Excellent episode. The actress who plays Lila was absolutely phenomenal, her transformation was astounding, from a beautiful, confident woman to a sorry shadow of herself. A very poignant depiction of what grief and depression does to someone.
This episode made me think of state "disappearances" in late '70s Argentina and other dictatorships. The point was to cause the maximum pain to families by NEVER giving them an explanation of what happened to their kids.
Carmen apologized to Lenu for the lawsuit, just before the shooting took place. When the gunshots rang out, Lenu encouraged Carmen to come along with her to see what was happening. If you noticed, Carmen accompanied Lenu but sort of lagged behind. My theory is that if Pasquale really did kill the Solaras, Carmen may have been aware their murders were about to take place and finally felt free enough to apologize to Lenu and finally admit that the Solaras put her up to the lawsuit. Carmen may have also been tipped off about the shooting because after all, Pasquale is her brother.
@ Interesting take. Thanks for sharing. I think it’s worth noting that Enzo and Pasquale had been close friends since childhood and remained friends as they grew up, so it’s not far-fetched to believe Enzo may have arranged the hit with Pasquale while he was out of town. If you remember from episode 1 of the first season, Pasquale’s father was put in prison for the murder of Don Achille, a murder that we later learned was done by the Solaras’ mother. So, the murder of the Solaras brothers could also be seen as Pasquale’s revenge for his father.
That's really interesting! She also finally admitted to Lenu that she had not wanted to sue - she probably knew that in a few moments it would be safe for her to finally admit it - because the Solaras would be gone.
@@vins1979Good analysis. One thing only: the bombs in Bologna were not set by leftists terrorists, but by neofascists ones. As a more relevant example, you may cite the kidnapping and killing of former prime minister Aldo Moro. Also, yes, the Solara are described as being involved in neofascists movements in the third book.
The moral of the story: you need to escape from a toxic environment. Lila thought she could overcome them, she had dreamed of changing the neighborhood since childhood. She seemed to succeed at first. She was able to gather votes for communists, and not for fascists, with whom Solara is associated. But she forgot, or did not understand, that there is no taboo here. And even a small child can suffer. Conclusion: sometimes it's better to run. Unfortunately.
Well said. You could see her reaction when Elena article had no impact. I think Lila always saw herself as the greater good and the brothers as true evil. Unfortunately no one escapes fay type of violence without leaving
I cant believe there is only one episode left! I love this show so much. this episode was tough to watch, I cant imagine the grief of losing a daughter like that and at such a young age. thanks for your wonderful reviews as always
Also, Nino is just plain bad luck. He comes there and mesmerizes these women and then while Lila is distracted her daughter is abducted. Whenever he enters the picture bad stuff happens
frankly, i don’t know what was lila doing being so mesmerized by nino. you don’t let a small child walk alone around in a crowded street in a mobster neighbourhood.
@@onedagger5142 but, still, lila had no reason talking so involvedly to nino, whom she supposedly dislikes given that she never has patience to tiptoe around anyone. and he was also doing his usual shtick, that he does with every female from infant to adult, which by now, has become ridiculous. she liked preening in front of nino. why now, when she did no such thing before? no idea.
I saw on Twitter: when Lila says to Lenu that Lenu has imp so her mother will continue to live within her, Lila makes herself braids-just like Tina had before disappearing. She makes herself look like Tina a little, so Tina will continue to live in this image.
she probably thought not even them would touch a small child, a little girl like tina. i think they did it, in any case. michele’s behaviour when he was inviting lenu to the library seemed to indicate that.
I’m so sad I’ve only recently found your channel, I started watching my brilliant friend this year and had no one to talk to about it. It’s one of the most incredible tv shows I’ve ever watched and if they stick the landing with the ending it’ll be an all time favorite for me, hopefully with time it’ll gain a bigger audience. This episode broke me, Lila’s story is way too tragic, I was so hopeful that she would be able to turn her life around… the fact that she almost did is what makes it so much more heartbreaking 💔
I’m so happy you found me! The show is big in Italy I think but not in the USA. I’m sure they will stick the landing. They have been so true to the novels and they haven’t missed so far
Here in Portugal the show is one of the most watched in Max (HBO). I, too, hope it slowly but surely gains audience through the years and become a TV classic. It’s a shame it has not won a single Emmy.
Lila always was afraid that she would end up like her mother's cousin - Melina. Nino wanted to be better than his father. Lenu was annoyed by her mother's imp. And her daughters dont like her just as much she didnt like her mom. And look where they are now. Kids making fun of Lila and bringing a dead bird was cruel. If you dont pity "crazy woman", have some respect towards the little girl... "Tina killed them" 😢 This scene broke me.
About Lila's words that she never loved making shoes or working for the IBM and just did it because of wanting to help Rino and Enzo. She had a dream as a child to write stories and she even wrote the story about Blue Fairy. But she burned that dream when she burned that book.
And about Tina. She seems to be as smart as her mother, but more calm. At first I thought it is from Enzo, but then remembered that he was the worst boy in the class😅 "donkey" and always fighting😂 but I guess Tina is more calm and light-hearted because she has a loving mom and dad. Something Lila didn't have
Solaras showed everyone that they want to help . Reminds me of them attending Alfonso's funeral. And they might be the ones who ordered to kill Alfonso and kidnap the girl.
Well said! She was always scared of becoming Melina and the disappearance triggered her madness. I think Tina had the potential to achieve everything her mother was denied . She was even more beautiful and more intelligent. Not knowing what happened to her is a fate worse then death.
@@onedagger5142 no, he wasn't the worse, he had to repeat an year and that's why he was made to wear the donkey hat, but he almost beat Lila in the math contest
Great episode. Your recaps are amazing and so needed! I am so glad I found your channel. I’m still reeling from watching this episode. I read all of the books and the series does such an amazing job of translating the stories to the screen.
Two things...the magazine Lenu was interviewed in had a photo that had her with Tina. Tina was pictured as her daughter instead of Imma. Then at the fair, Lila is holding Imma and Tina was with the other girls. I think this is suggesting the kidnapper got the girls mixed up and meant to take Lenu's daughter.
That is an amazing connection! It actually left me thinking about the emphasis placed on their photo in the newspaper. Also, I am not sure how the child actresses were cast, because I thought from the very beginning that Tina looks more like Lenu and Imma is more similar to Lila, physically.
Wow, I believe that Enzo set it up with Pasquale, or maybe not, when Enzo said he had to go visit a sick aunt all of sudden, in the middle of Lila's grief. Revenge for Tina!
Since I learned that the Neapolitan Quartet's 4th book title was “The Story of the Lost Child,” I dreaded about what would happen and with whom. This title, instead of being a spoiler, was a stroke of genius. From the moment Dede was born I was expecting something terrible to happen to her, and then to Elsa, or Imma, or even Tina. I don’t know why, I always felt Dede would be the victim, or perhaps Imma would be mentally ill and “lost.” I was taken by surprise by Tina’s disappearance. Which could well have been Imma’s disappearance. Mirroring the exchange of the dolls in the first book, Tina was mistaken for Elena’s daughter in the magazine. And on that fateful day, Lila was holding Imma. If the Solaras hired someone to do the hit job on Elena’s daughter (because they were pissed with her tell-all article), that hitman could well have mistaken Tina for Imma. In book 1, Lila and Lenù exchanged their dolls and Lila threw Lenù’s doll, the beautiful one, in the dark. In book 4, karma (with a little help from Lila’s obsession with the Solaras) exchanged the daughters and threw Lila’s daughter, the beautiful one, in the dark.
Or maybe Tina was kidnapped by a child abuser / trafficker. Or hit by a truck. Or another mafioso, not the Solaras, ordered the vendetta. Was Tina kidnapped by mistake? Or was she the real target? It’s extremely painful not being able to make sense about the death of our loved ones. Is Tina really dead? If so, when, where, how and why? Ferrante keeps the characters and all of us in harrowing darkness, just like the dolls.
This is excellent! You are right about the dolls. It was foreshadowing what happened to Tina. When you explained it I can see the kidnapping being a mistake. Maybe they really thought it was Elena daughter. No one in the neighbourhood could mistake Tina and IMMA because they interact with them all the time but I could see someone outside of the neighbourhood making this mistake
This episode had me locked in! Currently pregnant and the thought of losing a child was heartbreaking. Lila's performance was outstanding. I mean every single time. She's such a beautifully flawed character who expresses her feelings in such a way. It's almost like watching a release. Brutally honest. Elena always feels like a supporting actor when their in the same scene. Much like Tina and Imma. I feel like Tina's disappearance happened at a time where Lila was already losing herself. Especially after that "slap scene". The daughters were mirrors or rather reflections of Elena and Lila. Imma being flawed while Lila describes Elena as "perfect". Brilliant foreshadowing thru and thru. Idk what I'd do without this show. Love it so much.
I would be a mess if I watched this episode pregnant. The way Tina disappeared was too true to life. we saw her leave the apartment and before we knew it she was gone. If Elena had not said anything they wouldn't have noticed. I'm trying to find a replacement show but its impossible
Have you watched the movie with Olivia Coleman , "The lost daughter"? It is based on Ferrantes other book. Interesting how she always comes back to these thèmes of the lost dolls/daughters.
Thank you Always Watching. I look forward to your episode recap. Lila looks straight up scary trying to deal with her daughter's disappearance. The Actors the series hired to be the older characters were spot on. I am going to miss this show after next week.
Nino is surprisingly relatable for a lot of guys. Even though the story takes place overseas, my experience growing up in America during the 80s gives me a similar vibe regarding adult relationships. Generation X understands the frustrations of children like Dede, Elsa, Imma, and Tina. Elsa mocking her mom, trying to get Nino's attention, is hilarious and spot-on. Gen X were a bit rude as kids. Plus, the 80s were all about that fear of child abduction and exploitation, with the whole Stranger Danger thing hitting hard everywhere. This episode does a great job of capturing the considerable anxiety about child safety from the 80s.
Unfortunately you are correct. Nino is a timeless wasteman. The show does a great job of showing the different generations. the neighborhood is so small that people didn't really worry about their children disappearing. Tina marked the end of this
If you noticed at the beginning of the episode when the reporter talks to the witnesses in the neighborhood of the murder are the same witnesses that Lenu envisions in her mind as to what happened in the Solara’s murders. Beautiful done episode and cannot wait for the Finale.
Pasquale and Nadia killed the brothers. I didn’t put it together that Enzo may have set the execution up until reading these comments. Makes sense since he went away. Sad to see this show end. I’m tempted to read the books again!
@@alwayswatching2295honestly, she wasn’t. The panic and paranoia were rampant because of the wind direction, it blew towards Western Europe. It was Sweden that first drew the alarm, because of the very high levels of radiation in its atmosphere. I distinctly remember my relatives running inside the house when they noticed that mosquitos were falling on the garden table (granted, we lived 600 kms from Kyiv). It was a crazy time!
That may be true but I believe Lenú used it as a cover to excuse Lila's behavior. If you think about it, every time someone complains to Lenú about Lila, she gets defensive or discounts what they are saying.
I know the Solara brothers were what they were, but seeing them dead gave me an Indescribable sense of sorrow. Literally a part of the series that goes away.
@@ladybugflv I undestand the feeling, indeed the two were criminals. But despite everything, due to their long presence in the series, i couldn't hate them in the end
Heh? Nino did the right thing by including Tina. Elena was too worried about him liking Tina more. The fact is that Elena wasn't home to school Imma the way Lila did for Tina. (Enzo was around, too.) Elena deserved the embarrassment.
Tina's disappearance was also subtly foreshadowed when Lila confronted the Solara brothers after Alfonso's funeral and Michele told Lila to leave and that she still "had time" which was clearly a threat, to which she replies, "You better not hurt Gennaro or Enzo.." and then Michele slaps her and tells her that he will take everything she has. Could he have already been thinking about doing something to Tina? In any case, I found her immediate reaction to assume that they would either hurt her son or Enzo telling ; neither her nor us could have imagined that TINA is the child that the title of this 4th installment is referring to :(
Thank you Hamza for this review! What an episode- Nino is still scum and the brothers are probably responsible for Tina. It was so sad to see Lila going through the grief. Makes me want to know what happened to Elena's daughters. Only one episode left- hope this show gets its flowers.
The Chernobyl comment was a real issue, the radiation levels were very very high all over Europe, so it might sound like an exaggeration but it wasn’t at the time. Schools were closed for days.
I think we're not supposed to know who took Tina. I think is a way of telling us that Lila was involved with different dangerous people and all of them could have a reason to take Tina. The new drug dealers could took her to send her a message and take her out of the picture at the same time they killed the Solaras, or maybe it was the vengeance of the Solaras, or maybe just a random kidnapper. What do you think?
I think you’re right even in the books it’s never made clear and it happens late. I think it could’ve been anyone but Lila work definitely played a huge part. Elena is too famous for her kids to ever be kidnapped so Lila was the easiest way for the brothers to get revenge
@alwayswatching2295 I just hope Elena finally chooses in the last episode to be free from Lilas influence and take her children to a better place. She is too kind but there is a limit for what you can do for people to be better.
@@bboynava1812 she should have stayed away from lila from the moment she humiliated her and laughed at her after that party at galiani’s house. also, lila kinda knew that lenu liked nino. that didn’t stop her.
I kind off wanted to skip this episode just because the mere idea of the dissapereance of child is too much...but I am glad I watched it. It's finally as good as it was in the first season. I noticed a simetry:in the first season when young lenu dropped her bravelet and one of the brothers tried to take it , Lila defended her with a knife, now Lila was a complete shadow of her former self. In the first season after Don Pasquale's murder, Lila imagined who killed him and said it was the brother s Solara s mother. I think she was right. Now, Lenu saw what hapened with them. Really really good character arch and brilliant performance. I loved this episode. My favourite by far since....the first or second season.
Yes this was by far one of the best episodes I’ve seen all years I think you’re right in saying the brothers took away Lila power. She no longer has the same image she did prior to the disappearance and the brothers were playing on that when they took her bracelet
I'm still both shocked and angry at how Lenu reacts so coldly to Tina's disappearance. Tina was like her child and Emma's favorite friend. I think Lenu is unable to grasp the situation and deal with Lila's madness, almost as if she wants Lila to handle things. Even while she's devastated by her child's disappearance, her trivial advice and fake comfort to Enzo and Lila annoy me because it lacks sincerity. Something about this show unsettles me; maybe it's because it reminds me of myself. Lenu can’t live on her own or make independent decisions without someone with masculine energy by her side to strengthen her weaknesses, bring her out of isolation, encourage her to explore her talents, and protect her. This is also why she hated being around Pietro and perhaps even despised him deep down-he's a feminine man who is weak in the face of aggressive people and avoids conflicts. This might also stem from her growing up in that dangerous neighborhood, which instilled a deep fear in her, and due to her gentle nature. The bracelet scene shows that, even though Lenu is in her forties, she’s still afraid to confront childhood enemies and fears, having lost her main protector, Lila. It seems that Lila, too, needs someone with a nurturing energy who sees the good in her, like when she broke down on the day of the earthquake. It's terrifying to remain in the same environment that poisoned you and expect things to change. What’s even more frightening is that this poison is spreading to her children, yet she remains in the neighborhood. I believe Lenu will eventually leave Naples after a severe fallout with Lila, or perhaps one of her daughters will be seriously harmed, which will make her realize the danger. As we saw in the first episode, the older Lenu lives in a different city from Lila, and their relationship seems severed-she seemed indifferent to where Lila had gone or if she had disappeared.
This is a great observation. Elena has always gravitated towards a more alpha personality. I thought her reaction was one of shock. I think the disappearance made her rethink her friendship with Lila. Her daughters hate her and worse being in that apartment no longer feels safe. Elena moved to this neighborhood for selfish reasons. she can afford to lave but being around Lila helps her write better. I think she has this obsession with Lila in terms of her potential to do better than her. so much of her life has been taken up by NINO. I don't think she knows how to be without someone to push her whereas Lila can push herself.
I really found tina's disappearance so unexpected. Because we don't really know what lila was doing and who she was dealing with. Lenu doesn't know so we don't know. So the story is incomplete. We don't know why or who did it.
Exactly and it happens closer to the end of the novel to make this point. Elena was in the dark about how bad things were and the kidnapping took her by surprise
I don t think Lila was careful at Nino beacuse of Nino but beacuse that's the affect most politicians surounded by fame have on anyone, even Lila It's like a glamour. To glamour is to make someone see an ilusion of beauty. It's original meaning of the word, used to be something quite different and negative in the past. I think the stealing og Lenu s bracelet was the last crime that the Solaras did. It wasn t just a bracelet, it was her mother s if I am not mistaken. They got killed on the steps of the Church, it's a very simbolical thing. In a way justicr has been made but it is even so sad as you see someone you've known your entire life reduced to a corpse right in front of your eyes. You can see the tears in her eyes. I think this zhow is about more than 50's to 80's Italy. It's simbolism it's rrally deep and I am glad they did this after going for tooooo long only about jino nino nino..... Eventually the only one who trully managed to get away from the neighborhood was Nino, but not the young seamingly idealistic wanna be but a whole new man with no convictions or true affection. A performer. A shell of a men who only attracts admirations due to it's power and the hipnotic affect this power has on peoples minds. I could write a small book about this show😅 Nino was much more able to get around power than his father who was still disgusting but conpletely high on his own farts. Eventually these are the people who make it in the worldly sence: the spineless, not with a true lively intellicence like Lila, but the ones who just know how to move their elbows and step on corpses.
Thank you for this comment. Nino made it out and his ability to lie and cheat has helped him maintain his position and even become successful in politics. People like Nino are the worst of both worlds.
so, elena is manifesting her hip pain, and that’s bad, but lila’s phantom labour is real pain? also, lila WAS mesmerized while talking to Nino. she had no reason to conduct a whole conversation with a man whom she supposedly dislikes. she has little patience for everyone else when she doesn’t feel like it. she should have left the rione when her business started doing well and try to expand or open a different headquarters someplace else. but she wanted to stay there and drag lenu back inside too. what’s a far away view of the sea when up close you can see it’s all shit and sweat and piss and all of that, right? come back inside the shit lenu, this is wshere reality is. well. lila just got hit by that reality. hard.
Yes I saw him! I wondered if he knew or was connected to the bad people who took Tina. (Not that he did it, but he was connected with the slimy side for awhile.)
Elena Ferrante is the author, and is the same name as the main character. Many of the major events portrayed really did happen, like the earthquake. Is this story true? Then what happened to Tina, Lila’s young daughter, who disappeared. Here is my theory: Elena has shown, in this final season, that she sees things that do not happen. Like when Lila went to the hospital. Or, the red car when two people shot both brothers. Or when Lila spoke to her on her bed but Lila wasn’t really there. These, and more, were all in Elena’s head. They were not true. What was in that letter Elena wrote Nino, that Nino stated he never received. Supposed Instructions about what Nino must do that day. Did she even write a letter? Nino gives Tina a used pen from his pocket, as opposed to a brand new wrapped gift. Tina immediately writes her own name with artistic flair. Something Elena & Nino’s daughter cannot do. One sees the envy in Elena’s eyes. Especially when Nino compares Tina with Lila, her mother as a child, as being exceptionally ‘brilliant’. Did this moment when Tina demonstrates to everyone that she might be just as ‘brilliant’ as Lila was as a child, did Elena’s envy trigger in her the next few moments that we see from Elena’s perspective, but were, in fact, a fantasy? Did Elena never set the table. Did Tina never leave? Or did Tina return to the apartment on her own, and Elena then does something with her… Was Nino involved? Were the two brothers involved? Because it all could be a fantasy, we may never know. I used to wonder why the first episodes of this season were all about Elena. The prior seasons would divide each episode between the two main females. Elena, to me, was the less interesting character - until I began to realize that she is, in fact, the crazy one. To continue, when everyone, except Elena, leaves the apartment, Elena thinks only about Lila and Nino, wondering if Nino believes Tina could have been ‘his’ child. Elena is still jealous of both, even though Elena just stated she no longer had feelings for Nino. Elena sets the table, or does she? By now we can no longer be certain what is real, or what is fantasy. Elena joins the others. A piercing sound of a blade being sharpened affects her, and seems to be integral to the scene. Elena. kind of hiding, attempts to call Nino, but her voice cracks. Her two older daughters mock her, mimicking her clutching her throat. This is out of character for the two daughters. Is any of this real? Elena approaches Nino and Lila. She has her own daughter remove herself from Lila’s arms. Elena asks, “Where is Tina?” Why? Where is Tina? Why did Elena ask this? What made her believe Tina was missing? Did Elena already know Tina was missing? When Tina was discovered to be missing, everyone starts searching for her - except Elena. She just remains standing there, calm. Later the brothers meet Elena and urge Elena to accompany them to ‘the library’. This was out of character. Yet they were insistent. So much so that one brother intentionally, it seemed, broke Elena’s bracelet so that it not only fell off her arm, but was immediately retrieved by the second brother. What did the two brothers really want with Elena, alone ‘at the library’? Discuss their plans? What they should do with little Tina? To give substance to this theory, Elena didn’t even care about her own daughters when she left them behind to go with Nino. Why would she care about Tina? The female who was used to sue Elena meets with her in the street, saying, “I never wanted to sue you.” - as if the law suit was already over. Then we hear gun shots, and the two brothers are dead. No one sees what happened, but at the mere suggestion of a red car, Elena pictures the entire murder, red car and all. Only, it never happened that way. Just more of Elena’s fantasy, which seems to never stop. Lila is emotionally destroyed by her daughter missing. Lila has always seemed to be very observational with Elena. SPOILER ALERT / Since I Read The Book : Lila, in the final episode, will give back to Elena her doll, a doll that has the same name as Lila’s daughter. A doll that was Elena’s that Lila stole when she was a little girl. I believe Lila gave back to Elena her doll because she knows what Elena has done. And this is why Lila disappears, like her daughter. What are your thoughts?
It's a great analysis, in the sense that Elena is a writer, so a lot of the things she is narrating might not be true. I have bee thinking for a while that Lila might not exist at all, that she is just a character in her book who serves a double for Elena, showing what her life could have been, their stories bifurcating when Elena goes on to study and Lila cannot. This would be quite meta since this is true of the real book as well. There are many doubles/antagonists in the books, Lila and Alfonso, Nino and his father, Melina and Lila, Imma and Tina, Elena is also afraid of becoming like her mom, another possible double. But ultimately I think all these characters exists in the world built by the books, and we simply see everyone's attempts at finding their own identity, at manipulating reality, including Lila's attempts. As for the theory that Elena may have "done something" with Tina, I don't think this is true, but I do agree that envy is a trigger: I thought that somehow the envy from Elena and Imma when Tina caught Nino's attention ultimately was her end. After all, both the older sisters and Nino had been instructed to shower Imma of attentions, and not Tina, and Lila gets lost in talking to Nino, so while in the city Tina was ignored and that was the end of her. About the dolls, I feel that the explanation is different: Lila gives Tina back to Elena, revealing that she had the dolls all along. The dolls triggered their friendship: going to Don Achille's to ask for the dolls was when they started working as a team, the start of their rivalry and friendship and competition/mutual encouragement to become better than the other and of their neighbourhood. By giving back the dolls, I feel that Lila is saying that their friendship is over, and that she was manipulating Elena all the time, that Elena owes her success to Lila.
@@livingcolours773 I like your theory about everything being a fantasy, including the characters. Elena is a writer, and writers often 'make stuff up'. But what would be the reason for Lila to believe their friendship is now over? That is why I believe Lila named her daughter after Elena's doll. Lila stole Elena's doll and Elena stole Lila's daughter = payback.
This Is a very interesting comment and thank you 🙏🏾 I don’t think Elena is responsible for the kidnapping. I think she was annoyed with Tina but I doubt she would go that far Elena’s fantasy only comes in when there is information about Lila missing. She assumes a lot about her life but doesn’t actually know what’s going on. She never understands basic sight or what Lila is capable of with these computers. For all we know Lila could’ve hacked her computer and watched her type this whole time I think Elena in a way sees Lila as failed version of herself which is why she is unable to understand her at all Elena obsession with Lila has never been reciprocated. Lila has managed to find a way to survive while Elena has relied on Nino and Lila to help push her to be something great. I thought the dolls were a sign that Lila wanted to be left alone. Elena decision to write about her was selfish considering she made it clear she wanted to disappear.
@@alwayswatching2295 Thank you for writing, very appreciated! I enjoy watching your review summaries. I have to disagree with one assumption, Elena has at least one fantasy that does not involve Lila, and that is when the female states she didn't want to sue Elena, gun shots are heard, and the brothers have been killed. Elena hears one person who was present mention a 'red car', and Elena's fantasy kicks in, seeing a red car pull up, two masked individuals step out, shooting the two brothers. In that moment - Lila was not there, or involved. I have not yet seen the final episode. But at least this moment involving the red car does suggest Elena does have unrestrained fantasies. I guess I have one question, would you trust a so called friend who is jealous of everything that you do, from the men, to your success, to even being jealous of your own child? Jealousy is a terrible monster and makes people do very bad things. "Elena" is also the writer, and authors do not make themselves 'the villain'. We're just seeing 'her' point of view. Villains sometimes 'slip up' and get caught.....
@alwayswatching2295 Thank you for your absolutely fantastic reviews of each episode. Your take on these scenes are simply amazing. You often observe things I had overlooked, or I just wasn't sure if some subtle nuance even meant anything, but you made sense of it, and I felt I had a clearer view of the story. After watching each episode I make sure to listen to your comments as it gave me even more insight, and I got to relive the story. I will miss your insightful reviews and opinions (I love how much you hated Nino!) And, of course, I will miss the My Brilliant Friend series so much. I've watched from the very beginning and I don't think I've ever loved a show as much as this. P.S. I think Enzo might have killed the Solaras brothers.
Thank you for this beautiful comment . I’m so sad it’s ending! I’m trying to find something similar but it’s impossible. NINO will always be one of the best written worst characters ever. I agree I do think Enzo left town to organize the murders
@@onedagger5142 this is actually reminding me that with Nino in town, and being an MP who was on tv half of the time, and with Elena's letter instructing him about his visit apparently having gone missing, he could also have been a target, with Tina being confused with Imma from the picture on the magazine and the fact that she was following Elena's daughters. There are so many possibilities, I guess we are not meant to know what happens to Tina, it's not the point.
Excellent episode. The actress who plays Lila was absolutely phenomenal, her transformation was astounding, from a beautiful, confident woman to a sorry shadow of herself. A very poignant depiction of what grief and depression does to someone.
Agreed! She was broken and in a way this is worse then death. Never knowing what happened to Tina will haunt her for the rest of her life
...facts 😰
This episode made me think of state "disappearances" in late '70s Argentina and other dictatorships. The point was to cause the maximum pain to families by NEVER giving them an explanation of what happened to their kids.
Carmen apologized to Lenu for the lawsuit, just before the shooting took place. When the gunshots rang out, Lenu encouraged Carmen to come along with her to see what was happening. If you noticed, Carmen accompanied Lenu but sort of lagged behind. My theory is that if Pasquale really did kill the Solaras, Carmen may have been aware their murders were about to take place and finally felt free enough to apologize to Lenu and finally admit that the Solaras put her up to the lawsuit. Carmen may have also been tipped off about the shooting because after all, Pasquale is her brother.
@ Interesting take. Thanks for sharing. I think it’s worth noting that Enzo and Pasquale had been close friends since childhood and remained friends as they grew up, so it’s not far-fetched to believe Enzo may have arranged the hit with Pasquale while he was out of town. If you remember from episode 1 of the first season, Pasquale’s father was put in prison for the murder of Don Achille, a murder that we later learned was done by the Solaras’ mother. So, the murder of the Solaras brothers could also be seen as Pasquale’s revenge for his father.
That's really interesting! She also finally admitted to Lenu that she had not wanted to sue - she probably knew that in a few moments it would be safe for her to finally admit it - because the Solaras would be gone.
@@vins1979Good analysis. One thing only: the bombs in Bologna were not set by leftists terrorists, but by neofascists ones. As a more relevant example, you may cite the kidnapping and killing of former prime minister Aldo Moro. Also, yes, the Solara are described as being involved in neofascists movements in the third book.
The moral of the story: you need to escape from a toxic environment. Lila thought she could overcome them, she had dreamed of changing the neighborhood since childhood. She seemed to succeed at first. She was able to gather votes for communists, and not for fascists, with whom Solara is associated. But she forgot, or did not understand, that there is no taboo here. And even a small child can suffer. Conclusion: sometimes it's better to run. Unfortunately.
Well said. You could see her reaction when Elena article had no impact.
I think Lila always saw herself as the greater good and the brothers as true evil. Unfortunately no one escapes fay type of violence without leaving
I can’t get enough of this show. Excellent episode.
It was fantastic
I cant believe there is only one episode left! I love this show so much. this episode was tough to watch, I cant imagine the grief of losing a daughter like that and at such a young age. thanks for your wonderful reviews as always
Thank you for watching !
Also, Nino is just plain bad luck. He comes there and mesmerizes these women and then while Lila is distracted her daughter is abducted. Whenever he enters the picture bad stuff happens
Honestly he’s a walking curse 😂 the way we never heard from him again
frankly, i don’t know what was lila doing being so mesmerized by nino. you don’t let a small child walk alone around in a crowded street in a mobster neighbourhood.
@@monicad99 if we blame Lila we should blame Enzo too. He was there too
@@onedagger5142 yeah, he should have been looking after her too.
@@onedagger5142 but, still, lila had no reason talking so involvedly to nino, whom she supposedly dislikes given that she never has patience to tiptoe around anyone. and he was also doing his usual shtick, that he does with every female from infant to adult, which by now, has become ridiculous. she liked preening in front of nino. why now, when she did no such thing before? no idea.
I saw on Twitter: when Lila says to Lenu that Lenu has imp so her mother will continue to live within her, Lila makes herself braids-just like Tina had before disappearing. She makes herself look like Tina a little, so Tina will continue to live in this image.
Yea this is accurate. She is trying to keep a part of her daughter Alive
I do remember that Lila told the Solara brothers: "Don't you dare touch Enzo or Gennaro." But she forgot to mention Tina.
Gennaro or Enzo
@@1317TM Thank you!
Yea I think she didn’t see it coming at all
she probably thought not even them would touch a small child, a little girl like tina. i think they did it, in any case. michele’s behaviour when he was inviting lenu to the library seemed to indicate that.
@monicad99 and the parallel with the bracelet in that scene! Reminded of the time when they tried to take Lenu for the ride ("having fun"with her)
I’m so sad I’ve only recently found your channel, I started watching my brilliant friend this year and had no one to talk to about it. It’s one of the most incredible tv shows I’ve ever watched and if they stick the landing with the ending it’ll be an all time favorite for me, hopefully with time it’ll gain a bigger audience. This episode broke me, Lila’s story is way too tragic, I was so hopeful that she would be able to turn her life around… the fact that she almost did is what makes it so much more heartbreaking 💔
I’m so happy you found me! The show is big in Italy I think but not in the USA. I’m sure they will stick the landing. They have been so true to the novels and they haven’t missed so far
Here in Portugal the show is one of the most watched in Max (HBO). I, too, hope it slowly but surely gains audience through the years and become a TV classic. It’s a shame it has not won a single Emmy.
heads up: theres a community talking about the show on reddit!
Lila always was afraid that she would end up like her mother's cousin - Melina. Nino wanted to be better than his father. Lenu was annoyed by her mother's imp. And her daughters dont like her just as much she didnt like her mom. And look where they are now.
Kids making fun of Lila and bringing a dead bird was cruel. If you dont pity "crazy woman", have some respect towards the little girl...
"Tina killed them" 😢 This scene broke me.
About Lila's words that she never loved making shoes or working for the IBM and just did it because of wanting to help Rino and Enzo. She had a dream as a child to write stories and she even wrote the story about Blue Fairy. But she burned that dream when she burned that book.
And about Tina. She seems to be as smart as her mother, but more calm. At first I thought it is from Enzo, but then remembered that he was the worst boy in the class😅 "donkey" and always fighting😂 but I guess Tina is more calm and light-hearted because she has a loving mom and dad. Something Lila didn't have
Solaras showed everyone that they want to help . Reminds me of them attending Alfonso's funeral. And they might be the ones who ordered to kill Alfonso and kidnap the girl.
Well said! She was always scared of becoming Melina and the disappearance triggered her madness.
I think Tina had the potential to achieve everything her mother was denied . She was even more beautiful and more intelligent.
Not knowing what happened to her is a fate worse then death.
@@onedagger5142 no, he wasn't the worse, he had to repeat an year and that's why he was made to wear the donkey hat, but he almost beat Lila in the math contest
Great episode. Your recaps are amazing and so needed! I am so glad I found your channel. I’m still reeling from watching this episode. I read all of the books and the series does such an amazing job of translating the stories to the screen.
Thank you for watching, 💕 and I can believe how dedicated they are to the books .
Two things...the magazine Lenu was interviewed in had a photo that had her with Tina. Tina was pictured as her daughter instead of Imma. Then at the fair, Lila is holding Imma and Tina was with the other girls.
I think this is suggesting the kidnapper got the girls mixed up and meant to take Lenu's daughter.
This is a very good point. Maybe once they realized It was the wrong girl they killed her
Wow i think your right !😲
What a great observation! I get so caught up in the characters that I forget parts. I wondered why they put the other daughter in the photo.
That is an amazing connection! It actually left me thinking about the emphasis placed on their photo in the newspaper. Also, I am not sure how the child actresses were cast, because I thought from the very beginning that Tina looks more like Lenu and Imma is more similar to Lila, physically.
@@miamimice6572 wonder if it would then also be tied to Nino being a diplomat now... the kidnapping of what they think is he and lenus kid
Wow, I believe that Enzo set it up with Pasquale, or maybe not, when Enzo said he had to go visit a sick aunt all of sudden, in the middle of Lila's grief. Revenge for Tina!
I was thinking the same thing. I was like I know that trip wasn’t about his auntie 😂
Since I learned that the Neapolitan Quartet's 4th book title was “The Story of the Lost Child,” I dreaded about what would happen and with whom. This title, instead of being a spoiler, was a stroke of genius. From the moment Dede was born I was expecting something terrible to happen to her, and then to Elsa, or Imma, or even Tina. I don’t know why, I always felt Dede would be the victim, or perhaps Imma would be mentally ill and “lost.” I was taken by surprise by Tina’s disappearance. Which could well have been Imma’s disappearance. Mirroring the exchange of the dolls in the first book, Tina was mistaken for Elena’s daughter in the magazine. And on that fateful day, Lila was holding Imma. If the Solaras hired someone to do the hit job on Elena’s daughter (because they were pissed with her tell-all article), that hitman could well have mistaken Tina for Imma. In book 1, Lila and Lenù exchanged their dolls and Lila threw Lenù’s doll, the beautiful one, in the dark. In book 4, karma (with a little help from Lila’s obsession with the Solaras) exchanged the daughters and threw Lila’s daughter, the beautiful one, in the dark.
Or maybe Tina was kidnapped by a child abuser / trafficker. Or hit by a truck. Or another mafioso, not the Solaras, ordered the vendetta. Was Tina kidnapped by mistake? Or was she the real target? It’s extremely painful not being able to make sense about the death of our loved ones. Is Tina really dead? If so, when, where, how and why? Ferrante keeps the characters and all of us in harrowing darkness, just like the dolls.
This is excellent! You are right about the dolls. It was foreshadowing what happened to Tina.
When you explained it I can see the kidnapping being a mistake. Maybe they really thought it was Elena daughter. No one in the neighbourhood could mistake Tina and IMMA because they interact with them all the time but I could see someone outside of the neighbourhood making this mistake
Coming back here to say I’ve just remembered that Lenù’s doll was called Tina. 💁♀️
@@Saeliana And Lila's doll was called Nu, which short for Nunzia, exactly like Tina in this case.
I definitely could see Pasquale and his girl doing that my thought was that's really where Enzo was
Good point! Maybe Enzo set it up !
This episode had me locked in! Currently pregnant and the thought of losing a child was heartbreaking. Lila's performance was outstanding. I mean every single time. She's such a beautifully flawed character who expresses her feelings in such a way. It's almost like watching a release. Brutally honest. Elena always feels like a supporting actor when their in the same scene. Much like Tina and Imma. I feel like Tina's disappearance happened at a time where Lila was already losing herself. Especially after that "slap scene". The daughters were mirrors or rather reflections of Elena and Lila. Imma being flawed while Lila describes Elena as "perfect". Brilliant foreshadowing thru and thru. Idk what I'd do without this show. Love it so much.
I would be a mess if I watched this episode pregnant. The way Tina disappeared was too true to life. we saw her leave the apartment and before we knew it she was gone. If Elena had not said anything they wouldn't have noticed.
I'm trying to find a replacement show but its impossible
Have you watched the movie with Olivia Coleman , "The lost daughter"? It is based on Ferrantes other book. Interesting how she always comes back to these thèmes of the lost dolls/daughters.
Yes and I’ve read the book. The movie is actually really well done and you’re right this theme of lost daughters and dolls comes up alot
True. And if I remember correctly the mother also left her daughter for a period of time.
@mermaid9422 yes, she left 2 daughters. There was "lost" girl too, but she was found immediately.
Thank you Always Watching. I look forward to your episode recap. Lila looks straight up scary trying to deal with her daughter's disappearance. The Actors the series hired to be the older characters were spot on. I am going to miss this show after next week.
Thank you Helena!
Nino is surprisingly relatable for a lot of guys. Even though the story takes place overseas, my experience growing up in America during the 80s gives me a similar vibe regarding adult relationships. Generation X understands the frustrations of children like Dede, Elsa, Imma, and Tina. Elsa mocking her mom, trying to get Nino's attention, is hilarious and spot-on. Gen X were a bit rude as kids. Plus, the 80s were all about that fear of child abduction and exploitation, with the whole Stranger Danger thing hitting hard everywhere. This episode does a great job of capturing the considerable anxiety about child safety from the 80s.
Unfortunately you are correct. Nino is a timeless wasteman. The show does a great job of showing the different generations. the neighborhood is so small that people didn't really worry about their children disappearing. Tina marked the end of this
2:35 Elena always has been obsessed with Nino, even before his relationship with Lila
It was a good episode. I feel so bad for Lila..
I remember being in shock when it happened in the books
Excellent episode. . Great re-cap!
Thank you 🙏🏾
If you noticed at the beginning of the episode when the reporter talks to the witnesses in the neighborhood of the murder are the same witnesses that Lenu envisions in her mind as to what happened in the Solara’s murders. Beautiful done episode and cannot wait for the Finale.
Ohhhh that’s so true !!!!
Your reviews are fantastic.
Thank you 🙏🏾
Great recap! Can't wait until next episode's recap!
Thank you!
Pasquale and Nadia killed the brothers. I didn’t put it together that Enzo may have set the execution up until reading these comments. Makes sense since he went away. Sad to see this show end. I’m tempted to read the books again!
I'm so upset it's about to end. Hopefully they wrap it up without a bunch of questions!!
I was living in Italy when the Chernobyl event happened. That fear was real.
Thank you for this comment I wasn’t sure if she was exaggerating
@@alwayswatching2295honestly, she wasn’t. The panic and paranoia were rampant because of the wind direction, it blew towards Western Europe. It was Sweden that first drew the alarm, because of the very high levels of radiation in its atmosphere. I distinctly remember my relatives running inside the house when they noticed that mosquitos were falling on the garden table (granted, we lived 600 kms from Kyiv). It was a crazy time!
I was in Russia that day on a high school trip.
That may be true but I believe Lenú used it as a cover to excuse Lila's behavior. If you think about it, every time someone complains to Lenú about Lila, she gets defensive or discounts what they are saying.
@ Hai ragione
I know the Solara brothers were what they were, but seeing them dead gave me an Indescribable sense of sorrow. Literally a part of the series that goes away.
I felt more relief than the characters in the movie! It was long overdue for this to happen.
@@ladybugflv I undestand the feeling, indeed the two were criminals. But despite everything, due to their long presence in the series, i couldn't hate them in the end
I felt the same. Especially since they were heading to Mass with their families.
SAME! I feel because we watched them grow up we have gotten so used to seeing them around. Their death also marks the end of the show
Heh? Nino did the right thing by including Tina. Elena was too worried about him liking Tina more. The fact is that Elena wasn't home to school Imma the way Lila did for Tina. (Enzo was around, too.)
Elena deserved the embarrassment.
Tina's disappearance was also subtly foreshadowed when Lila confronted the Solara brothers after Alfonso's funeral and Michele told Lila to leave and that she still "had time" which was clearly a threat, to which she replies, "You better not hurt Gennaro or Enzo.." and then Michele slaps her and tells her that he will take everything she has. Could he have already been thinking about doing something to Tina? In any case, I found her immediate reaction to assume that they would either hurt her son or Enzo telling ; neither her nor us could have imagined that TINA is the child that the title of this 4th installment is referring to :(
Thank you Hamza for this review! What an episode- Nino is still scum and the brothers are probably responsible for Tina. It was so sad to see Lila going through the grief. Makes me want to know what happened to Elena's daughters. Only one episode left- hope this show gets its flowers.
I know I’m sad to. I haven’t been this sad about a show since succession
The Chernobyl comment was a real issue, the radiation levels were very very high all over Europe, so it might sound like an exaggeration but it wasn’t at the time. Schools were closed for days.
Yes, this shouldn't be mocked. There was real intensity around that event and time.
I think we're not supposed to know who took Tina. I think is a way of telling us that Lila was involved with different dangerous people and all of them could have a reason to take Tina. The new drug dealers could took her to send her a message and take her out of the picture at the same time they killed the Solaras, or maybe it was the vengeance of the Solaras, or maybe just a random kidnapper. What do you think?
I think you’re right even in the books it’s never made clear and it happens late.
I think it could’ve been anyone but Lila work definitely played a huge part.
Elena is too famous for her kids to ever be kidnapped so Lila was the easiest way for the brothers to get revenge
@alwayswatching2295 I just hope Elena finally chooses in the last episode to be free from Lilas influence and take her children to a better place. She is too kind but there is a limit for what you can do for people to be better.
Thank you for all of these recaps and observations! I will miss this show..😢
Thank you for watching ! Me toooo I’ll be devastated
@@bboynava1812 she should have stayed away from lila from the moment she humiliated her and laughed at her after that party at galiani’s house. also, lila kinda knew that lenu liked nino. that didn’t stop her.
I kind off wanted to skip this episode just because the mere idea of the dissapereance of child is too much...but I am glad I watched it. It's finally as good as it was in the first season. I noticed a simetry:in the first season when young lenu dropped her bravelet and one of the brothers tried to take it , Lila defended her with a knife, now Lila was a complete shadow of her former self.
In the first season after Don Pasquale's murder, Lila imagined who killed him and said it was the brother s Solara s mother. I think she was right. Now, Lenu saw what hapened with them.
Really really good character arch and brilliant performance. I loved this episode. My favourite by far since....the first or second season.
Yes this was by far one of the best episodes I’ve seen all years I think you’re right in saying the brothers took away Lila power. She no longer has the same image she did prior to the disappearance and the brothers were playing on that when they took her bracelet
I'm still both shocked and angry at how Lenu reacts so coldly to Tina's disappearance. Tina was like her child and Emma's favorite friend. I think Lenu is unable to grasp the situation and deal with Lila's madness, almost as if she wants Lila to handle things. Even while she's devastated by her child's disappearance, her trivial advice and fake comfort to Enzo and Lila annoy me because it lacks sincerity. Something about this show unsettles me; maybe it's because it reminds me of myself. Lenu can’t live on her own or make independent decisions without someone with masculine energy by her side to strengthen her weaknesses, bring her out of isolation, encourage her to explore her talents, and protect her. This is also why she hated being around Pietro and perhaps even despised him deep down-he's a feminine man who is weak in the face of aggressive people and avoids conflicts. This might also stem from her growing up in that dangerous neighborhood, which instilled a deep fear in her, and due to her gentle nature.
The bracelet scene shows that, even though Lenu is in her forties, she’s still afraid to confront childhood enemies and fears, having lost her main protector, Lila. It seems that Lila, too, needs someone with a nurturing energy who sees the good in her, like when she broke down on the day of the earthquake. It's terrifying to remain in the same environment that poisoned you and expect things to change. What’s even more frightening is that this poison is spreading to her children, yet she remains in the neighborhood. I believe Lenu will eventually leave Naples after a severe fallout with Lila, or perhaps one of her daughters will be seriously harmed, which will make her realize the danger. As we saw in the first episode, the older Lenu lives in a different city from Lila, and their relationship seems severed-she seemed indifferent to where Lila had gone or if she had disappeared.
This is a great observation. Elena has always gravitated towards a more alpha personality. I thought her reaction was one of shock. I think the disappearance made her rethink her friendship with Lila. Her daughters hate her and worse being in that apartment no longer feels safe.
Elena moved to this neighborhood for selfish reasons. she can afford to lave but being around Lila helps her write better. I think she has this obsession with Lila in terms of her potential to do better than her. so much of her life has been taken up by NINO. I don't think she knows how to be without someone to push her whereas Lila can push herself.
I really found tina's disappearance so unexpected. Because we don't really know what lila was doing and who she was dealing with. Lenu doesn't know so we don't know. So the story is incomplete. We don't know why or who did it.
Exactly and it happens closer to the end of the novel to make this point. Elena was in the dark about how bad things were and the kidnapping took her by surprise
Has anybody read the books ? Do we ever learn what happened to Tina? Very intense episode.
No we never find out
Sadly and surprisingly we never do, but such is life sometimes. I can’t imagine the pain of never knowing what happened to her.
I don t think Lila was careful at Nino beacuse of Nino but beacuse that's the affect most politicians surounded by fame have on anyone, even Lila It's like a glamour. To glamour is to make someone see an ilusion of beauty. It's original meaning of the word, used to be something quite different and negative in the past.
I think the stealing og Lenu s bracelet was the last crime that the Solaras did. It wasn t just a bracelet, it was her mother s if I am not mistaken.
They got killed on the steps of the Church, it's a very simbolical thing. In a way justicr has been made but it is even so sad as you see someone you've known your entire life reduced to a corpse right in front of your eyes. You can see the tears in her eyes.
I think this zhow is about more than 50's to 80's Italy. It's simbolism it's rrally deep and I am glad they did this after going for tooooo long only about jino nino nino.....
Eventually the only one who trully managed to get away from the neighborhood was Nino, but not the young seamingly idealistic wanna be but a whole new man with no convictions or true affection. A performer. A shell of a men who only attracts admirations due to it's power and the hipnotic affect this power has on peoples minds.
I could write a small book about this show😅
Nino was much more able to get around power than his father who was still disgusting but conpletely high on his own farts. Eventually these are the people who make it in the worldly sence: the spineless, not with a true lively intellicence like Lila, but the ones who just know how to move their elbows and step on corpses.
Thank you for this comment. Nino made it out and his ability to lie and cheat has helped him maintain his position and even become successful in politics. People like Nino are the worst of both worlds.
so, elena is manifesting her hip pain, and that’s bad, but lila’s phantom labour is real pain? also, lila WAS mesmerized while talking to Nino. she had no reason to conduct a whole conversation with a man whom she supposedly dislikes. she has little patience for everyone else when she doesn’t feel like it. she should have left the rione when her business started doing well and try to expand or open a different headquarters someplace else. but she wanted to stay there and drag lenu back inside too. what’s a far away view of the sea when up close you can see it’s all shit and sweat and piss and all of that, right? come back inside the shit lenu, this is wshere reality is. well. lila just got hit by that reality. hard.
It wasn't phantom pain in the books She had a surgery. I don't know why they changed that
@@onedagger5142 i forgot about that.
@@onedagger5142 they are pushing a bit harder on magical realism in the series than in the books
Did you guys see genarro behind Lila when Tina went missing? 😮
I did and I wondered why he was lurking like that 😂
Yes I saw him!
I wondered if he knew or was connected to the bad people who took Tina. (Not that he did it, but he was connected with the slimy side for awhile.)
Do you think that to killing the solara was pasquale ?
I don't think so, in the book, he is in jail, going to school and getting some kind of a degree
Elena Ferrante is the author, and is the same name as the main character. Many of the major events portrayed really did happen, like the earthquake.
Is this story true?
Then what happened to Tina, Lila’s young daughter, who disappeared. Here is my theory:
Elena has shown, in this final season, that she sees things that do not happen. Like when Lila went to the hospital. Or, the red car when two people shot both brothers. Or when Lila spoke to her on her bed but Lila wasn’t really there. These, and more, were all in Elena’s head. They were not true.
What was in that letter Elena wrote Nino, that Nino stated he never received. Supposed Instructions about what Nino must do that day. Did she even write a letter?
Nino gives Tina a used pen from his pocket, as opposed to a brand new wrapped gift. Tina immediately writes her own name with artistic flair. Something Elena & Nino’s daughter cannot do. One sees the envy in Elena’s eyes. Especially when Nino compares Tina with Lila, her mother as a child, as being exceptionally ‘brilliant’.
Did this moment when Tina demonstrates to everyone that she might be just as ‘brilliant’ as Lila was as a child, did Elena’s envy trigger in her the next few moments that we see from Elena’s perspective, but were, in fact, a fantasy? Did Elena never set the table. Did Tina never leave? Or did Tina return to the apartment on her own, and Elena then does something with her…
Was Nino involved? Were the two brothers involved? Because it all could be a fantasy, we may never know.
I used to wonder why the first episodes of this season were all about Elena. The prior seasons would divide each episode between the two main females. Elena, to me, was the less interesting character - until I began to realize that she is, in fact, the crazy one.
To continue, when everyone, except Elena, leaves the apartment, Elena thinks only about Lila and Nino, wondering if Nino believes Tina could have been ‘his’ child. Elena is still jealous of both, even though Elena just stated she no longer had feelings for Nino.
Elena sets the table, or does she? By now we can no longer be certain what is real, or what is fantasy.
Elena joins the others. A piercing sound of a blade being sharpened affects her, and seems to be integral to the scene. Elena. kind of hiding, attempts to call Nino, but her voice cracks. Her two older daughters mock her, mimicking her clutching her throat. This is out of character for the two daughters. Is any of this real? Elena approaches Nino and Lila. She has her own daughter remove herself from Lila’s arms. Elena asks, “Where is Tina?” Why?
Where is Tina? Why did Elena ask this? What made her believe Tina was missing? Did Elena already know Tina was missing? When Tina was discovered to be missing, everyone starts searching for her - except Elena. She just remains standing there, calm.
Later the brothers meet Elena and urge Elena to accompany them to ‘the library’. This was out of character. Yet they were insistent. So much so that one brother intentionally, it seemed, broke Elena’s bracelet so that it not only fell off her arm, but was immediately retrieved by the second brother. What did the two brothers really want with Elena, alone ‘at the library’? Discuss their plans? What they should do with little Tina?
To give substance to this theory, Elena didn’t even care about her own daughters when she left them behind to go with Nino. Why would she care about Tina?
The female who was used to sue Elena meets with her in the street, saying, “I never wanted to sue you.” - as if the law suit was already over. Then we hear gun shots, and the two brothers are dead. No one sees what happened, but at the mere suggestion of a red car, Elena pictures the entire murder, red car and all. Only, it never happened that way. Just more of Elena’s fantasy, which seems to never stop.
Lila is emotionally destroyed by her daughter missing. Lila has always seemed to be very observational with Elena.
SPOILER ALERT / Since I Read The Book : Lila, in the final episode, will give back to Elena her doll, a doll that has the same name as Lila’s daughter. A doll that was Elena’s that Lila stole when she was a little girl. I believe Lila gave back to Elena her doll because she knows what Elena has done. And this is why Lila disappears, like her daughter.
What are your thoughts?
It's a great analysis, in the sense that Elena is a writer, so a lot of the things she is narrating might not be true. I have bee thinking for a while that Lila might not exist at all, that she is just a character in her book who serves a double for Elena, showing what her life could have been, their stories bifurcating when Elena goes on to study and Lila cannot. This would be quite meta since this is true of the real book as well. There are many doubles/antagonists in the books, Lila and Alfonso, Nino and his father, Melina and Lila, Imma and Tina, Elena is also afraid of becoming like her mom, another possible double. But ultimately I think all these characters exists in the world built by the books, and we simply see everyone's attempts at finding their own identity, at manipulating reality, including Lila's attempts. As for the theory that Elena may have "done something" with Tina, I don't think this is true, but I do agree that envy is a trigger: I thought that somehow the envy from Elena and Imma when Tina caught Nino's attention ultimately was her end. After all, both the older sisters and Nino had been instructed to shower Imma of attentions, and not Tina, and Lila gets lost in talking to Nino, so while in the city Tina was ignored and that was the end of her. About the dolls, I feel that the explanation is different: Lila gives Tina back to Elena, revealing that she had the dolls all along. The dolls triggered their friendship: going to Don Achille's to ask for the dolls was when they started working as a team, the start of their rivalry and friendship and competition/mutual encouragement to become better than the other and of their neighbourhood. By giving back the dolls, I feel that Lila is saying that their friendship is over, and that she was manipulating Elena all the time, that Elena owes her success to Lila.
@@livingcolours773 I like your theory about everything being a fantasy, including the characters. Elena is a writer, and writers often 'make stuff up'. But what would be the reason for Lila to believe their friendship is now over? That is why I believe Lila named her daughter after Elena's doll. Lila stole Elena's doll and Elena stole Lila's daughter = payback.
This Is a very interesting comment and thank you 🙏🏾
I don’t think Elena is responsible for the kidnapping. I think she was annoyed with Tina but I doubt she would go that far
Elena’s fantasy only comes in when there is information about Lila missing. She assumes a lot about her life but doesn’t actually know what’s going on. She never understands basic sight or what Lila is capable of with these computers. For all we know Lila could’ve hacked her computer and watched her type this whole time
I think Elena in a way sees Lila as failed version of herself which is why she is unable to understand her at all
Elena obsession with Lila has never been reciprocated. Lila has managed to find a way to survive while Elena has relied on Nino and Lila to help push her to be something great.
I thought the dolls were a sign that Lila wanted to be left alone. Elena decision to write about her was selfish considering she made it clear she wanted to disappear.
@@alwayswatching2295 Thank you for writing, very appreciated! I enjoy watching your review summaries.
I have to disagree with one assumption, Elena has at least one fantasy that does not involve Lila, and that is when the female states she didn't want to sue Elena, gun shots are heard, and the brothers have been killed. Elena hears one person who was present mention a 'red car', and Elena's fantasy kicks in, seeing a red car pull up, two masked individuals step out, shooting the two brothers. In that moment - Lila was not there, or involved.
I have not yet seen the final episode. But at least this moment involving the red car does suggest Elena does have unrestrained fantasies. I guess I have one question, would you trust a so called friend who is jealous of everything that you do, from the men, to your success, to even being jealous of your own child? Jealousy is a terrible monster and makes people do very bad things. "Elena" is also the writer, and authors do not make themselves 'the villain'. We're just seeing 'her' point of view. Villains sometimes 'slip up' and get caught.....
@alwayswatching2295 Thank you for your absolutely fantastic reviews of each episode. Your take on these scenes are simply amazing. You often observe things I had overlooked, or I just wasn't sure if some subtle nuance even meant anything, but you made sense of it, and I felt I had a clearer view of the story. After watching each episode I make sure to listen to your comments as it gave me even more insight, and I got to relive the story. I will miss your insightful reviews and opinions (I love how much you hated Nino!) And, of course, I will miss the My Brilliant Friend series so much. I've watched from the very beginning and I don't think I've ever loved a show as much as this. P.S. I think Enzo might have killed the Solaras brothers.
Thank you for this beautiful comment . I’m so sad it’s ending! I’m trying to find something similar but it’s impossible.
NINO will always be one of the best written worst characters ever. I agree I do think Enzo left town to organize the murders
Another curiosus coincidence is how in this episode the two nino daughters had a disgrace, Tina's disappearance and Imma's fever.
Tina is not Ninos daughter
@onedagger5142 I thought it bc of what Lila said to Stefano on S2 after got pregnant I guess I'm confused or Lila lied on purpose.
@@josef.ramoss.8457 she talked about Gennaro And Gennaro is Stefano's son.
@@onedagger5142 this is actually reminding me that with Nino in town, and being an MP who was on tv half of the time, and with Elena's letter instructing him about his visit apparently having gone missing, he could also have been a target, with Tina being confused with Imma from the picture on the magazine and the fact that she was following Elena's daughters. There are so many possibilities, I guess we are not meant to know what happens to Tina, it's not the point.
Lila sure is creepy lol. The ending was amazing I missed him. ❤❤❤
Sorry very disappointed with the acting especially Elena’s character