Well be recapping each episode of My Brilliant Friend. This recap is written by someone who has read (and loved) the original books, but there will be no spoilers for future plot points. New episodes are airing Sunday and Monday nights, through December 10.[hhmc]
Of all My Brilliant Friends episodes so far, “The Fiancés” is my favorite. It blurs through a year, from summer to summer, with speed that loses some detail; I wish we could have seen more of Lila (Gaia Girace) in her fabulous shades and new clothes, sporting another coif from the hairdresser. But the sacrifice is worth it to see the ways Lila and Elena (Margherita Mazzucco) are working the neighborhood to their advantage.
And despite the expedient storytelling, there are details woven into this episode that say so much. Elena walks through the tunnel alone in the first shot; she walks with Antonio Cappuccio (Christian Giroso), her boyfriend and protector, in the last. In the first, shes fleeing Donato Sarratore (Emanuele Valenti); in the last, hes fleeing her. The episode is so vibrant, with layered narratives and flourishing changes, that it comes the closest yet to approaching the narrative texture of the novel, which constructs a matrix out of the neighborhoods history that is so vivid it feels tangible. Elenas choices are disturbing a strange, sticky web around her: she crushes on Nino (Francesco Serpico), confides in Alfonso (Fabrizio Cottone), rejects Donato, and ultimately embraces Antonio, whose mother was seduced by Donato.
Lila handles the Marcello (Elvis Esposito) situation by yoking herself to someone else: Stefano Carracci (Giovanni Amura), the grocer whose father was the fearsome Don Achille (Antonio Pennarella). Its canny: Stefano is too respectable to be overlooked, similarly wealthy, and like the Solaras, from an established family of power players in the neighborhood.
But its still hard to fathom whats happening in her head. Don Achille was her worst nightmare for so many years; now his mild-mannered son, who once tried to prick her tongue with a needle, is set to marry her in the spring. What Lila and Stefano have in common is a commitment to building together—to building a business, a community, a life, in the neighborhood of their youth. Stefanos interest in her shoes doesnt repulse her the way that Marcellos interest did; instead Lila kneels to put the shoes on his feet, watching as Stefano parlays his interest into an investment in the Cerullo shoe business.
Allying with Stefano—or loving him, if thats what it is—gives Lila a way to remake her family into what she needs it to be. It placates Rino (Gennaro De Stefano), silences her father (Antonio Buonanno), fulfills her filial obligations, and offers a future to her creations. (When Elena-the-narrator says the word “intrusion,” director Saverio Costanzo shows us first Lilas beaming smile, and then a workmans hammer breaking through the wall of her fathers workshop.) But she will remain in the neighborhood; in a poignant early shot during the drive, Stefano turns around the car at Lilas bidding, and she watches the blue ocean on the horizon fade, once again, into the distance.
The ocean, and the neighborhoods distance from it, comes to the forefront again when Antonio runs into Elena on the beach. (I wonder if he really just “ran into” her, or if he planned to find her.) Hes too proud to admit that he doesnt know how to swim—or that the pull of the ocean is unfamiliar and even terrifying to him—but it clearly changes something in him; hes suddenly ready to make his move. I wish he could have been a little more sensitive, given what we know Elenas been through, but in the end she seems pleased with his fumblings.
Ive dinged this production, in the past, for staid visuals. This episode, and the last, have been a reproach. Elenas hand digging into Antonios arm is such a strange, erotic image; throughout the final moments of this episode, the light falls on her face with careful, brilliant intensity, making a determined mask out of her features, just like Lilas face once was.
By contrast, its Lilas face that has become easier, freer, lighter; with her hair up and fancy sweaters around her shoulders, she smiles quickly and often, eyes shining with delight. The glasses—which are comically presented as such a shattering moment for Elena, which of course they would have been at the age of 15, though theyre nothing in the grand scheme of things—have the effect of making her look both younger and older at the same time, a schoolmarmish effect. Its in direct opposition to the mobile, dark severity of Lilas beautiful features, which attain a timeless and kind of classical beauty in this episode.
The glasses seem to make Elena a safe person to gossip in front of, while Lilas beauty makes her fearsome and even somewhat reviled. Everyone, from Gigliola Spagnuolo (Rosaria Langellotto) and Pasquale Peluso (Eduardo Scarpetta) to Maestra Oliviero (Dora Romano) and Lilas future mother-in-law, Maria Carracci (Sarah Falanga), comments on Lilas looks and confidence to Elena.
Obviously, its the women who are most critical of her. Gigliola—now clad in a terrible plaid suit skirt, hanging off of Micheles (Alessio Gallo) arm—tries to spread a demeaning rumor about her. Maria complains that Lila is too high and mighty to help with the business. Maestra Oliviero derisively comments that Lilas “beautiful energy” has ended up in “her ass.” The boys come to blows when Pasquale declares Lila a whore; shortly thereafter, they reconcile to firebomb the Solaras Fiat. Lila cant do anything without setting off waves; she cant even play the most traditional role of all, the glowing bride-to-be, without sending the whole neighborhood into turmoil.
By the end of “The Fiancés,” Lila and Elena have both found a niche—a set of strengths, a man, and a slight but sure way to bend the neighborhood to their will. Elena wont be troubled by Donato. Lila wont be troubled by Marcello. But theres still one episode left.
Get Vanity Fairs HWD NewsletterSign up for essential industry and award news from Hollywood.Full ScreenPhotos:An Ode to 2018s Film and TV Dogs, Who Were All Very Good
Charlie, A Star Is Born
Named Charlie both in the film and in real life, this goldendoodle comes with an adorable backstory: he actually belongs to star and director Bradley Cooper. The films human stars are getting all the awards attention, but I think we all know who the real scene-stealer was.Photo: From ©Warner Bros./Everett Collection.
President Pierce, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Like many Jack Russell terriers, this guy was very prone to barking—not exactly an ideal quality for a dog in a wagon train to Oregon. But just look at that little face!Photo: Courtesy of Netflix.
Olivia, Widows
Olivia is the name of the fluffy little pooch who appeared in several projects this year, including a cameo in Netflixs Insatiable. In Widows, however, she found perhaps her best part yet: confidante of Viola Davis. For the record, little Olivia absolutely nailed her performance.Photo: By Merrick Morton/Twentieth Century Fox.
Pickles, BoJack Horseman
Whats not to love about Pickles Aplenty, Mr. Peanutbutters new paramour in BoJack Horsemans fifth season? Voiced with delightful cheer by Hong Chau, Pickles is probably the sweetest pug youll ever meet—even if she can be a little naïve.Photo: From Netflix.
Gertrude, Dog Days
Vanessa Hudgens was very impressed with her canine partner in this film, a little Chihuahua named Gertrude. As Hudgens told Collider, “I remember my very first day of filming, they put like a little black dot down on the ground and showed it to [the dog playing Gertrude], took her to the end of the street and called action. She started walking, got to her mark and sat down, and I was like, How do you do that?!”Photo: Jacob Yakob / LD Entertainment
The Titular Dogs, Isle of Dogs
Were they kind of creepy? Yes. Did the film make some questionable decisions with regard to Japanese representation? Also yes. But lets not blame the dogs themselves for it.Photo: Copyright © Fox Searchlight / Everett Collection
Borras, Roma
Borras has great credentials: escape artist, good jumper, prolific pooper. Is that what you want in a dog you own? Not necessarily. But in a dog youre watching from the comfort of your own home, complete with a clean, poop-free driveway? Absolutely.Photo: By Carlos Somonte/Netflix.PreviousNext
Charlie, A Star Is Born
Named Charlie both in the film and in real life, this goldendoodle comes with an adorable backstory: he actually belongs to star and director Bradley Cooper. The films human stars are getting all the awards attention, but I think we all know who the real scene-stealer was.From ©Warner Bros./Everett Collection.
President Pierce, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Like many Jack Russell terriers, this guy was very prone to barking—not exactly an ideal quality for a dog in a wagon train to Oregon. But just look at that little face!Courtesy of Netflix.
Olivia, Widows
Olivia is the name of the fluffy little pooch who appeared in several projects this year, including a cameo in Netflixs Insatiable. In Widows, however, she found perhaps her best part yet: confidante of Viola Davis. For the record, little Olivia absolutely nailed her performance.By Merrick Morton/Twentieth Century Fox.
Pickles, BoJack Horseman
Whats not to love about Pickles Aplenty, Mr. Peanutbutters new paramour in BoJack Horsemans fifth season? Voiced with delightful cheer by Hong Chau, Pickles is probably the sweetest pug youll ever meet—even if she can be a little naïve.From Netflix.
Benji, Benji
The dog who took on this role in the Netflix reboot—perhaps one of the most iconic parts in the canine acting community—was once a stray. He arrived at a Humane Society shelter in Virginia malnourished, matted, and covered in fleas—but now, hes a star.From ©Netflix/Everett Collection.
Bastian, Game Night
This is, in fact, Olivia again—but shout-out to Bastian, one of the best characters in one of the years most woefully overlooked films.From ©Warner Bros./Everett Collection.
All of the Dogs, Dogs
Netflixs outstanding six-part doguseries is simply teeming with priceless pooches, and it would be inhumane to expect anyone to choose just one. The top dogs, though, are probably Rory, a service dog specially trained to help his owner with her epilepsy; Zeus, a Syrian husky whose owner is desperate to bring him to Germany; and Ice, who helps his owner keep up his fishing business, even as Lake Como begins to run out of fish.
Gertrude, Dog Days
Vanessa Hudgens was very impressed with her canine partner in this film, a little Chihuahua named Gertrude. As Hudgens told Collider, “I remember my very first day of filming, they put like a little black dot down on the ground and showed it to [the dog playing Gertrude], took her to the end of the street and called action. She started walking, got to her mark and sat down, and I was like, How do you do that?!”Jacob Yakob / LD Entertainment
The Titular Dogs, Isle of Dogs
Were they kind of creepy? Yes. Did the film make some questionable decisions with regard to Japanese representation? Also yes. But lets not blame the dogs themselves for it.Copyright © Fox Searchlight / Everett Collection
Borras, Roma
Borras has great credentials: escape artist, good jumper, prolific pooper. Is that what you want in a dog you own? Not necessarily. But in a dog youre watching from the comfort of your own home, complete with a clean, poop-free driveway? Absolutely.By Carlos Somonte/Netflix.
Sonia SaraiyaSonia Saraiya is Vanity Fair's television critic. Previously she was at Variety, Salon, and The A.V. Club. She lives in New York.
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