My Brilliant Friend S3

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Can’t see a current thread.

I know I’m a bit late to this season (having read all the books I forgot I hadn’t seen them all yet) but I’m five minutes into Ep 2 and already blubbing. Even in the face of stellar lockdown competition - I May Destroy You, Mad Men, GOT - I’m not sure anything this century has made me feel as much as SS1&2 of this adaptation. It’s been extraordinary so far.

The new thing where we see her unspoken terrors is pretty scary!

Anyone else watching?

It's superb. It keeps getting better as the girls get older. So beautifully filmed. I find Elena a bit passsive at times. Just watched ep4 and was bubbling.

I haven’t cried nearly as much this season - though it’s the isolated moments when her mother shows how much she loves her that set me off.

I’ve nearly finished Ep 8, but my eyes are turning square so I’ll leave the rest until later.

One review I read a few days ago complained that because they’re using the same actresses while the characters age into their thirties, they look too young for their parts. Before I watched I rather dismissed that observation - but it is true.

Nino also looks too young, now. (But I won’t spoil it by saying more …)

I love my Brilliant Friend. I didn't realise season 3 had started though. I'll have to get watching.

Just watched episode 3. I love it, but sometimes get mixed up with all the young men's names! Find myself thinking " Nino, Stefano, Michele.....?"

Google ‘My Brilliant Friend S3 cast’?

I find cross referencing character photos with Wiki character summaries is the best way of refreshing the memory!

It’s a fantastic show. I binged series three a few days ago.

I've watched the first 4 episodes so far. The relationship between Elena and her husband is a bit odd isn't it? They're almost like strangers. I liked the scene where she pointed out the hypocrisy of her husband refusing to employ a nanny on the basis it is a form of slavery while expecting Elena to do all the domestic duties.

I haven't seen or read this. Am I missing out?

It's really good. It's a period drama set in 1950s/60s Italy following the lives of two childhood friends. It's in Italian with English subtitles.

LadyTwinkle have you watched series one and two and yes their relationship is a bit odd, it’s sort of functional.

I've seen both series 1&2. Although it's been a while since a watched them.

I think series 1 was the best.

@Rifling

I haven't seen or read this. Am I missing out?

Yes.

Unusually, I’d strongly suggest you start with the TV adaptations. I found the first two seasons quite staggeringly beautiful and wrenching. The third season is directed by someone else - it’s fine, but didn’t sweep me along quite so intensely.

You’ll know if you’re compelled to read the books!

Thanks! I actually did start reading it when it came out but abandoned it after a couple of chapters but the enthusiasm on this thread has convinced me to try the tv version!

Is it suitable to watch with kids?

Hmm … It’s hard to remember exactly what was portrayed in S1 - possibly some domestic violence, but seen from the pov of little girls. Once the two main characters move into their teens there’s more content that you may not want to share with your children - I don’t recall if that’s all in S2.

Thanks

Is it suitable to watch with kids? i would say no also it’s subtitled.

You all may enjoy Shtisel, it’s set in Jerusalem and about a family of orthodox Jewish people. There’s no sex, violence, it’s absolutely brilliant. Its definitely one of the best things I’ve watched on TV.
Another amazing box set is a Russian one called Ancestral Land about four siblings in a Russian village. It’s a family saga and follows them over quite a few years.
I give them both 9/10.

I LOVE Shtisel! Hands down the best thing I have watched in the last 5 years. Ds12 loves it too and now greets me with "shalom, shalom". I will check out the others then!

i would say no also it’s subtitled
We watch quite a lot of programmes with subtitles so that's not really a problem. (Also kids are bilingual English /Italian!) Sounds like it's not really suitable though.

Oh, you must let them watch (as much as possible) if they speak Italian! I can follow a little but it’s too fast for me to manage without the subtitles.

Actually … That’s probably what I missed in the Lost Daughter film - English doesn’t convey unbridled emotion in the same way at all. It was all wonderfully repressed - but I just loved the fireworks of My Brilliant Friend.

I can never make my mind up about Lila. Whether she's a good friend to Elena or not. What do other people think?

I think that about both of them, it’s a very complex relationship, a lot of jealousy and they seem to spend a lot of the series’ not being friends.

Are you thinking of what Elena’s husband says? It was pretty chilling wasn’t it?

I have the impression there was always love and respect combined with detestation, envy and political outrage.

And on the other hand Elena can never ever feel superior to her friend, no matter her own success. Lila will always have something she lacked, or failed to achieve.

It’s deliciously complicated. They are each ‘my brilliant friend’ to the other - with wildly differing consequences.