.