There is such an American drama that tells the story of a famous family in Italy, and it is "The Medici Family: The Famous Family of Philip".
At present, there are three seasons and 24 episodes, and the ratings of each season are good, and it is a large-scale drama that is worth watching.
Plot and character context
How can we build a prominent family that will continue to prosper and prosper for generations to come? Perhaps this play can provide us with some inspiration.
Set in 15th-century Italy, the play depicts the legend of the first three generations of the Medici family, a key player in the Renaissance.
The play covers a wide range of fields, including family, politics, diplomacy, religion and the arts.
With a modest number of characters, you don't need to have a deep historical background to dive into the story – just a general understanding of the Medici family's banking beginnings and Florence's background as a commercial republic.
The characters appear one by one, avoiding the chaos of a large gathering of unfamiliar character names in a large party, which is common in historical dramas.
In addition, the main characters are easy to impress the audience because of their outstanding appearance, which is also consistent with the high appearance of the Medici family members throughout history, as evidenced by the numerous portraits and sculptures that have survived to this day.
For example, the main character, Cosimo Medici, played by Richard Madden, who played Robb Stark in Game of Thrones, is handsome and handsome, and has a lot of popularity.
You will once again experience his deep and melancholy gaze in "The Medici Family".
The handsome appearance of the actors in the play is complemented by the gorgeous and slightly ostentatious costumes of the Renaissance, and the characters are perfectly integrated with the artistic atmosphere of the era.
In particular, the characters wear different costumes in different city-states, which complement the environment of each region and together form a unique cultural identity for each city.
Beautiful scenes
In addition to the visual enjoyment brought by the characters in the play, the presentation of the scene is equally pleasing to the eye.
While beautiful graphics may not be uncommon for British dramas, the portrayal of some historical places in the show has brought us unexpected surprises.
From the Basilica of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence to the Pantheon in Rome to the Doge's Palace in Venice, these landmarks are not only presented on the exterior, but also inside the show, and many important plots revolve around these locations.
The inter-city roads are also picturesque, reminiscent of scenes from the game Assassin's Creed.
The difference is that the buildings in the show are far more detailed and realistic than in the game.
Many people were disappointed with the movie version of Assassin's Creed, but the show brought a touch of familiarity to fans of the game.
The landscape in the show is eye-catching not only because of the game's familiarity with the graphics and streets, as well as the fact that the grandson of the main character, Cosimo Medici, appeared in Assassin's Creed, but also because of the similarity between the plot and the game's plot.
However, this familiarity doesn't stop there.
Although there are heavily armed soldiers in the show, there aren't many actual action scenes, and it won't give you much of the in-game combat experience.
But that doesn't mean the plot lacks tension, and in this respect, the show is more akin to the American movie The Godfather.
From the perspective of growth experience, Cosimo in the play and Michael played by Al Pacino have similarities, they both lead their families out of the predicament, and the means they use can be imagined.
There are even a few paragraphs in the play that have the same structure as "The Godfather", and for fans of "The Godfather", it can be regarded as a few small "easter eggs" hidden.
Of course, while it's also about the rise and fall of the family and the power struggle, it's set between the American mafia and the Florentine bankers, presenting a very different style.
These bankers don't need to install their own people in the government, because they are part of the core of power.
They also had to deal with matters related to religion, as well as complex social relationships such as aristocratic marriages.
Unlike the Corleone family, who came from the same homeland, the Medici family, in addition to fighting and accumulating wealth, also made great contributions in the field of art.
A strong artistic atmosphere
Just as the Renaissance has to mention the Medici family, the discussion of this family cannot avoid the topic of art.
The play not only features some of history's most famous artists, but also shows their creative process.
In addition to the plot, which is directly connected to art, art forms such as painting, sculpture, architecture, and music also run through every detail of the plot.
Artistic communication has sometimes become a topic of emotional exchange between characters, and differences in aesthetic concepts have even been used as a tool for political opponents to attack each other.
The Medici family's home is covered with huge paintings, and sketches drawn by the protagonists themselves often appear in numerous documents.
It's almost impossible to get out of this artistic atmosphere, and the only thing that might make you play is the many Italian names that are still widely known in the play, and it's easy to think of the celebrities of the day.
It is worth mentioning that although the plot focuses on depicting power struggles and artistic creations, it does not ignore the emotional plot.
In fact, the love story presented in the play is all the more fascinating because of the special context of its aristocratic marriage.
In addition, several female characters portrayed in the play also tug at your emotions at all times.
The depictions of food in the play – cheese, wine, vegetables, etc. – are equally eye-catching enough to make your mouth water.
As for the authenticity of the costumes and so on in the play, I can't comment on it, after all, this is a drama, not a documentary.
THE END
An excellent historical group drama, if you want to learn about the history of the Renaissance or the Medici family, and are interested in large-scale dramas, you can definitely try it.