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Based on the popular Neapolitan Novel series of Elena Ferrante, My Brilliant Friend is an Italian coming-of-age drama created by Saverio Costanzo. The show revolves around the complicated relationship between two friends—Elena Greco and Raffaella Cerullo.
Set in post-World War II Italy, the show begins with an older Elena, who realizes that her best friend and rival, Raffaella, has disappeared mysteriously. She then begins to recount their friendship over the years—from childhood to adulthood. The show has themes of love, family, duty, and class.
The show received praise for its visuals, story, and sensitive direction. So for those who enjoyed the first three seasons of My Brilliant Friend and want to watch something similar till season 4 rolls out, here’s a list of eight more shows to binge on:
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Normal People, Sweet Magnolias, and other shows to watch while waiting for My Brilliant Friend season 4
1) Difficult People
Created by Julie Klausner, Difficult People, is about two struggling comedians and friends, who live in New York City. Julie and Billy (played by Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner), are, as the title suggests, two difficult people who find comedy in the most inappropriate situations and hate everyone else but each other.
While Julie is a TV recapper and Billy is a waiter, both want to become successful at comedy. While the show is a comedy and not a serious drama like My Brilliant Friend, it portrays the same complexity between friends and a duo that only understands each other.
2) We Are Who We Are
A coming-of-age drama miniseries, We Are Who We Are, is an Italian-American show that is set in a fictional US army base in Italy. Created and directed by Luca Guadagnino, it revolves around two American teenagers living on the base, who become close friends. The show explores friendships, love, and identity.
Starring Chloë Sevigny, Jack Grazer, Alice Braga, and more, the show has drawn praise for its nuanced storytelling, poetic picturization, and moodiness, which is also similar to My Brilliant Friend. Both the programs are coming-of-age, set in Italy, and depict a layered portrayal of friendship and how it affects a person.
3) The Summer I Turned Pretty
Created by Jenny Han and based on her novel trilogy, The Summer I Turned Pretty, is a coming-of-age romantic series. It stars Lola Tung, Christopher Briney, and Gavin Casalegno, who portray Isabel, Conrad, and Jeremiah. The series follows a love triangle between the three and focuses on themes of love, friendship, and change.
While the show focuses more on romance than friendship like My Brilliant Friend, both shows do have the same coming-of-age element, angsty characters, and a sensitive portrayal.
Change is also an important theme in both shows. The Summer I Turned Pretty is a great option for those who want to watch something lighter after My Brilliant Friend but with the same nostalgic element.
4) Sweet Magnolias
A romantic drama, Sweet Magnolias, is based on the novels by Sherryl Woods and is developed by Sheryl J. Anderson. The show stars JoAnna Swisher, Brooke Elliott, Heather Headley, and others. It revolves around the friendship of three women from South Carolina, who have been best friends since their younger years.
The show focuses on the various challenges the three undergo in their careers, family, and romantic lives. While Maddie (JoAnna) is getting back to work, Dana (Brooke) is a Chef, and Helen (Heather) is an attorney.
The show does not have a mysterious or darker tone like My Brilliant Friend, but it definitely revolves around female friendship, its complexities, and follows friendship from childhood to adulthood.
5) Normal People
Based on a novel by Sally Rooney, Normal People, is a romantic drama directed by Lenny Abrahamson and Hettie Macdonald. Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal, it details the complicated relationship between Marianne (Daisy) and Connell (Paul), from their secondary school days until their adulthood.
The series received widespread acclaim for its performances, writing, and sensitivity. While the show focuses on the romantic relationship between the two, it portrays the same complexities between two people as My Brilliant Friend. Both shows also cover a relationship over a period of time with nuanced storytelling and handling of the subject.
6) The Lying Life of Adults
An Italian coming-of-age drama, The Lying Life of Adults, is another show based on the novel by Elena Ferrante and created by Edoardo De Angelis. The show is about a 15-year-old girl, Giovanna Trada, who is going through adolescence and is struggling to find her place and identity, among her bourgeoisie parents.
When she meets her ostracized relative, Aunt Vittoria, she finally discovers her family’s dark past. Starring Giordana Marengo and Valeria Golino, the show is based on the same author’s works as My Brilliant Friend.
While not dealing with friendship, it has the same themes of class and identity as My Brilliant Friend.
7) Luna Park
An Italian drama miniseries, Luna Park, is created by Isabella Aguilar and revolves around two girls from vastly different backgrounds. Starring Simona Tabasco as Nora Marini and Lia Grierco as Rosa Gabrielli, the show is set in 1962 Rome and a chance encounter brings two girls together at an amusement park.
Both the girls are from vastly opposite worlds. While Nora is a fortune teller and comes from a circus family, Rosa comes from a wealthy family. They soon realize that they share a connection. Just like My Brilliant Friend, the show is Italian and shows two girls with different personalities, coming together.
8) Firefly Lane
Created by Maggie Friedman, Firefly Lane, is based on a novel of the same name by Kristin Hannah and stars Katherine Heigle and Sarah Chalke. The show is about two friends and the ups and downs they face from their teenage years in the 70s to their adulthood in mid-aughts.
Tully (Heigl) and Kate (Chalke) are best friends since they met each other as neighbors on the street named, Firefly Lane. The show is sentimental and showcases how the duo face various challenges regarding their professional and personal life.
Just like My Brilliant Friend, it follows the friendship between two women from their younger years till their adulthood. And focuses on the inseparable bond between the two.
Viewers who enjoyed the aesthetics of the Italian show, My Brilliant Friend, are welcome to go through the list and choose a similar show of their liking.
