I leoni di Sicilia

Interesting series although somewhat melodramatic at times and the characters come across as somewhat one dimensional. It has the misfortune to have one of the worst soundtracks that made me put it on mute at times to avoid listening to. During a crucial scene you'll start hearing an English soft rock song that is way off the mark. On the plus side it's a story set in a time and place of Scilly in the 1800's that's not well covered. Despite the flaws just enough interest to keep watching it through to the end but definitely could have been better with improved characterization and a totally different soundtrack.

Based on the book by Stefania Auci that recounts the rise of one of the most influential families of the Italian medidione from their arrival in Sicily in the late 1700s to the Unification of Italy, the series is a bet gone wrong. Despite the enormous production effort and a very interesting cast, among which Michele Riondino stands out, the story fails precisely in portraying the characters, who are monolithic and lacking depth.

The richness of Sicily is well represented by the magnificent palaces, but the exteriors, thanks also to a gloomy cinematography, do not do justice to Palermo, where it seems that there is only Piazza Pretoria, and a port awkwardly recreated by rather approximate VFX.

If you would like to watch it in Italian with English subtitles you have to click to watch on the I Lioni di Sicilia, if you click on the The Lions of Sicily then it will be dubbed in English and it pretty awful to hear. I speak Italian so Im glad to see it in the original language.

I am writing this because some of the reviewers here have mentioned how horrible the dubbed version is, and it seems enough of you don't know how to get it in the spoken language without dubbing, which can be viewed of course with the english subtitles. I hope to have helped some of you.

Enjoy it in Sicilian, I love hearing it.

There is now an option, watch in Italian! Look at the top of the screen. Subtitles on, audio Italian.

Original post follows, but no longer holds true. I will watch the series then amend it.

Had been looking forward to this but sadly dubbed in English, and refuse to watch anything not using the original language. The timbre, temper of foreign film and television is its original language. Language is our most precious and unique way of expression. It is why imperial powers throughout centuries have forbidden people to speak in their own languages, stripping places and their native peoples of identity. Until Disney and Hulu take their heads out of their accounting books and allow users to listen to what appears to be an exciting epic series .

This is a great series. The English is horrible. But, you can change it to Italian, French etc. Likewise the subtitles. This is the saga of a family that has a lot of ups and downs. At times it's frustrating to watch. But a great series.

All the reviews that talk about the language thing have not tried to change the language. There are options. I like the series and do not understand how the complainers never thought to look. You don't like something and never look to see if you can change it? Seriously?

I hope that they choose to do more with it. I would love to see another part of this saga.