Medici: The Magnificent Season 3, Episode 2 recap: The Ten

Netflix series Medici: The Magnificent episode 302 sees Lorenzo strategize.

Previously on Medici: The Magnificent, Lorenzo (Daniel Sharman) quarreled with Pope Sixtus IV (Raoul Bova) after the failed Pazzi conspiracy. We also learned that Giuliano de’ Medici (Bradley James) has a son named Giulio (Zukki DeAbaitua), who joined the Medici clan after fleeing from the villainous Ricci (David Brooks Miller) — the henchman who had slain Giulio’s mother, Fioretta Gorini (Chiara Baschetti).

As episode 302 begins, we’re informed that Florence has been warring with the Pope for several months. Florence’s army — led by the mercenary Guiscardi (Marco Palvetti) — is significantly outmanned, as the Papal States are quite powerful. Alfonso II of Naples (Marco Foschi) urges Lorenzo to surrender. If that’s not enough, the priori vote against reinforcing with mercenaries.

In response, Bruno Bernardi (Johnny Harris’s composite advisor character) leads Lorenzo to consider a war council of ten men (hence the episode title). Bernardi is a little crude, advising Lorenzo to take power while maintaining the mirage of freedom of choice. Meanwhile, Lorenzo’s wife, Clarice (Synnove Karlsen), gets rattled by a dying soldier who turns away from God.

More from Netflix

• Snap your fingers, Mattel to release Wednesday dolls and collector sets in 2024!
• Show Snob’s Premiere Review: Watch, Pass, Wait and See (December 4, 2023)
• Show Snob’s Premiere Review: Watch, Pass, Wait and See (November 27, 2023)
• 5 TV Show Advent Calendars you’ll want this holiday season (2023)!
• Miss Face Off? 2 seasons are available to watch on Netflix!

It’s also learned that the pox is going around, which further complicates Lorenzo’s aims. For help, Lorenzo turns to Lucrezia Donati (Alessandra Mastronardi) to influence Nicolò Ardinghelli (Pietro Ragusa) of the priori. They are unsuccessful. As a precaution, Lorenzo sends the pregnant Clarice away to escape pox and the siege.

Medici: The Magnificent — A glimpse into philosophy

Medici: The Magnificent has many big moments of tactical surprises. In response to the priori’s inability to muster reinforcements against Riario (Jack Roth) and the Pope, Lorenzo announces his resignation. It forces the priori to accept Lorenzo’s call for reinforcements, although he has conditions.

They must step aside for the war council of ten. Lorenzo assures the priori that, although it must dissolve itself now, it can reconvene after the war. They don’t particularly like it, but civil unrest pressures them to accept the terms. The war council of 10 begins to form, with Soderini (Jacopo Olmo Antinori) among the first chosen.

Lorenzo also finds time to meet with Leonardo da Vinci (Stephen Hagan), who happens to be studying a human body. We gain possible insight into philosophies of the day, as da Vinci muses, “If God does exist, do you really think he cares who lives or dies?”

We also see young Giulio struggle with his education — possibly distracted by having a new family and also his mother’s recent murder. Giulio doesn’t care about the “tri-partite soul, ” which is said to be spirit, appetite, and reason. Later in the episode, Sandro Botticelli (Sebastian De Souza) also imparts artistic wisdom on a young Giovanni de’ Medici (William Franklin Miller), who wishes to be under Sandros tutelage.

Another attack

The Medici family and Lorenzo are frequently attacked in Medici: The Magnificent, and this episode shows more of the insidious plotting that is war. Although Clarice the peace-maker invites the exiled Bianca (Aurora Ruffino) to visit her, it becomes clear that even a pregnant woman isn’t safe from Riario’s assassins.

Giulio is still not safe either. When he runs away to the village, he sees Ricci. With some help, Giulio escapes on horseback into the fields. Ricci and his assassins then show up at Clarice’s place. Luckily, Lorenzo and some others happen to be there by this point, and they fight off Ricci’s men (Ricci even gets an arrow shot through his hand).

Amidst the panic, Clarice gives birth to a baby boy, who is to be named Maddalena. It’s not all good news, of course. Lorenzo learns that Guiscardi is bought off by Riario (part of the problem with mercenaries). Florence is still lacking reinforcements. In fact, Lorenzo’s mother (Sarah Parish) even claims that they have already lost. However, Lorenzo’s just not having it. He intends to head to Naples to convince King Ferrante (Ray Stevenson) to break his alliance with the Pope.

What are your thoughts on Medici: The Magnificent?  Let us know in the comments!