This Italian Crime Show Is Perfect for Fans Who Miss The Sopranos
Within the landscape of high-quality television shows, not many other series have quite reached the critical acclaim and impact of HBO’s The Sopranos, where viewers have continued to sing its praises long after the show ended. Bolstered by its writing, filmmaking and perfect ensemble cast, the show brought the cinematic lens to the TV medium and helped usher in a new wave of great television that continues to this day. However, despite making great changes for the television industry, very few prominent crime shows have yet to match the same heights that The Sopranos helped foster, though one Italian series, Gomorrah, best contends with the pioneering American show.
Immediately hailed as a formidable entry into the TV crime drama genre, Sky Atlantic’s Gomorrah also details the life of criminals and features excellent writing, dynamic filmmaking and a committed crew of performers that elevate the series. Moreover, the show best encapsulates what makes a good crime drama and, much like The Sopranos, does a great job of captivating an audience with a building plot that grabs hold of the viewer right from the very first episode.
The Sopranos Is The Gold Standard of Mafia Television
An Iconic Series that Still Resonates Today
Premiering back in 1999 on the Home Box Office network, David Chase’s visionary series The Sopranos marked a cultural shift in how audiences & the entertainment industry engage with television shows and have since been looking to relive the same magic that the show brought. Profiling the experiences of New Jersey-based Italian-American mobster Tony Soprano, as well as his family members and mafia colleagues, The Sopranos hits on every facet of a crime show, constructs believable drama and fosters strong humor that engages viewers. At the same time, the show delves into philosophical & psychological elements while subverting genre tropes, which invites the viewer to analyze the narrative as more than a mob series. Furthermore, the impressive display of characterization establishes multiple viewpoints within the show and leaves audiences wanting more out of every character on screen.
Whether following James Gandolfini’s Tony Soprano, Edie Falco’s Carmela, Michael Imperioli’s Christopher Moltisanti, Dominic Chianese’s Uncle Junior or any other personality, each is crafted with depth and played to perfection by a specific performer. Moreover, the characters help redefine the traditional attributes of a mafia story, where the deconstruction of these figures and the blending of comedy & drama throughout each episode, gives the viewer enough to connect with the characters while still being hesitant/shocked by the violence on display.
As much as The Sopranos is a show about a mobster struggling to balance his personal & criminal life, the inclusion of violence reiterates the choices each character makes, have consequences, which frames the series as a moral dissection of the gangster life. Among the many films and TV shows that heighten the gangster experience as something to admire, The Sopranos openly criticizes this notion and throughout the show’s narrative, becomes darker about the subject matter. Furthermore, the complex character relationships and storylines that turn morose also support the series’ status as one of the best TV dramas ever, where a program like Gomorrah also deals with these elements.
Gomorrah Invites Viewers Into The Italian Underworld
A Mob show that explores Naples-Based Gangsters
Created by writer/journalist Roberto Saviano, who also based the series on his book of the same name, the Sky Atlantic crime drama Gomorrah establishes a rich collection of characters, constructs well-designed filmmaking and tackles gritty storytelling that is far more true-to-life than what audiences would expect. Dealing with gangsters in the Camorra clan of Secondigliano, Naples, the show balances between its two leads, Ciro Di Marzio, played by Marco D’Amore and Gennaro Savastano, played by Salvatore Esposito, where the series examines a power struggle between the old and new guard of gangsters and navigates the Naples criminal underworld. Moreover, Gomorrah handles the subject matter with precision and sticks to adapting stories from real criminal events, which reveals to the viewer how brutal and widespread these figures are in Italy and across Europe.
At the same time, the show frames great character development due to the multiple narrative themes, where elements of family, violence, greed, power, etc. are all woven into the story to further analyze these individuals. Although the main attention is given to the show’s two stars, Fortunato Cerlino’s Pietro Savastano, Maria Pia Calzone’s Immacolata Savastano and the rest of the ensemble cast equally provide the depth necessary to flesh out the storylines as each season gets more expansive. Furthermore, the series’ increased scale also reiterates the trauma that’s befallen these characters and highlights the lengths to which organized crime will eventually lead to misery.
Gomorrah Maintains a Gripping Story & Amassed a Large Following
Criminal Activity and Drama Excite an Audience
Spanning the city of Naples and also visiting other European countries, Gomorrah enacts an epic crime tale that deals with many characters and clans of gangsters, though at the heart of the narrative, lies the personal struggles of the protagonists Ciro & Gennaro. As both men hunger for an opportunity to rise through the ranks of the mafia, each suffers losses that ultimately ask the audience if the ends justify the means; where the constant family deaths, betrayals, personal vendettas and gang wars shake both men to the very core. Moreover, Ciro and Gennaro’s vulnerability in the face of family strife and the several alliances both men make with various criminal groups to stay alive further transcribes the danger this lifestyle brings. However, despite all the chaos that Gomorrah highlights, in the same vein as The Sopranos, the series examines why men like Ciro & Gennaro are driven down this path.
During the show’s two interwoven plots, whether it is Ciro’s ascension as a formidable Camorra member/leader or Gennaro’s claim to his family’s crime syndicate, both narratives are paced properly and visualize both men’s actions with nuance, while also crafting concise dialogue that details each gangster’s ethos. At the same time, Ciro’s standalone film adds to the saga of Gomorrah and doesn’t feel out of place within each chapter/season of the show. Set after the events of the series’ third season, as well as serving as both a prequel and a sequel within Ciro’s life, the 2019 Italian crime flick The Immortal gives viewers a window into the gangster’s upbringing and present day situation after being fatally shot/recuperating from his losses. It is through the constant framing of reflection between Ciro & Gennaro, that the show earns its acclaim as a three-dimensional crime series and as a major success throughout the globe.
Gomorrah Stands Out Among Other Crime Shows
Fans Praise the Series’ Top-Notch Narrative Execution
Amidst the many crime dramas that have since come and gone following The Sopranos’ success, Gomorrah assures its legacy by tapping into what made David Chase’s series work best and upping the stakes toward an international scale, while retaining the character relationships as the source of the narrative. Moreover, the built-in atmosphere, talented production team and attention to detail with regard to authentic storytelling make the show a perfect transitional piece for fans of The Sopranos. At the same time, the dark themes permeating the show and uncompromising execution of these facets, further push the television medium forward in the same way that The Sopranos did many years ago for a generation of TV viewers. Furthermore, in highlighting the real issues plaguing the nation of Italy with rampant & violent Camorra activity, Gomorrah asserts a culturally significant story that makes the series more than just a mob show and is instead a perfect dramatization of crime.
Overall, as a television ratings juggernaut for Sky Atlantic, which has also led to the show being broadcast around the world thanks to word of mouth, Gomorrah achieves its intent of portraying a Neapolitan crime organization and capturing the city of Naples through this criminal landscape. At the same time, Gomorrah’s Italian perspective mirrors The Sopranos’ lauded reflection of American pop culture during its era, where both shows offer some commentary detailing the personal & professional happenings of gangsters and also conduct a visual appraisal of each environment. In this sense, fans can view both series as two sides of the same coin, whereby one show hones in on the best version of an American crime story and the other show is an excellent Italian crime story.
