Da Vinci’s Demons
Season Two Episode Five
The Sun and the Moon

Clip 2 – The Jungle

In this clip, Leonardo is back on dry land and in search of the walled city that he believes to be the home of the Book of Leaves. He and Zo have two of the seamen from the voyage across the Atlantic with them. In true Star Trek ensign red shirt fashion, these crewmen’s fate is clear!

Leonardo’s journey to retrieve the world-changing Book of Leaves is blocked by the living dead as a hallucinogenic poison courses through his veins, putting Riario in a race against time to get the antidote. Meanwhile, Lorenzo undergoes a deadly trial of his own at the behest of King Ferrante of Naples. John Richards received credit and praise for his work as editor and second unit director on this episode, primarily in the cornfield chase sequences, which despite being set in Machu Picchu, was actually filmed in Swansea.

John’s editing work on the Tower in series one of Da Vinci’s Demons was so well recieved that he was hired again to edit episodes 5 and 6 of series 2, working with Director, Jon Jones.  The Sun and the Moon and the following episode, Rope of the Dead, were set in the 15th century South American city of Machu Picchu.

John, again was involved extensively as 2nd Unit director, primarily in the night time cornfield chase scenes, which were also shot in Swansea, with extensive photoshop image manipulation to make the scenes appear larger than the set would provide in real life, allowing the normally damp Welsh landscape to become a hot South American cityscape.  John recieved a credit for this work.

Plot

Leonardo reunites with Riario and Nico in the New World. Lorenzo attempts to save Florence with the help of an old flame. Clarice struggles to retain control of the Medici Bank.

Starz

Clip 1 – Arriving in America

Clip 2 – The Jungle

The Tower was an opportunity for John to work with David S. Goyer (Man of Steel) fantasy drama series.  The series produced for Starz US cable channel is a re-imagining of Leonardo’s life. John edited this episode, once again working with director, Paul Wilmshurst (Strikeback).  The episode was shot in Swansea on the partially derelict site of the former Ford motor plant.

Plot

Leonard da Vinci (Tom Riley) is accused of sodomy with an associate who he  has previously paid as an artistic model several times for his life drawing and art.

Piero, Leonardo’s estranged father, is ordered to defend his son in court. Senior Pazzi is a late addition unexpected addition to the trial.  It becomes apparent that Rome is behind the trumped up charges. The aim is to throw doubt on the Medicis family. Da Vinci has to become underhand in order to gain a fair outcome to the trial. Lorenzo is struggling to convince the King and Queen of Spain that the Medici family bank is a good place to hold their funds.  The worthiness of the  bank is cast into doubt by losing the blessing of the Roman Pope.  Later, Leonardo turns a corrupt judge during a performance for visiting royals.

The Turk appears in the episode to cast Leonardo’s mind through time where he sees a hanged man…

A play is held for the benefit of the normally modest King of Spain, all attempts are made to temper the usually for Florence immodest performance, in view of how important it is to make a good impression on the guests.  Leonardo steals the show with a light projection of a prominent figure in a compromising position with a farm animal …without fully revealing his identity.

Through bribery Da Vinci escapes the fate which had been arranged for him and we also see a glimpse of his relationship with the male model and perhaps his true sexuality.