Season 1 |
Season 2 |
Season 3 |
Episode Guide
Episode 1 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 2 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 3 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 4 -| Review Score – 3/5
Episode 5 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Episode 6 -| Review Score – 3.5/5
Suburra: Blood On Rome is one of the more underrated foreign series currently streaming on Netflix. Taking all the hallmarks that make shows like Gangs Of London and Gomorrah so enjoyable, Suburra establishes itself as a decent prequel to its feature film of the same name.
After the shocking conclusion to season 2, the pressure was on for Suburra’s third (and final) season to deliver the goods and produce a spectacular, blood-soaked finish to this bitter feud for Rome’s streets.
With lots of moving parts, season 3 of Suburra closes out all the big plot points raised across the show’s run as Spadino and Aureliano team up to try and control Italy’s criminal empire. Following Gabriele’s death in the season 2 finale, both men find solace in one another and remain determined to get revenge for what happened.
Locked in their cross-hairs happen to be another alliance – this one much more tenuous than their own. Politician Cinaglia and Samurai’s unlikely team-up signifies a big shift in the balance of power, as our protagonists once again find themselves on the back-foot. This conflict is only made more complicated by Spadino’s older brother Manfredi awakening from his coma and entering the fray.
Across the final six episodes, everything builds up to a dramatic finale that rounds things out nicely while keeping the door open for a potential follow-up if that was to ever occur. Given the intent on making this a final season however, I can’t see that happening.
For the most part, Suburra works relatively well to build everything up and round out all the key characters with a satisfying finish. There’s tensions between Spadino and Aureliano’s crews; Nadia and Angelica in particular have a fierce little rivalry that simmers across the season too. For all the emphasis on these bubbling conflicts, some of the less important characters do wind up as victims.
Sara in particular is completely written out the show midway through the six-episode run while none of the antagonistic characters really get any comeuppance for their actions at the end. The Cardinal, for example, is made out to be a big player in the conflict early on but his influence eventually peters out into indifference.
There’s certainly some sacrifices along the way though and a big shoot-out at the end features more than one fatality. I won’t divulge the details here but this shoot-out is worth the wait. Our main characters do get a good send-off and a final hurrah, which goes some way to ease the disappointment including a few of the under-utilized players along the way.
The acting and pacing continues to be a high point through this series though and season 3 once again does well with its moving parts. While it’s not quite as tense or shocking as what we’ve seen before, the changed direction to North Rome and the Cardinal’s inclusion do offer up a slightly different flavour of Italy to what we’ve seen before.
It’s not perfect and season 3 of Suburra does have a few road-bumps along the way. On the whole though, it’s an enjoyably scenic route that’s been worth the ride.
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Verdict - 7/10
7/10
Why…….???? this was such a good series, and they go and kill one of the top 4 characters. So disappointed, will not watch another series until it is finished and I preview the end.
Would have rather they took the time than rush it, with what could have ended as a masterpiece. 3 of my favourite shows have left me heartbroken with anticlimactic finale’s. Game of Thrones, Dark and now Suburra. I was lookin forward to see how Spadino and Aureliano come to hate each other and how Aureliano sided with Samurai and got his name Number 8. Why call it a prequel if you’re intentions are to give a middle finger to the Movie. Very disappointed.
I disagree with the reviewer, who has given this season far too much credit. Season 3 wrote off major players in episode 1 (clearly contractual limitations with the actors rather than it being the best thing for the actual plot), the story clearly broke off from being a prequel to the movies to a standalone series, the ending shoot-out was far too cartoonish, the dialogue seemed much more basic, and it was a rushed storyline to end the show (similar to Game Of Thrones Season 8). And the character who emerged the most victorious in the end (avoiding naming characters) just wasn’t a believable ending.
I was on the whole disappointed with the final season, and the momentum they built up from the first two seasons was most wasted here.
However I do think the performances and acting were great – the plot just lacked too much for me to walk away feeling satisfied that I invested my time into this show.
Its the interplay between the mafia, politics and The Vatican that make this series interesting. I really enjoyed the insights into the Italian Roma (Sinti) families, something I have not seen portrayed anywhere else in film. The 3rd series works well for most of the episodes showing the downfall of many key characters but the finale is underwhelming.
Without going into the spoiler thing, I thought that season 2 ended up “better” than season 3 did.. The characters evolved and got maturity, but then season 3 happened and it was to my mind a disappointment.. some unrealistic fights (for being bad boys, some are definitely not skilled in shooting ;+) ) and indeed some largely underused characters.. so it leaves me with a sense of “not enough”, yet not in a sense of a plate that was too empty, but in a way of all ingredients finally not delivering the experience..