Reviewers often note that the show treats history as a starting point rather than a rulebook. For instance:
The story begins on December 26, 1476, with the assassination of the Duke of Milan, an event that threatens the stability of Florence and enrages its leader, . To bolster public morale and project power, the Medicis commission the rising artisan Leonardo da Vinci to create a spectacular Easter display. da vincis demons season 1 episode 1
One of the episode’s most famous sequences pits Leonardo against Giuliano de’ Medici (Tom Bateman) in a sword fight that turns into a geometry lesson. Leonardo, unarmed, uses a broken compass and his knowledge of angles to disarm Giuliano. It’s ridiculous, exhilarating, and perfectly encapsulates the show’s tone: historical figure as swashbuckling intellectual. Reviewers often note that the show treats history