My Brilliant Friend 4 is coming and we are not ready

My Brilliant Friend—whether you love it or not—has proven to be an extremely, and perhaps surprisingly, polarizing editorial and television phenomenon, starting from the secret identity of the author. It has captivated millions of readers and viewers, keeping them on the edge of their seats about the fate of Lila and Lenù. The two protagonists, so different yet so connected, so desperate and fierce in their own ways, form the emotional core of the story. They exemplify what happens when you stay or leave the place where you were born, when you choose whether to continue your studies or not, when you fight or give up—and both fight and give up, each in their own way. In the background is Naples (and Italy), which seems to change but ultimately stays the same, unfortunately, along with themes like classism, politics, and feminism that evolve alongside the two girls, who grow into women.

My Brilliant Friend: Everything You Need to Know About the Final Season

The fourth and final season of the TV series inspired by the literary saga of the same name, created by Saverio Costanzo and produced in Italy and the United States, premiered on August 20 at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and will arrive on HBO on September 9. Playing the adult and elderly Lila and Lenù are Alba Rohrwacher and Irene Maiorino, respectively, while Fabrizio Gifuni and Pio Stellaccio will take on the roles of Nino Sarratore and Enzo Scanno. What can we expect from this season? Closure and melancholy, but also romantic and family dramas. And probably some controversy.

The Casting Controversy

As is often the case with such successful productions, some issues have come to light. Given that this work focuses heavily, especially in the first two parts, on the city of Naples, southern Italy, and anti-southern sentiment, on the feelings the two protagonists have about their origins and what they endure because of them, some viewers would have preferred Neapolitan actresses to portray them as adults in the final phase of their story as we know it. Others, however, would have liked to keep the actresses from the previous season, Margherita Mazzucco and Gaia Girace, for continuity and affection, perhaps aged with makeup.

What to Read If You’ll Miss My Brilliant Friend

Controversies aside, if you haven't yet read the books that inspired the series, what are you waiting for? Elena Ferrante's four-part series, published by e/o, is ready to transport you back to the neighborhood and into the minds of Lila and Lenù. Reading about their lives will feel like seeing them again before your eyes, even when the TV series has sadly concluded. If, on the other hand, you’ve already read the books and are eagerly waiting to see the final adaptation on screen, we recommend some similar but not identical books to pass the time—perfect if you appreciate the Ferrante-esque atmosphere. Donatella Di Pietrantonio’s entire body of work, with L'Arminuta at the top, might bring you some comfort. And if you’re lacking inspiration, why not base your choices directly on the author’s own favorite books? Among others, as listed by her on Bookshop.org, we recommend Natalia Ginzburg’s Family Lexicon, Elsa Morante’s Arturo's Island, and Marguerite Yourcenar’s Memoirs of Hadrian.