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?

Interesting question Twinkle. I'm never too sure either.

Lila did buy Lenu lots of course books and encouraged her to finish school ( when Lenu wanted to give up) and made her study in her nice flat (have a bath etc) when first married to Stefano. But Lila is a "difficult" person to gauge, she basically bullies Elena into doig things such as taking Gennarino to the beach holiday (even if it was put simply that "you said you'd take care of him - so do it") and as Enzo asked in S3 episode 5 - do any of us know what Lila will do before she does it? Lila also went off with Nino and although Lenu denied having feelings for him I think Lila knew that Lenu did. She can be quite manipulative. Lots of people do tend to placate Lila as she can be volcanic.

I feel sorry for Lila, Lenu's family had that bit more money and aspiration that made such a difference to their life chances. Lila had to stop school and Lenu continued. Although Lila always claims she wants Lenu to succeed for her - its got to hurt that Elena has left and been successful. Lila has also been exposed to more violence such as her father throwing her out of the window, Stefano slapping her around - she's had a pretty brutal time of it and it has broken her health. She acts like she is in control, can goad and handle things but misjudges (such as Stefano's violence and life in the sausage factory). I think they feel bound to one another because of growing up in the neighbourhood and having dreams to escape. Elena often feels guilty that she escaped and Lila didn't especially since she believes Lila is more intelligent.

I think Elena relied on Lila more in the school years for support but Lila has come to rely more on Elena for support in the adult years in S3

I think it's ambiguous if Lila is actually a good friend. I even wonder who is the brilliant friend? (despite the story being told by elderly Lenu about Lila). Elena is the one who has actually achieved "brilliant" literary and academic success but can often seem quite introverted and diffident. Lila has great intelligence and spark but is failing - she's even returned to the neighbourhood where she is "a big fish in a little pond". It's a bit like a toxic relationship between them and also their relationship with the neighbourhood and its inhabitants.

I think it’s quite interesting that despite Elena doing all the formal studying and writing her book it’s Lila who seems to be doing really well in her career.
I don’t know what will happen in series 4 as haven’t read the books.

I definitely feel as though Elena and Lila's friendship is very toxic. I think Elena lacks self belief and is always looking to other people for praise and approval. But a lot of time it's the wrong people she's looking to.

I just watched episode 5 and I was really shocked at how she let Pascale and Nadia treat her, her family and home. She just took it as though she deserved it. When I think it was pretty clear to everyone else that Pascale was just completely and unredeemably vile. I kept thinking why has she asked them to leave yet?

Also I'm really shocked that Elena didn't immediately send Gennaro home when she found what he was doing to Dede in the sand dunes. It was almost like she was blaming Dede given her reaction when she found them.

Glad I've found you all! I'm watching S3 now, on E6 I think (with the dinner at Lenu's sister's apartment). I listened to all the books on Audible before watching the series. I've enjoyed both listening and watching but think I prefer the TV series as the books were very long and repetitive and the series is so beautifully made. The tv adaptation seems to stay very close to the books, you even recognise some of more memorable/important passages.
I actually quite like S3 although agree it has a different feel to it. I do wonder how they'll age the actors beyond this series as I think they're at the limits with it in series 3.
I love Elena's costumes this series and think she looks more at ease and natural than in earlier series. Not sure if that's been intentional and in line with her development as a character ie; more confident and self assured; or just coincidence.

I agree LadyTwinkle about the Sand Dunes episode. Gennarino is at least 5 or 6(?) years older than Dede. If they were the same age, you might be shocked but think "well they are little" but the disparity in ages and possible intent was really shocking as he had deliberately led Dede away from the tree and he was also wandering around the flat the first night. I'd definitely want him to go back home asap.

Pretty much all the men and boys are repugnant in their attitudes to women. Even Enzo is willing to "sacrifice" Lila for Michele's large paycheck.

*R00t" I agree that Elena's outfits and look is lovely this season. I think all the seasons have been exquisitively filmed. The series should be winning awards all over (not just in Italy). I also prefer the series to the books as I agree that it has more momentum and impact than some of the long repetitions in the books.

Elena’s clothes definitely follow advances in the position of women across Europe at the time. The groups attending feminist protests look hugely different to the women in her home town when she was a child.

LadyTwinkle I think Elena understands how dangerous Pasquale is. (it definitely looked like his physique in the balaclava masked gunman scene) and she knew the police were looking for him for the killings. What worked for her in the neighbourhood to stay out of the firing line was to be polite and non threatening, be almost invisible whereas Lila was confrotational and goading. Both are recognised ways children growing up with violence or abuse behave. I guess she just felt she would feed them, be nice and wait for them to go and hope the situation doesn't explode. Also, IIRC Lila was pretty horrible when Elena took her to Nadia's bourgeois house when they were younger as she felt uncomfortable and conflicted in the grand surroundings and talk. Pasquale acted a bit similarly.

But, yes I wanted her to scream at them to leave too - it was so uncomfortable.

Have watched seasons 1 and 2 but where can you watch season 3? I no longer have Sky? TIA

Tango I'm watching S3 on Sky so not sure where else you'll find it but if you've got NOW TV you might be able to find it on the Sky channels there?

I felt the same about Pasquale & Nadia's visit to Elena. I kept thinking when is somebody going to ask/tell them to leave?! I hoped that Pietro might "man up" and tell them that they can't behave like that in his house even if Elena didn't feel comfortable to but then again she might have said he was in the wrong for doing that?
The birthday meal at Elisa's was also really tense and uncomfortable. The neighbourhood characters are so passionate and volatile you never know what might happen next. I'd feel so sick and anxious in that environment.
I love the casting of this series, the actors physical appearances are all quite distinctive and suit their characters brilliantly e.g. Gigliola - hard nosed, bold and brazen, no softness at all, Michele - sneering and menacing; Lila - beautiful and strong at times but also fragile and physically weak etc
I love that I'd never seen any of the actors in anything before but there faces are all so familiar now. I get so fed up of the all the usual faces we see all the time in British, American and Scandi dramas. It's really refreshing.

Just watched episode 5. I was shocked too that Lenu didn't seem to realise what Lila's son was up to with little Dede. Did she not see how odd it looked, even if she didn't hear what he said?

Absolutely love this series. It's one of the best things I've seen on television. I am even more astonished to find out that the actors playing Lila and Lenu are currently only 18 and 19 years old!

The young actors are amazing. Just finished the season ( as I only got to see it weekly). Just like in the books I really didn't want Elena to sleep with creepy, sleazy Nino. I like how they showed that an "Airota" could be just as angry and chest beating as a neighbourhood man and explored how Pietro had curtailed Elena and prevented her from reaching her potential. Elena was ready to rebel.

creepy, sleazy Nino is exactly right.

I have been wanting to say (but didn’t want to spoil) how sickeningly alike the Sarratores, father and son, are to each other. I felt exactly the same fury at Donato’s rape of Elena as I did seeing how Nino walked away from his responsibilities.

Just finished it and Nadia really bugged me she came from a middle class family and had no clue about how shit life was for Lenu and Lila but acted like that in Lenu’s house ! Felt the scene with Franco and the girl was so sad and very disturbing .
Its strange as reading the books I always preferred Lenu but in the series she irritates me . The whole show is done so well and I wish more people would watch it .

Pietro is a pain, but Lenu's constant snapping at him is irritating. She hardly ever smiles, even with her kids. She's obviously very unhappy.

Haven't read any of the books but just finished binge watching Season 3 after only finding out it had been released in the last few days. Desperate to know more! But do you think reading ahead with the books will spoil my enjoyment of the last season when it's released? I've loved the big shocks and surprises of the TV series but then maybe I'd love them just as much in the books?

I don’t think reading ahead with the books will spoil it as it may be some time until series 4 is on screen and it’s also going to be different actresses in the main roles . I love the books but the series so far have really brought them to life everything has been exactly as you imagined it which isn’t always the case with adaptations

Thanks chocolate!

I'm binge watching all three series at the moment and have nearly finished series 3. I've been stunned by how well it's been done, with so many memorable scenes that somehow didn't stand out so well in the books. I read all 4 books pretty fast a few years ago and found myself skimming the political stuff as I just wanted to know what happened with the two main characters, but I can understand it all better now. On the page, quite a few lesser characters merged into each other but seeing it visually made it all clearer. It's an amazingly good series and as pp said, even more enjoyable because the faces are all new. I have to say I think you'd be better not to read book 4 and just wait for the series as there are some shocking moments in the last book.

Thanks donttalkaboutbookclub - I had pretty much decided not to read it and wait before your post but that's made me feel more definite about the decision - it's so hard waiting though as I'm desperate to know what happens!

@cornonthecob I was also fascinated to read that the actress playing Elena refused to read the books until she had done that part of the story - she didn't want to know ahead in case it coloured what she did and how she was with the others. I thought that was amazing!

I really like that too but didn't know it - so interesting!