My Brilliant Friend on HBO

I'm 5 episodes in and I'm totally compelled. I dont even know how to describe this show. It's amazing. Watch it....

Any one here read the books? Despite the purposely schlocky covers they are insanely good.

Only 2 episodes in but I’m liking it. It’s different. Those families play rough!

I'm just catching up with it now, having watched the 2nd episode today.

I think it's amazing and, at least for me, has the potential to be the best miseries I've seen on HBO.

I DVRed it not knowing a single thing about it and not realizing it was in Neapolitan dialect, but I'm finding it quite moving.

Every adult in this exists to crush their childrens ambition.

I still have it on my DVR, sounds like I need to check it out. Thanks

Anyone else get the feeling that Lila may become a bit of a political manipulator?

I read the books and really enjoyed them. The author does not give a lot of physical descriptions about the characters and not too much on surroundings either. I knew these women emotionally and psychologically, but I couldn't really picture them physically. Because of that it's astounding to actually "see" the books come to life. They are following the book very closely. The two young leads are amazing. I find that the Italian and dialect actually add to the realness of it. I highly recommend both the books and the HBO series.

I've just finished the series. I don't know how I feel about the ending.

I watched it too and loved it. Cannot wait for the second season. I actually got the book to find out what happens next. The show really stays with you.

Probably my favorite TV of the year.

I also absolutely loved this series. I had to revisit the opening episode that frames the final year of thier friendship. Very telling. Haven’t read the novella’s but as they are contemporary women I will be curious to see how they emerge from the Feminism of the 70’s.

The fight these girls have to wage in pursuit of education is tragic, all the more overwhelming given Lela’s absolute genius. By the end of the season she is resigned but not broken by lack of education. About that teacher - her pride in Lela that quickly turns to revulsion just made me truly hate her. I wish that had not been the case for the real Lela but it sure seems to have been. The actress playing the teacher is very good.

Like the rest of the world I am intrigued by the author Lenu’s, steadfast insistence on anonymity. Since some of Lenu’s educational achievements plagiarized Lela, the moments she shared her grades with her felt so loaded. Who would imagine that Lenu would love her friend so much she would validate her genius telling her “I made an A+” (you made an A+). If the authors identity were confirmed it would be easy to identify her genius friend Lela and her life of abuse, let alone her remarkable moments of success, shoe design for example that came so early. To have watched her friend survive total poverty of status, betrayal of love and such oppression Elena Ferrante publishes like she lives - paying tribute for the unrewarded genius of her lifelong friend - while protecting them both.

I am not threatened by Lela’s total ability to manipulate mostly men. Her friendship, genuine love, and hunger for Lenu’s kindness are what sustains hers ability to even live is such a cruel misogynistic world. I have seen how children determine to survive by any means necessary. Lela cannot be faulted - and Lenu lived without her own mothers love.

This series is riveting. I agree it is the best television of the year. I am totally captivated by Lela - her bravery in a horrific brutal childhood, as well as her determination to survive all the betrayal of her young adulthood.

Read this... I love these little girls. I had a close friendship like this with the tragedy, yes and cruelty. But thank god for the mothers in the Neighborhood who intervened.

Another review.

It is not unusual to crush the spirit of young girls even nowadays. I myself was told I wouldn’t need a higher education as a girl because I would just get married. If you wonder where the female geniuses are, well, we made fucking sure they stayed home to clean and cook.

Season 2 premiered tonight.

Anyone still watching?

'I myself was told I wouldn’t need a higher education as a girl because I would just get married."

Same thing happened to me.

I watched the first episode of Season 2, can't wait to see the next one. Heartbreaking.

I am on season 1 episode 4....

What do you guys think of Lenù? And also of the extremely loaded scenes between her and Lila whenever she talks about school?

Please share your views...

I grew to loathe her in the book, R18. She was so convinced of her own intellectual brilliance, and the longer things went on the fewer signs I could see of it. And she so completely dominated the story, when Lila was always the more interesting character. Also, the translation was surprisingly clunky for such a revered book.

I hope the TV series is better than the books but life's too short to find out.

It's sad to see how bad Lenù's self-esteem is, SO dependent on others - Lila, Nino, that chav Antonio. I guess it is somewhat understandable because of how things at her home are - horrible terrible mother, indifferent father(he cares occasionally though). She is a smart young woman, hope she sees that at some point and stops caring so much about others.