Medici has the usual sophistication of British dramas and the grandeur of historical dramas. Among the three clues, one is the struggle between the Medici family and the old nobles (Albizzi/Pazzi), the second is Cosmo's passion for art, and the third is the relationship with his wife Contessina. Logically speaking, the third rule is the weakest. But thanks to the eye-catching performance of actress Annabel Scholey and the superb skills of the screenwriter, the third line, which was originally the most inconspicuous, became the finishing touch.
Many people complained that the actor Kosimo was too cold, and his wife was so beautiful and capable and loved him. How could he remain indifferent after 20 years? He obviously knows everything, but he pretends he can't see in his eyes, and he pretends he doesn't know in his heart. In fact, this is a light abuse and sweet game. It is a story of a lady who "keeps the clouds and sees the moon" and "she finally got him". In the 8 episodes, the two people's rivalry in less than 30 minutes showed amazing tension and level, and it was a three-stage structure of "trust-crisis-sublimation".
In order to get rid of the title of "Wool Merchant", the old Medici decided to find a family with a noble title and began to marry for the eldest son, so the two families began to negotiate conditions. Kosimo listened on the side, as if talking about his future wife, but it sounds like how to sell a cow. Kosimo sadly burns his sketches and physical memories associated with his perfect lover Bianca. Said it was going on a blind date, but it seemed like a tribute to the altar, dedicated to the family. Such an unbalanced mentality was countered by Kosimo on his marriage, which lasted 20 years.
The first time they met, Contessina followed Cosimo's gesture, and the two chatted awkwardly around the room. Contessina glanced at Cosimo, and Cosimo looked to the other side to avoid it. This pattern of women asking men answering, women attacking men defending, runs through their marriages. This conversation is interesting.
Contessina: Are you quite well, Messe De Medici?
Cosimo: Call me Cosimo, if we are to be married.
Contessina: Thank you, Cosimo. But you haven't answer my question.
Cosimo: You can see I am quite well.
Contessina: Then you are not comfortable.(Littering)
Cosimo: You are as directed as I am told.
Contessina: I know you didn't choose this union.
Cosimo: I am not (Showing some interests in her). I do not appreciated to be mated like cattle!
Contessina: Cattle?!
Cosimo: I am sorry if the truth offend you.
Contessina: You know I did not choose it either.
Cosimo: Then why go through it?
Contessina: It benefits my family, of course.
Cosimo: (Dragging her to another room and pinning her against the wall) From the day we married, you will be a Medici, you will not act as your father's agent. You will be my wife. You will be loyal to me and only to me. Do you understand?
Contessina: (Nodding)
Cosimo: (Kissing)
On the wedding night, the two really mate like livestock. He doesn't invest, and she doesn't enjoy it at all. Afterwards, he got up and sat on the edge of the bed, and she touched his face with her hand. The distance that the person is close to but not allowed to approach, is not painful or itchy between the two. Not long after the wedding, Cosimo packed his things and said he was going to Rome. Contessina said we just got married. Cosimo reluctantly said "I'm sorry", but in fact he was eager to run away. Contessina finally couldn't help but ask, are you going to meet your first love in Rome?
20 years later, the old Medici died and Cosimo became the family leader. Contessina held his hand and said that he was willing to share more. He paused and pulled out his hand. Apparently hurt, she laughed at herself again for being self-motivated and left. He wanted to say something, perhaps to express his apology, but she was gone. The story begins in such a depressed state. It seems that no matter what she does, he is invulnerable and does not appreciate it in any way. But as the plot progressed, it was discovered that this was not the case at all.
The first time her mistress status is revealed in the show is after their daughter-in-law is poisoned, and she asks him what the hell is going on. He said he took care of these things, and let her take care of the house. In E3, the city suffered from the Black Death. The family went out for refuge first, and Cosimo returned to Florence. During this period, his younger brother Lorenzo wanted to sell the mill factory. The housekeeper said that this matter should be discussed with Contessina. It shows that the authority of the hostess is greater than that of the uncle. Later the mill was sold without going through Contessina, and Lerenzo was reprimanded by Cosimo. Contessina excuses her brother-in-law, saying that he is not you, it is inevitable to make a mistake. Cosimo made a serious commitment that he would never let his housekeeper or his younger brother cross his wife again. This shows that although the husband and wife relationship between the two is normal, the working relationship is quite stable.
Then, Cosimo said that I respect you (I value you), and seeing that his wife did not respond, he said more shyly (in a low voice), and you know that. Seeing that his wife still didn't respond, he said, "Without you, I...", it was a pity that he was interrupted before he finished speaking. The plot progresses here, and the youth version of Cosimo associated with Bianca is gone forever. Now he is politically mature and shrewd in business, but he is deeply emotionally entrenched and deprived of his artistic dream, which is still happening in Contessina. But she is not far from success. After all, this episode shows that when the family returned to the city, he went out of the city to answer her, helped her out of the car, couldn't help kissing his lips, and replied "It's so nice to see you too". This is when we see him the most unguarded.
At the end of E3, political opponents challenge Kosimo and put him in jail for "traveling", ending the first paragraph and beginning the "crisis" paragraph. In prison, he showed tremendous trust in her. For the first time, he asked to see her and let her go out to lobby with his letter. Unfortunately, the lobbying failed, and the ruling group sentenced to death. As a devout Catholic, he asked to find a priest for the final prayer, but the guards were not allowed. He again begged the guard to see his wife and say goodbye, and the guard agreed. Of course, the most important thing for Kosimo to meet his wife is not to tell her an affair, but to tell her that after he left, she is the leader of the family, and both his brother and his son and daughter-in-law need her, and he also needs her to help him continue the family legend. Then he explained what he should do after his death to put his opponent to death. After speaking, he put his hand on her face, saying that he knew what she had done for the family over the years, thank her, farewell.
This is his final acknowledgment and gratitude to her. Although there is a lack of direct emotional expression, his ability is here. For him, the last request to see her is more important than what he said. The sentence I value you can basically be equivalent to I love you.
The plot took a turn for the worse, when she forced his death sentence to exile, and instead of being grateful, he thought that death belonged to a hero. Exile not only loses the city, but is considered a coward. Also, the person he trusted most betrayed him, so he took all his anger out on his wife. There were instructions left for her to stay in Florence to watch the house, and it was no use how she begged to go with her.
The tempation of E5 clearly pointed out the problem. Cosimo's bodyguard and confidant Marco Bello visits Florence to meet his wife at night. Marco says Cosimo is good, but he needs intelligence that can bring down his opponent. Seeing the embarrassed expression on the lady's face, he agreed with her and said, "Your husband's request from you is a big deal for him, and he will only do it if he trusts you, and he is pointing at you. Contessina didn't hear a word of greeting, and after being disappointed, she quickly turned around and said "of course". It means that they are both husband and wife, and the people around them know each other. The servants all know that Cosimo, the husband, can let his wife go through fire and water for him without even opening a blank check.
Are you saying that Cosimo doesn't care about the lady? He didn't show it on his lips, but he wasn't completely indifferent. Marco Bello went back to his life and felt that the owner was too wronged by his wife, so he acted as an audience and complained to Cosimo. Cosimo replied, "Does she have all she needs?" The answer was yes, and the conversation was over. What followed was a social occasion where the wife's first love invited her to a political opponent's house. The wife had no intention of obtaining information, so she readily agreed. After obtaining the information, he gave it to her husband without hesitation.
Doesn't Cosimo know how Mrs. got information? He totally knew. Before that, he had firmly rejected the "Miss Gift" who resembled the fairy Bianca in his dreams. The specific performance is as follows: when the Governor introduced her for the first time, he glanced at her, didn't answer the question at all, and just jumped over. At the second banquet, Maddalena kept looking at him while he was serving, and he didn't respond at all. The third time, she appeared on his bed as a gift, and he let him get dressed. Of course, after knowing that she also likes art, he consciously or unconsciously compared her to Bianca and began to wander, but he hadn't cheated yet.
After Mrs.'s information came over, the camera showed him sitting in front of the window, drawing uneasy. The language of the camera makes it perfectly clear that he is fully aware of flirting and kissing, and is disturbed by it. He believed in the authenticity of the information and never doubted his wife. At the same time, the accuracy and timeliness of the information cannot offset (for whatever reason) the awkwardness of the lady noticing men other than him. As for why this was so, whether it was out of pure possession or jealousy, or something else, he probably couldn't explain it himself.
This awkward and lost mentality + Miss Gift is like her first love + Miss Gift never betrayed him. Under the combination of three factors, he passively accepted her and brought her back to Florence. Of course, everyone knew that this was inappropriate, and they were very sorry for the hostess, so the younger brother came to the cliché and asked him how he planned to explain it to his wife. He was still pissed off, so he said that he "doesn't owe his wife any explanation".
On the other side, the lady was very happy when she heard that Cosimo was back, changed into her best clothes, and greeted him at the gate of the courtyard uneasy. He was still upset, so his first attempt to break the ice ended in failure. Although the husband and wife relationship between the two is a big confusion, it does not affect the normal operation of the husband and wife shop. He asked her to invite another noble family to be a guest, and at the same time as a matchmaker for her younger brother Lerenzo. Then he came to inform her that the Pope was going to stay at her house and let her make arrangements.
Now she exploded. The reason for the explosion was not because she felt that she lived too much, but because she felt that the notification was too urgent, for fear that something went wrong and would not affect the family well. She talked a lot with a gun and a stick, complaining that he didn't tell her anything after he came back, and didn't tell her what happened to him this year. He reluctantly listened and defended her with a perfunctory attitude of "I am busy." She was completely blown away, so am I too (So am I)! ! Then he finally brought up the question that made her panic the most, what process you to bring back the slave girl?
She understands that this matter has not been turned over yet. Respond to "This is how you pay me back?"
"Haven't I done enough to prove that I put this family first?" (Haven't I done enough to prove that I put this family first?)
"Do you think you are a martyr? You are just a child with a sword!" (You think you are a martyr? You are just a child with paper sword) PS, Mrs. obviously knows him well enough to feel like a family The sacrifice of art and love is abandoned.
"If there was a next time, probably I would let you die!!"
After that, he went straight away. Leaving him stunned in place, he threw the decorations on the table angrily and depressed. Although the atmosphere of this exchange was not good, it was successful in terms of content, and finally vented their frustrations.
In the evening he came to her room again to beg for peace. He told her that he paid some money to send the mercenaries away. I also thought about this topic. First, he will definitely not directly talk about feelings, which is completely inconsistent with his character. Second, the mercenary belongs to the scope of the "important business" between the two of them, and it is a kind of trust and closeness to her. Third, he knew that during his absence, the mercenaries were rampant and she was hurt. She would approve and be happy about this.
She was well aware of his intentions, but her anger hadn't subsided, so she didn't appreciate it. Instead, he changed the subject and heard that you want to forgive our enemies? Subtext, I saved you, you hate me so much, it's all because of the damn enemy, and now you want to let him live? He glanced at her and said timidly, if you want him to die, I can happily tell you that despite my best efforts, there is a high probability that he will die. Seeing that his wife didn't raise her head at all and didn't want to pay attention to him, he had to go home.
But she didn't just let him go. She knew that it was not easy for him to open his mouth, and this time he opened his mouth because she complained about him not opening his mouth during the day. If the other party opens his mouth and she drives the other party back by herself, it would be unwise. So Mrs. didn't really get along with him, she stopped right away, and brought the topic back to the core of the problem between the two of them.
“Is saving your life really such an unforgivable treason? I was here, alone, at your enemy's mercy, yet I did everything to secure your back. For GOD sake, I even spied for you. Yet you were enjoying all pleasures that Venice was to offer!”
(It's so unforgivable to save you? I'm alone on the enemy's side, but I've tried everything I can to get you back, even as a spy for you. You're enjoying everything in Venice!)
Seeing that Mrs. finally said everything, Kosimo also spit out the deepest embarrassment in his heart. You are in no position to judge me, woman, considering you flirtation with Ezio Conterani. It really expresses the logic of bringing back his lover and the real reason why he is not salty to his wife.
His remarks made Mrs. fire, isn't my flirtation for you? She turned her head and stared at him fiercely, approached him, and accurately "hurt" back. Yes, yes, there is such a thing, and he even asked me to go with him. But I stayed, for this family, for you...(Yes I flirted with him, he even asked me to go away, but I didn't. I stay for this family, I stay for you).
Contessina was so excited that Cosimo was even more aggrieved, hugged her fiercely, and shouted. (This is the first time we've seen him on the screen this way) You still want me to thank you? Is it thanks to you for the information, or did you not run away? ! Isn't that what you should do as my wife? (You want me to thank you! That was your duty as my wife!)
Contessina is probably even more angry when she hears it. She knows that I am your wife, but she is too embarrassed to ask me to do this or that for you with "I am your wife"? Then how did you become my husband? (How about your duty as my husband!)
After the quarrel here, the matter has been made clear, and the emotions have been vented, and the two lack a deep physical communication to complete Cosimo's purpose of coming to her. So in response to his wife's question, "How on earth are you my husband?", he kissed him directly and took an oath of sovereignty. She pushed away and he fell straight down. She quickly cooperated, the scene was not lingering, but in a sense it was harmonious. With Miss Gift, it was Miss Gift who took the initiative, and he accepted it. In this scene, the wife made Cosimo collapse and jumped directly on him. It seemed that he was rude, but in fact, 99% of Cosimo, who was under the appearance of an iceberg, was out of control in front of his wife. So after the end, I gave her the hurt expression of "don't pay attention to other men", and ran away without saying anything. Madam Bingxue was smart and understood, so she lay back on the bed and breathed a long sigh of relief, knowing that this was a turnaround.
Afterwards, Miss Gift took the initiative to give her a hug, but found that the male host's door had been locked and she would no longer be received. After that, the male host used mercenaries to kill his political opponent. His hands were shaking at the funeral of the other party. He instinctively grabbed his wife's hand. It was also the first time that he took the initiative to hold her hand.
As the plot progressed, the wife soon understood that it was Cosimo who had persuaded the ruling group to commute the death sentence to exile for a political opponent, secretly sent mercenaries to kill him, and accidentally brought his son along with him. So at dinner, she came to confront him, she just wanted him to tell her the truth. His reaction was also interesting. First, he was very sad to see his wife doubt him so much. So, we have our differences but do you think I can really have two deaths on my conscience? Second, he is very politically mature and resolutely refuses to admit it. "As we are talking, our enemie are plotting our downfall". Contessina knew it was a lie, but she didn't expose it. She responded with two sentences, stood up and left. At this time, we felt Cosimo's panic. He called her twice, Contessina, Contessina, you are not eating? She said she had no appetite and left without looking back. For the first time, Cosimo wanted Contessina to stay with him, not the other way around.
In the final E8, the two had two and a half scenes. In the first half, Contessina heard that Miss Gift was pregnant, but she didn't know who the father of the child was, so she planned to settle accounts with Cosimo. But when she arrived, her brother Lorenzo was already there and said to leave the house. Cosimo was reluctant, saying that the Pope was going to open an account with a competitor. Contessina went in without knocking on the door. The two of them glanced at her and continued to talk about things without shyness. Contessina stood by her husband and was unwilling to let her younger brother go.
Next is the heaviest scene in the two of them. After the confrontation with Miss Gift, Contessina knew that the child belonged to Cosimo, plus the murder of a political opponent before, she was despairing, took off her ring and necklace, and was ready to leave. But the daughter-in-law said that her son needs you, and she brought her back to reality, and she still couldn't bear to leave. On the other hand, in order to restore the Pope's support, Cosimo paid mercenaries to help the Pope retake Rome.
In the evening, Miss Gift was serving him to dinner. Madam entered. For some unknown reason, when he heard her coming, he actually got up to greet her (the scene of getting up is only seen when the family greeted the Pope), and he stretched out his hand, trying to lead his wife to sit down. Contessina glanced at him, avoiding his hand. He sat down a little disappointed. The opening remarks are business as usual.
Contessina: How was your journey?
Cosimo: What is done is done.
Contessina: A lot of things happened while you were away. Piero won the vote in the Signoria; Lorenzo tracked on the killer, they are in cell now.
Cosimo: So despite Pazzi's best efforts, this family remains strong.
Contessina: (Sneaking a peak at him) You always get what you want in the end.
Cosimo: You are not wearing your neckless (Taking a glass and drinking water).
This time it was Cosimo who got involved in personal affairs at the beginning, and commented on his wife's dress. Apparently he noticed that she had taken off the cross necklace that she usually never left her body. That necklace was supposed to be the cross after the wedding dinner, when Cosmo left alone and his dad found him and gave him a reminder of his family responsibilities. At some point, he gave her this cross as a gift.
When he turned back, he seemed very guilty when he said you didn't wear the necklace, because he knew the meaning of the necklace better than anyone. So I didn't dare to look at her when I was talking, and when I finished talking, I pretended to drink water while peeking at her expression. She walked around the chair to his other side and said I took it off in the morning. He nodded. She said, I want to leave you in the morning. (I was going to leave you in the morning). Because she used the past tense and added the time attribute "morning", she was actually telling him that I wanted to leave you in the morning, and the subtext was that I didn't do it, or I didn't do it now.
He heard her "leaving in the morning" allusion and understood that she would not leave, but he was still surprised and asked why. Subtext, haven't I broken up with "Miss Gift"? Aren't we already reconciled? Which one did you sing? She began to count the cases that you lied to me about your father, the assassination of a political enemy, and "Miss Gift". He looked at her and avoided her eyes, thinking that it was all right. Isn't it all old? So he called her name and tried to stop her. But she wasn't finished, and it was only at this time that she said the most shocking thing.
"And this morning, I found out that your mistress, your mistress, is going to bear your child." Her voice was shaking, tears were rolling in her eyes, trying very hard not to let the tears come out.
He was surprised and nervous, staring at her. He didn't doubt the truth of the matter, he knew that what she said must be true, but he didn't lead the topic to his illegitimate child, but looked at her eyes that were about to overflow with tears, and said his result, "But You didn't leave", yet you did not leave. It's not so much that he stimulated her like this, and that he didn't know to say a word of comfort to her, it was better to give himself a sense of security and to confirm the fact that "you will not go" that he came to.
Of course Mrs. won't leave. The next second the guard came to report that something had happened to her brother. She immediately dropped the showdown between the two and held his hand. Two months later, the mercenaries returned to Rome. He won again, but he wasn't excited. Because mercenaries all the way to kill is a new sin. He felt that it was because of these sins that God took his younger brother and brought an illegitimate child to curse himself. It seemed that he didn't care about the "Miss Gift" child either. She had an idea, and told him that bringing new life into the world was never a curse, and maybe it was a new opportunity for them both.
He was a little surprised, so he raised his head and asked her to speak plainly. She said he should raise his illegitimate child as his own, and she did the same. He was shocked and said he didn't understand what she was talking about. She said that they all have sins, but they should find a way to atone for their sins in one day. In other words, raising this illegitimate child is atonement. Abandoning the redemptive meaning of religion, he was completely convinced by her selfless attitude regardless of personal feelings, but said weakly, "I don't know whether if I can do it." She smiled and said, "I will help you."
At this point, they have completed the stage of "sublimation". He was moved by her, and was completely convinced by her. In the future, she estimated that she could eat him to death. So we see him grateful beyond words, holding hers tightly in both hands, kissing her tenderly, and kissing her lips again. This intimacy, gratitude and admiration is something Cosimo has never shown to anyone. He has passion for Bianca and love for Miss Maddalena, but this action is obviously the result that everyone who eats melons most wants to see.
The last shot was seen by the butler through the crack of the door. It looked like in the morning, in the lady's room, Cosimo was putting on a shawl for Contessina. There was an undisguised love in his gentleness and devotion, and they reckoned that they had just had a good night. You must know that in those days, only the hostess usually dressed the male host, and the reverse must have a special meaning. The old housekeeper who knocked on the door also understood, seeing that the hostess and hostess were finally united, he was very happy for them, and invited them to the festival.
So, although the process is a bit cruel and the expression is a bit obscure, this is really a very complete love story expressed.
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