Medici: Masters of Florence (Seasons 1–3)

Medici: Masters of Florence (I Medici, 2016) is an Italian-British historical drama you can watch online on iFILM, directed by Sergio Mimica-Gezzan. Florence, the 15th century: Cosimo de' Medici (Richard Madden) takes over the family bank after his father Giovanni dies under circumstances that don't add up. The series runs on two tracks — Cosimo's present-day power struggle and a flashback that shows how Giovanni built the dynasty in the first place.

Cosimo has enemies stacking up on all sides: rival merchant families, a city council that resents Medici influence, and the quiet threat of whoever poisoned his father. His younger brother Lorenzo, played by Daniel Sharman, adds another layer of loyalty and tension. The dialogue moves between English and Italian, and much of the series was shot on location in Tuscany and Rome — the skyline behind the characters is the actual one from the period.

Three seasons trace the Medici arc from traders to de facto rulers of Renaissance Europe. What makes the show work is its insistence that money, art patronage and political violence are the same game played with different instruments. Stream all seasons of Medici online on iFILM.