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 had watched Suburra, which is the hit 2015 movie but not the series. This review is so based on the eight episodes of this show and what the audience can take away from them as a standalone. All the prequels have had the Anecleti family at the center of things. The question is whether this show can be viewed as a standalone. The answer is yes, it can, although it takes time to understand the big picture, as none of these characters were known before if seen that way. It's not that the script is too bad, but it doesn't offer anything new. It is another power struggle, a clash of ideologies with no apparent reason, and just general gunslinging and firing At times, it felt like the story had too many details and politics that we were missing, and that was a mistake by the scriptwriters. The one genuine benefit of not having watched the prequels is that the audience will root equally for both sides at war. Briefly, this story is that Rome is 'in turmoil,' with the mafia, the church, and the government pushing their agendas at the expense of poor people. This is why it is apt to say that there are no good guys in this show, even if they look like they are doing the right thing. The fact is that we expected to feel something with Suburræterna. All in all is better to be watched with a global knowledge of other stories.

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.

Suburra is back after a 3 year hiatus and the news is not good. The original season was outstanding. 'Blood on Rome' was less so, but still good. Everything about this Season is subdued. The action is less, the plot is not as interesting, it's not as violent, or as sexy. Spadino (Giacomo Ferrara) has lost his spark and dresses in black. This season also misses Aureliano (Alessandro Borghi).

The result is a bit like a funeral march to it's inevitable conclusion. The fun is gone. The excitement missing. It's hum-drum and by the numbers. You could see the ending coming from a mile away.

This should be the end of Suburra. RIP!