My overall rating of "Gomorra: La serie"'s Season 1: 6/10
This episode, unfortunately based on real events and bearing the name of the girl who had suffered the same fate in real life as her fictional analogue, "Manu", did in this episode, is certainly haunting with its brutal, uncompromising portrayal of violence against random bystanders and innocents by the mafia. Doing a bit of research after having watched it I was surprised to see just how much the show takes from real life, Conte's real-life prototype also having hidden in Spain, etc. The episode is hard to watch, and is supposed to be, so you can hardly fault it for that.
However the sheer ridiculousness and stupidity of the plot as it winds up to deliver this incredible ending is something unfathomable. It is now the norm for new thugs to casually appear as if they'd always been in the show, nevermind that their very existence in their roles kind of contradicts all prior plot beats (Ciro has a trusted adjutant, why not?). It is now reasonable that a kid who's never killed before just sneaks into a warehouse which nobody guards and where nobody works (is the mafia having labour shortages now?), and easily executes a guy, when previously the mafia child Genny couldn't do it (why didn't Ciro do the hit himself, given how easy that apparently is - sure would've saved him a lot of trouble). And Manu being left at the bar (Ciro just luckily insulting his way into learning her appearance, and that she exists; and just happening to be told where she is) is a plot device if I've ever seen one - her boyfriend taking her there and then leaving her be makes no sense, unless their homes are on opposite ends of the city with the bar in the middle, and even then... And Bruno's appearance at dawn... And the gang's stupid gun stashes, new every time... And honestly the whole Manu subplot... Just stupid and contrived, the ending notwithstanding.
(I've watched this series in original languages with English subtitles)
This episode, unfortunately based on real events and bearing the name of the girl who had suffered the same fate in real life as her fictional analogue, "Manu", did in this episode, is certainly haunting with its brutal, uncompromising portrayal of violence against random bystanders and innocents by the mafia. Doing a bit of research after having watched it I was surprised to see just how much the show takes from real life, Conte's real-life prototype also having hidden in Spain, etc. The episode is hard to watch, and is supposed to be, so you can hardly fault it for that.
However the sheer ridiculousness and stupidity of the plot as it winds up to deliver this incredible ending is something unfathomable. It is now the norm for new thugs to casually appear as if they'd always been in the show, nevermind that their very existence in their roles kind of contradicts all prior plot beats (Ciro has a trusted adjutant, why not?). It is now reasonable that a kid who's never killed before just sneaks into a warehouse which nobody guards and where nobody works (is the mafia having labour shortages now?), and easily executes a guy, when previously the mafia child Genny couldn't do it (why didn't Ciro do the hit himself, given how easy that apparently is - sure would've saved him a lot of trouble). And Manu being left at the bar (Ciro just luckily insulting his way into learning her appearance, and that she exists; and just happening to be told where she is) is a plot device if I've ever seen one - her boyfriend taking her there and then leaving her be makes no sense, unless their homes are on opposite ends of the city with the bar in the middle, and even then... And Bruno's appearance at dawn... And the gang's stupid gun stashes, new every time... And honestly the whole Manu subplot... Just stupid and contrived, the ending notwithstanding.
(I've watched this series in original languages with English subtitles)
