So, I have watched this series so many times I can now quote most of the episodes and know the lyrics to all the songs..
This is by FAR my favourite ever vertical series, a British made gay vertical series about a closeted mafia boss manipulating everyone around him to finally be with his true love.
Pietro, played by Elliot Eason, is a complex character who has hidden his sexuality his entire life to rise through the ranks of the mafia, having a secret affair with Miguel all the while pining over his true love. Known as a "monster" he is simply a man who is terrified of the thought of the one he loves the most leaving him.
Augusto, played by Lucas Wilson, starts off the series thinking he is going to trick Pietro into breaking the contract he has to marry his sister but offering himself up as the replacement "bride" only to learn throughout the series just how deeply Pietro has loved him all along. He battles not only his own sexuality but the pressures placed on him by his father Arnold, played by Lee Brown.
The storyline of following these two learn more about each other and slowly fall in love, coupled with the constant threat of the city's mafia families disapproving of their marriage because it is two men is captivating. The soundtrack has me dancing around my house, the voice overs of internalised thoughts and the flashbacks to their childhood encounters add to the complexities of the characters and the challenges they have faced throughout their lives. I love the way Augusto embraces the Falconer Program challenged to him by Don (Played by Mike Kelson) and the way Pietro helps him find and embrace his power and strength!
My favourite parts of this series have to be when Augusto breaks his fellow university students arm, when he comes down the stairs in those glasses (Pietro is right, he does look hot in glasses) and when at the Summer Prom Pietro finally relinquishes some control and lets Augusto dance with the girl, then tells Diego to keep an eye on her because he "cant have him liking girls again" then finally tells Augusto that he wrote the beginning of their story, and that Augusto is going to write the ending.
I cant even give this one a rating because it FAR exceeds anything else for me. I actually would love a sequel to this one!
