My Brilliant Friend: Season 4 Episode 1 – Review & Recap
“My Brilliant Friend” returns for its final season, and despite a time jump, new faces, and how long it has been since the last season, it’s easy to slip right back in.
Storyline Recap
Hussy – Pietro, Adele, Immaculata, Elena
In the mid-70s, Elena decides she has had enough of Pietro, and Nino is a higher priority. With this being Italy in the 70s, this is a scandal amongst their community in ways, and Immaculata tries to broker peace and reconciliation between Elena and Pietro. When Elena refuses, she is basically disowned and called a hussy.
Naturally, the verbal assault leads to a physical one, and being that Elena is grown and was cornered, she fights back and even pushes her mom to the floor. This triggers years of not speaking, which isn’t anything new, but more painful for Elena as an adult, as she sees her children less and less as she focuses on her career and love life while Dede and Elsa live with Adele, Pietro’s mother.
Won’t Play Down Or Sacrifice Ambition Or Love – Adele, Guido, Elena, Dede, Elsa, Nino
In fact, for two years, Adele and Guido, her husband, have raised Dede and Elsa, and with this in mind, the idea of Elena swooping in and taking Dede and Elsa from the start is offensive. What makes it worse is the idea that they will live not only with Nino but also in Naples. Adele looks at the children and doesn’t want the rearing she put into them wasted in a city like Naples, and while she doesn’t threaten legal action, guilt and shame are used to the furthest extent possible.
As for how the girls feel? Nothing is really said. Even with Elsa being younger, she isn’t latching onto her oft absent mother and Dede? She doesn’t do as most older kids usually do in terms of mouthing off and advocating for where she wants to be. It seems both are willing to go where they are told.
But of course, while Elena wants to be with her children, Nino easily sways and seduces her. You could even say that part of the reason for those two years with their grandmother is because Nino played his cards and, in the most subtle way possible, set an ultimatum. One that, with his limited schedule, forced Elena’s hand to either choose him or her kids and despite her book smarts, Elena chose a man over the two children she birthed time after time. This should help you understand why Adele is not fond of Elena nor her desire to take her grandchildren.
I Have Something To Tell You – Lila, Carmen, Elena
As often shown throughout the previous seasons of “My Brilliant Friend,” Lila and Elena find the need to take breaks from each other, live life, and more often than not, Lila reaches out or asks questions more than Elena. Things are no different in 1978 as we learn Lila has been contacting anyone she knows is associated with Elena in order to get ahold of her but Elena avoids her like a bill collector.
However, when she returns to Naples, where Lila has once again ascended, Elena knows she is on borrowed time. What she didn’t expect, though, is Carmen, Pasquale’s sister, to set her up while asking for help to find her brother. She pressures Elena to stay until Lila arrives since Lila has something to tell her, and it is that not only has Nino not left his wife, but his career is also progressing thanks to his father-in-law. Meaning the likelihood of him doing so for Elena is slim to none, and she is likely to remain a mistress.
New Characters
Check Out The Character Guide For More Information.
Lucia D’Ambra As Carmen
Carmen is Pasquale’s little sister, seemingly one of Lila’s best friends in her adult years.
Review
Highlights
Picking Up Like There Wasn’t A Time Jump Or A Two And A Half Year Gap Between Seasons
It really is a testament to the writing, casting, and performers how consistent “My Brilliant Friend” is. Yes, it has changed its leads three times at this point, the gaps have become bigger between seasons, and with the sprawling world and litany of characters, you’d think it would take multiple episodes to get back into the swing of things. Yet, four seasons in, that wasn’t the case.
Beyond young adult Lila ushering in her older counterpart, there wasn’t much in the way of trying to connect the previous season to the current one. Pretty much, the show decided to hit the ground running and unlike many shows, you easily can keep up.
Granted, the episode could be summarized as Elena and Nino’s affair and Elena abandoning her family, kids included, for a married man who, at best, could offer her teenage-styled fun. But, in many ways, Elena seeking escapism from high expectations, while still living up to said expectations, is the balance the character pursues and Lila, as always, is the one who usually ends whatever fantasy Elena is living in and brings her back to reality. Usually, in a way where you can never be sure if it is done with a tinge of malice or just a form of tough love.
Either way, while we don’t like binge-watching and multiple hour-long episodes released at once throw off our schedule, I gotta admit, waiting week to week for this show might be one of the few times we wished HBO or their partner in Rai 1, would have modified the release schedule a bit.
The Gist
The TLDR Recap/ Review
- Summary: It is the mid-to-late 1970s at this point, and Elena has found herself at the end of her love affair with Pietro and has once again allowed herself into Nino’s arms without reservation.
- As you can imagine, no one takes this well, from Elena’s mother, Immaculata, to Pietro’s mother, Adele, especially since Elena abandons Elsa and Dede to pursue Nino and her career.
- But, by no means will Elena apologize for her ambitions or feelings, especially regarding Nino.
- Yet, by 1978, after her children have lived with Adele for almost two years, she wants to be a full-time mom again, and while Pietro gives his blessing, his mother will not.
- Perhaps rightfully so because Lila, who Elena has been avoiding like she knows she’ll pop her fantasy, reveals Nino hasn’t left his spouse like Elena has left hers.
- Review: It is really amazing to me how long it has been and yet it was so easy to get back into Elena’s world, even with there being a time jump and everyone aging up.
- In many ways, that is probably a testament to the source materials and the work put into this adaptation, which honestly can’t be easily compared, no matter how you try.
- That said, I will forever love how Lila acts as both Elena’s guardian angel and the person who usually pops her bubble and forces her out of whatever fantasy she is living in.
General Information
Additional Information
- Previous Episode: Season 3/ Episode 8
- Series Page
Episode Title
Chapter 25: The Separation
Release Date
September 9, 2024
Network
How To Watch
Where To Buy, Rent or Subscribe To Watch This:
Director(s)
Laura Bispuri
Writer(s)
Elena Ferrante, Francesco Piccolo, Laura Paolucci, Saverio Costanzo
