Da Vincis Demons Season 1 Episode 1 ✓

When Da Vinci’s Demons first aired on April 12, 2013, it arrived with an unusual burden. It wasn’t just another historical drama; it was Starz’s ambitious answer to Game of Thrones , wrapped in the enigma of history’s greatest polymath. The pilot episode, officially titled “The Hanged Man,” needed to accomplish a Herculean task: introduce a young, brash Leonardo da Vinci, establish an alternate Renaissance filled with conspiracy, and hook audiences without the safety net of dragons or White Walkers.

Did it succeed? Absolutely. Here is everything you need to know about Da Vinci’s Demons Season 1 Episode 1 —from its explosive opening scene to the occult secrets that drive the entire series. The episode opens in media res. Florence, 1477. A 25-year-old Leonardo da Vinci (Tom Riley) is not the serene, elderly painter of legend. He is a rockstar artist, a hedonistic genius, and a wanted man. The episode throws us into a breathtaking chase: Leonardo flees across Florentine rooftops from the city guard, having allegedly defiled a church. But this is no mere prank. He has stolen a human corpse for dissection—a crime punishable by death. da vincis demons season 1 episode 1

Within the first ten minutes, we learn everything about this version of da Vinci: he is insufferably arrogant, painfully brilliant, and haunted by a childhood memory of his mother being taken away by a mysterious, cloaked figure in a cave. When Da Vinci’s Demons first aired on April

Have you watched Leonardo’s rooftop race? Do you think the Sons of Mithras are a silly addition or a genius twist? Let us know in the comments below. And remember: “The truth is a labyrinth. Only the fearless find the center.” Did it succeed

For fans of Vikings , The Witcher , or Outlander , this is the Renaissance-fueled adrenaline shot you didn’t know you needed. As of 2025, the series is available for digital purchase on Amazon Prime Video , Apple TV , and Starz Play . The pilot is often available for free on YouTube via official clips, but for the full 58-minute director’s cut, a subscription is required. Rating for "The Hanged Man": ★★★★½ (9/10) Lost half a point only because the hallucination sequence lingers a bit too long. Otherwise, a flawless opening act.