As the third episode of Leonardo begins, Stefano Giraldi (Freddie Highmore) approaches the Ambassador to confirm he read his statement. Bernardo Bembo (Flavio Parenti) claims he saw Leonardo kill Caterina de Cremona (Matilda De Angelis). Stefano believes he saw Caterina die from poison, but never saw Leonardo (Aidan Turner) administer the poison. Bernardo admits she wrote to him asking to see him on the day she died although she never said why. Stefano finds it odd that he came despite not seeing her in years. He knows how they met, but doesn’t know why they parted. Bernardo blames love and calls it the poisoner of reason. Eleven years earlier in Milan, Tommaso Masini (Alessandro Sperduti) worries about Leonardo because he has been hanging upside-down for too long. Everyone is told to make way for the Duke Regent before Duke Ludovico Sforza (James D’Arcy) rides by.

Leonardo believes the extra flow of blood has helped him think of ways to captivate the Duke. Tommaso learns that the Duke already offered his patronage only for Leonardo to refuse him. Leonardo admits the Duke said he doesn’t make the same offer twice. Tommaso can’t believe he didn’t mention this before they left Florence. At the pub, they’re introduced to an actor named Thierry (Hugo Becker) who makes a mess. Tommaso pleads with Leonardo to go back to Florence, but he doesn’t think there is a future for him there. Leonardo shows him a picture of the war machine he has been drawing. Tommaso reminds him that he isn’t a military engineer. Leonardo isn’t sure about that though. Later the Sforza Chamberlain (Matthew Steer) tells Leonardo that His Excellency will see him. He goes into the palace with Chamberlain and learns how to bow when meeting his Excellency.

Leonardo gets distracted when he sees guards throwing bodies onto a cart. When he meets Sforza, he is asked about the dog’s collar as Sforza says he believes it is a man’s duty to make everything around him beautiful. He doesn’t think Leonardo is there to beg for his patronage. Leonard explains that is when he approached him as an artist. Today, he is coming before him as an engineer. He shows him a mechanism for pushing siege ladders away from walls and a mobile cannon. Sforza believes he is dressing the truth since he has no passion for war. He accuses Leonardo of ruining his reputation in Florence and trying his luck here. Besides, he has all the defenses he needs. Leonardo confesses that he doesn’t have a passion for war, but he has a passion for art and painting. He doesn’t think Sforza has a true work of art. Leonardo swears he will deliver a masterpiece that the world will marvel at if he gives him another chance.

They watch the masque of Lady Beatrice (Miriam Dalmazio). Once they finish, Sforza talks to Lady Beatrice. Caterina approaches Leonardo and removes her mask. She tells him that Bernardo is here for trade deals. Leonardo tells her that he is here because he has nowhere else to go. He didn’t get an offer from Moro. Bernardo joins them moments later and introduces Leonardo to Sanseverino who is responsible for the safety of the Duke Regent. When the Duke returns, he tells Leonardo he has been discussing him with his wife. They have a commission for him after all. A group of actors has come here to perform Poliziano’s “La Fabula di Orfeo” for their nephew who is a sad young man. They want Leonardo to design the production and cheer him up. The Duke calls it an opportunity to prove himself worthy of his patronage. Sanseverino tells Leonardo that he doesn’t have an artist’s soul.

They see the Duke of Milan sitting alone. Later, Beatrice tells Leonardo more about the story while the actors rehearse nearby. Thierry tells Leonardo that they plan only to sing. Leonardo asks about the scenery and stage. Thierry says he only requires trees from Il Moro’s lapdog. Leonardo meets with Caterina later and tells her about Thierry. He complains that he shouldn’t be painting baubles for tomfools. She reminds him that this is an audition. Leonardo is worried that he won’t be rewarded for his efforts because he doesn’t know how to live like Caterina. She believes he can breathe life into anything because she gave him wings to fly out of the gutter.

Caterina recommends masks and fireworks. She doesn’t think this is the end of his story. When she returns, she tells Bernardo that she gave Antonio the night off. She worries that the Doge of Venice will be unimpressed when his report fails to arrive. He gives her jewelry that he wants her to wear as a favor to him. Caterina agrees if he asks Moro to take Leonardo off this entertainment and commission a painting from him instead. She keeps pleading with him until he agrees to do it. The next day, she overhears Bernardo talking to Ludovico about Leonardo. Ludovico has heard the rumors about the wild stag of Venice being captured. He believes she had Bernardo doing her bidding on her lover’s behalf. He knows it was Caterina and tells Bernardo that they regularly frequent a tavern without a chaperon at night.

He couldn’t tolerate the idea that a softling could satisfy his mistress better than him. Caterina listens from cover while Ludovico promises he is teasing him. Leonardo doesn’t like seeing Thierry behind him even though the Chamberlain told him to be there. Leonardo and Tommaso ask him not to touch the pigment unless he wants to lose a finger. Leonard tells him he needs to make this theatrical the most spectacular ever seen in Milan because his future depends on it. Thierry doesn’t care what men like Ludovico think since they don’t know anything about music and art. Leonardo calls him fortunate. After he can’t afford to paint without his patronage. Thierry takes his book and runs away with it so Leonardo tries to chase him. When he opens the book, Thierry is surprised to see machines like that. He closes the book and tells Leonardo to make Orpheus his world. Leonardo says he’ll need more time.

Thierry says he has a month and they can help. Next, Thierry goes to Chamberlain who asks if the artist has what they need. Giangaleazzo (Edan Hayhurst) calls for Leonardo and asks him to take a seat. He asks what Leonardo thinks of hunting because his uncle thinks it’ll make a man of him. Leonardo doesn’t care for it. He believes he is already a man so he doesn’t need to kill birds to prove it. Gian wonders how someone could be so cruel. Leonardo asks which bird is his favorite. While Gian isn’t sure, Leonardo says he thinks his favorite is the pelican. The bird has a great love for its young. When it finds them dead in the nest from a snake bite, it pierces itself in the heart and bathes them in blood till they return to life. Gian likes pigeons. He feels sorry for them because they’re so unremarkable.

Leonardo reveals the pigeon is a symbol for ingratitude. When it is old enough to no longer need to be fed, it will begin fighting with its father. The struggle continues until the young one drives out the older one. Leonardo promises he didn’t mean any offense. Gian says his uncle is burdened because his mother didn’t want him. He has no intention of driving him out though. Leonardo doesn’t think he would’ve organized entertainment for him if he felt burdened. It’ll be one that truly astonishes him since Leonardo has been tasked with designing it. Later, Thierry asks Leonardo if they should use masks and fireworks. Leonardo can’t see the truth in this so Thierry explains it is just a thrill, a diversion, and a taste of pleasure. After he asks why it matters, Leonardo says it matters because art lifts people up. Thierry doesn’t believe there is a meaning since they’re here for a moment and gone.

Theatricals are about the moment and the now. If he can unlock himself enough to see that, he might even enjoy it. Thierry takes Leonardo flying with help from Dante and Deo. Caterina arrives in time to see him flying. The experience seems to bring Leonardo to life. He believes he needs to be the creator of a world within a world. Leonardo wants to use the same four elements the Gods do, including air, earth, water, and fire. He wants the audience to see and feel the stench of demon breath, the kiss of an angel, and the heartbreak of a man losing his one true love. While working on the performance, he sees Chamberlain talking to someone with a strange medallion on his boot.

When Tommaso runs into Caterina, she asks what he is doing in Milan before accusing him of lying to her. He admits it although Leonardo knows what he did. She doesn’t want him hurting Leonardo in any way, but he asks why he would. Bernardo tells Caterina it is good that she is spending time with the ladies of the court since they’re more suitable company than Leonardo. He has been too busy to see her although she is sure that’ll change once the theatrical is over. Bernardo asks if she’d mind wearing something particularly fetching tonight because he wants her help getting into Il Moro’s good graces. She agrees before asking him not to be too agreeable because she has known men like Ludovico. If you don’t stand up for yourself, they’ll never respect you. That night, someone tampers with Leonardo’s pigments. The next day, Tommaso tells Leonardo that he believes someone has been stealing from them.

Leonardo has an idea when he sees Thierry sitting with others. He tells Tommaso that he’ll look into the thefts. Thierry pulls Leonardo to the side to tell him that he won’t be around the night before the production. Leonardo thanks him for inspiring him before Thierry mentions the first time they met and mocks him. Then, he asks Leonardo to come to France with him. Leonardo only says he’ll be late. Chamberlain yells for the dog and takes him away. He puts something on the dog’s back. The dog goes to Ludovico who rubs him and gets the substance on his hands. He tells Giangaleazzo that it is time for him to stop focusing on the arts and turn his attention to politics. He gets Leonardo’s attention. Leonardo says Caterina was warning him that there is pheasant in the food and he doesn’t eat any animals.

His body won’t be a tomb for other creatures. Gian likes that although he’d rather hear about the theatricals. Ludovico begins getting sick as Leonardo notices powder on his fingers. Once he falls to the ground, Leonard tells everyone not to touch him and get him a pestle, charcoal, turmeric, salt, and milk. He tells them that he thinks someone laced the dog’s fur with a deadly poison, but he knows an antidote that isn’t always successful. Sanseverino tells Chamberlain that he doesn’t look well either. He tries to run only for the guards to grab him. After Leonardo gives Ludovico the antidote, he says they will have to wait. Caterina joins him later to find out what is going on, but Leonardo hasn’t heard anything. In the morning, Leonardo learns that Ludovico has woken and he wishes to thank him. Sanseverino asks how an artist knows the antidote for poison. Leonardo explains that many pigments artists use are poisons.

He says the coppery pigment used last night is hard to come by in Milan. Ludovico lets him know that the theatricals will continue as planned. As they leave, Leonardo asks Sanseverino if he thinks he is a traitor. He knows how desperate he is for the patronage, how he didn’t like the task he was given, and how creative he is. Leonardo tells him what he saw and the man with the gold lion-headed medallion on his boots. Leonardo goes outside where the theatrical is to be held. Caterina wants to speak to him because he is anxious, but Bernardo tells her she won’t see him again. She doesn’t want to cooperate. Bernardo says she is free to return to the streets of Florence if she isn’t happy with their arrangement. As the Duke comes out, Leonardo tells Thierry that they think he poisoned him. Thierry believes he should forget them because this is his moment.

He tells Leonardo he is a god before kissing him. As the theatrical continues, Sanseverino sneaks up behind Thierry and stabs him. He finishes him off after he collapses to the ground. Ludovico tells everyone that this is the fate that awaits all traitors. Sans tells Leonardo that the actor was using him to gain favor in the court and was part of a plan orchestrated in the name of King Louis of France. Leonard’s tip about the medallion confirmed the culprit. Ludovico is indebted to him. Leonardo is told not to blame himself. Ludovico goes on to say love is the poisoner of reason.

Bernardo tells Stefano the same and argues that meeting Leonardo was her tragedy. Stefano notes that he hasn’t explained how Leonardo can be responsible. Bernardo encourages him to look at the precious facts such as the poison that nearly killed Ludovico. It was the same poison used to kill Caterina. If Leonardo was able to save Ludovico, it doesn’t make sense that he wouldn’t have saved her.

 

Leonardo Review

The third episode of Leonardo was interesting and fun thanks to some backstabbing, scheming, and the theatrical that turned deadly. Some of the characters are more interesting than others. In particular, Caterina can be mesmerizing at times and I hope we get to learn more about Giangaleazzo. The flying scene and the theatrical were equally fun.

The series is getting better as it goes although it is somewhat slow at times. Thierry was an interesting character so it is too bad that he had to depart so soon. His relationship with Leonardo was good even though the romance side seemed to fall flat because was no real spark between the two characters.

Aidan Turner is good in the lead role of Leonardo even though I find myself more intrigued by Matilda De Angelis. The episode scores a 6.5 out of 10. Recaps of Leonardo can be found on Reel Mockery here. Learn how to support our work at this link.