Suburræterna

I had been deceived by the first part of this series, several years ago. Mainly because I had dare comparing it with the fantastic movie directed by Stefano Sollima, back in 2015: SUBURRA. It could not be compared. But This sequel series is this time more in the line of the terrific and unrivalled GOMORRA series than SUBURRA, also the series. Yes, and as in many mafia plots, it is the riveting, tense, taut, story full of violence, emotions, and with a lead lady, as it also was even SONS OF ANARCHY. So, yes, this SUBURRAETERNA stuff is a good tv show, and the fact it is Italian makes things pretty easier. Who, better than Italians, can speak of mobsters, mafia, gangsters? It is unfortunately in their culture, and thaat helps pretty much in this show.

Sure, the other SUBURRA entries (and the champion, for my money the best TV series ever made, GOMORRA) were stronger. A few situations could have been written and / or directed better, but even a series that delivers "only" 80-90% from that group of film makers delivers more quality, better acting and less artificial storytelling than the usual stuff from the US with all those terrible dialogues. Great atmosphere, as usual very fine visuals and belivable acting makes this series another winner from Italia. Especially the way they dealt with the church I liked a lot, quite brave. (The new series' only minus, for me anyway, is the last episode. Can't wait for the next season!)

I desperately wanted this to be good, but frankly, it really isn't. I picked the first season up after completing Gommorah (the best show in TV history bar none). Gammorah left a massive gap as all other TV now became rubbish. The first season of Suburra gave new hope. It wasn't as good as Gammorah but it was really enjoyable.

However, the second season is nowhere near close. I eventually gave up after 4 seasons. The loss of Alessandro Borghi is just too big a gap to fill. The large banner of him in the gym is a poor substitute. It appears that he was the show. The character change to Spadino is truly laughable. It doesn't work. The characters are not connectable and the speed of dialogue and zillions of names, makes following subtitles impossible. I won't be watched e5 and I now know that this show should have died with Aureliano.

Back to the Suburra universe. Brash and brutal melodrama of political corruption and gangster turf wars in Rome - set at the fraught moment of spiritual crisis in Vatican. Perfect for binge watching. If you like other Suburra seasons, punchy neo-noir, its imbroglio of crime families, political corruption and endless deal makings about Rome real estate. You will enjoy this one as well. Remember that this a sequel to an earlier series. If you need a refresher or just to catch up, or if you want to watch in order, you should watch "Suburra: Blood on Rome" first and you'll appreciate this show even more.

Sincerely, I expected more from these Italian Netflix Series. What I missed were more emotions, deep characters and some intelligent suspense content in the story. What I saw was the same dynamic in the first package of these episodes without the so important key dealers who lost their lives before.

Some scenes were cool but it was not the same atmosphere I have seen some years ago.

I think the only man who saved this sequel was Spadino from the Anacleti clan played by the top actor Giacomo Ferrara.

The director delivered a good job taking over from a high level of success. He did it quit well sticking together the plots. Who knows if the third season will be better than the last sequel?

6/10.