7 Reasons why Cosimo and Contessina de Medici are our new favourite TV couple

This post contains SPOILERS for all eight episodes of the first seasonn of Medici: Masters of Florence.

Anyone who has seen Medici: Masters of Florence (also billed as I Medici) could not fail to notice the strong, though often contentious relationship between the powerful, brilliant Cosimo de Medici and his wife, proud, noble-born, fiercely intelligent Contessina de Bardi. Here are seven reasons why Cosimo de Medici and Contessina de Bardi de Medici are our new favourite TV couple.

1. They are two strong, capable people.

Individually, Cosimo and Contessina could both survive and thrive in any situation they found themselves in. Even when he was a young man, Cosimo's father Giovanni and brother Lorenzo could already note that Cosimo had an extraordinary mind. He could see solutions to problems they would not think of, and even display ruthlessness when he deemed it necessary. Historically, the Medici political dynasty was said to have begun with Cosimo de Medici. It was Giovanni who began the family wealth, but it was Cosimo who expanded the family political influence.

In her youth, Contessina's quick wit and sharp tongue were considered detriments toward her finding a suitable match. On their wedding, Cosimo's mother Piccarda told her that Cosimo, who was cold toward his wife, had been in love with a peasant. Contessina had to learn to navigate her powerful husband's moods. Much of what she did for the Medici family, she did quietly, with hardly any recognition from her distant husband. More than anyone else in the Medici clan, Contessina understood Cosimo's importance in ensuring the family's place in history. When Cosimo was to be executed, it was Contessina who rode to the Signoria and successfully saved his life. When Cosimo was away in exile, it was Contessina who ran the business and household in Florence, at the same time that the city was extremely dangerous. She was, in every aspect, Cosimo's equal and match.

2. Contessina understands and accepts that Cosimo is not good at expressing his feelings toward her.

When Cosimo finally told Contessina, 'I value you', it was almost halting. He very much looked like a man unused to expressing his feelings toward the wife he had been cold to in the early days of their marriage. Relationships, even those which do not include banking and political dynasties, are not easy. Of the two, Contessina is the better communicator. When Cosimo finally acknowledged how he valued his wife, Contessina sat beside him, silent, listening to the words she must have longed to hear for so long.

3. When adversity comes, their hands find each other.

Cosimo and Contessina may not have a conventional marriage, but when life strikes its blows, their hands often find each other in mutual comfort. Racked by guilt after ordering the deaths of Rinaldo Albizzi and his son, Cosimo wordlessly reached for Contessina's hand whilst at church. When news of Lorenzo's death came, it was Contessina who immediately sought Cosimo's hand. After all their years together, Cosimo and Contessina learnt to draw strength from each other.

4. They look really good together.

This could be a truly shallow reason, but with all the stress modern life brings, there is nothing wrong with wanting to see a bit of pretty when we relax at the end of a long day. Richard Madden and Annabel Scholey are both stunners. Together, as Cosimo and Contessina, they smoulder with fierce chemistry. It is the kind of chemistry TV viewers like myself often wish we would see, but sadly, do not get to encounter often enough.

5. They both understand the place in history the Medicis could occupy.

Cosimo was pushed by his father toward living the life of a banker, a path he would not have chosen for himself, but when the responsibility for running the bank and the family came to him, he did his duty and more. Part of the reason Contessina fought hard to keep Cosimo alive when he was sentenced to death was her love for him, of course, but she could also see that only Cosimo could keep the family on the trajectory toward political power and an exalted place in history that the Medicis were already on at that time. 

6. Even when they are furious at each other, they do not give up on each other.

Cosimo was furious that Contessina negotiated his exile to save his life. In Venice, he met a woman who reminded him of his young love and took her as his lover. Following a furious confrontation with Contessina, Cosimo gave his lover up. Contessina was hurt that Cosimo could not understand that she saved his life out of love for him and concern for how the family would survive without him. Alone in dangerous Florence, Contessina flirted with her old suitor, Ezio Contarini. Contessina chose to betray Ezio, however, for information that could help Cosimo. Contessina in particular has had to put up with much heartache due to Cosimo's coldness. Husband and wife weathered the storms of their relationship, however, and the season ended with Cosimo finally accepting the offer Contessina made at the beginning of the series, to share his burdens with her, to allow her to help as they both tried to atone for their sins.  

7. Respect and genuine affection grew out of their arranged marriage.

This could be the hope of members of the nobility in those days of arrange marriages, that love would eventually grow. It was a long road for Cosimo and Contessina. Much of the issues on the early days of their marriage were because of Cosimo, who was determined to dislike Contessina, for the sin of not being Bianca. From the start, Contessina did her duties as a wife; Cosimo could not fail to notice that the woman he married was extraordinary. Cosimo and Contessina were not each other's choice, but they chose to remain with each other for the rest of their lives.