Il Commissario Ricciardi

I came here actually surprised by the low rate given by MADB, but after I realised it is actually worthless, I decided to write a short review to give a more unbiased overview of this mini serie.

It is a crime story with a super-tiny bit of supernatural in it: you can like it or not, it is surely not the main point of the serie, but more like a background perk for the main character.

The crime plots, per se, are average: surely pretty complicated but neither trivial or super shocking.

In my opinion the two strong points that make this serie unique are the setting and the shooting. The setting is the birth of fascism in Italy: the reconstruction of scenes, dresses, habits and feeling is manical! Never seen something so scrupulously precise outside documentaries (and sometimes not even in those). The shooting is also incredible (for Italian stardards): the use of lights and filters gives a feeling like almost being in a comic book.

For me is by far one of the best series from Italy of the last 20 years and an absolute must-see if you like the genre and/or the setting.

This is a great streaming series. Beautifully filmed (cinematography, editing, etc). Set in Italy during the Mussolini fascist regime, it's basically a crime investigation series, but it's totally in context of the history and politics of the time. Top-drawer acting, great drama. It's very much a character-driven work. The detective has his own personal story and "special" skill, like so many. Each episode follows smoothly from the prior one. What you would think would be "minor" characters are actually very essential to everything going on. There's great good and great evil. I cannot imagine it being anything less than one of the best I've seen.

The scenery, the acting, the plots- everything is at its best. One of the most beautiful series I have ever seen. From the first episode I was captivated by Ricciardi. His longings, his sorrows, his flair: all are splendidly conveyed.

The side characters are also pleasant, well drawn. Very much enjoyed the dialogues, full of humor but also sensibility. I felt immersed in the story, as if I were on the streets of Naples myself. The first season is a masterpiece, but the second season is also very good: the ending is perfect as it is.

If I had to sum it up to one word that describes this series for me, it would be emotion. Pure, genuine emotion. A feast for the eyes and for the soul.

I almost gave up on the first episode however I am glad I stuck with it. At first it seemed too twee and saccharine, a bit clichéd. However subsequent episodes have been unexpectedly quite hard hitting and complex. Interwoven is a bittersweet love story, and Naples looks great, with Vesuvius as a dramatic backdrop. The characters are likeable too, and interesting, particularly Bruno and Garzo. I like the elements relating to Mussolini too. All in all a really good detective show. Inspector Montalbano is still my favourite, but I am really looking forward to the second series of this. I recommend this.

Charming crime drama set in one of my favorite time periods. The story is not fast paced but it's not slow. Plots are often complex but driven by simple emotions. Characters are relatable and the actors seem like real life. I hope the next season is released soon!