Gomorrah: Deadly World of Mafia!

Published by B Sameer on May 2, 2023May 2, 2023

The Gomorrah (Seasons 1 to 5) series explores the secretive and violent world of the Mafia in Italy. So, this Italian crime drama depicts the leaders of the Camorra mob, the dangerous criminal organisation in Naples. Please note that this show is based on Roberto Saviano’s best-selling book “Gomorrah”.

Interestingly, the book title “Gomorrah” means any place notorious for vice and depravity. Besides, the holy book Bible, also mentions this infamous city. Rather interestingly, the title “Gomorrah” also rhymes with “Camorra”, the Italian Mafia organisation that we mentioned here.

Spoiler-Free Review of the Gomorrah (Seasons 1 to 5) Series

The synopsis

Set in the suburbs of Naples, Italy, the crime drama goes inside the Camorra, a fierce Neapolitan crime organisation led by Don Pietro Savastano (Fortunato Cerlino). 

The story is told through the eyes of Don Pietro's right-hand man, Ciro Di Marzio (Marco D'Amore), whose faith in the family is tested when he realises how far Don Pietro is willing to go to keep his power. Despite his feelings, Ciro feels an obligation to obey Don Pietro's orders when he tasks his underling with protecting his son Gennaro 'Genny' Savastano (Salvatore Esposito), who is being groomed to take Don Pietro's place while the elder Savastano is serving a lengthy prison sentence.

Gomorrah/Camorra

As we informed you earlier, this 5-part Italian series is based on the “Gomorrah” book by Roberto Saviano. Notably, right after the publication of this book, the powerful Mafia forced the author Savianao to go into hiding. Some people in the Camorra were unhappy with his book exposing their secret world of bloody crime. “The System,” also known as “The Camorra”, is a highly organised criminal network that operates on a global scale. Well, “The Camorra” is a clandestine society organised in about 1820 in Naples. It thrives on blackmail and extortion. With interests in construction, high fashion, illegal drugs, and hazardous waste disposal, this influential organisation has a significant international reach.

Its impact is felt in cities and villages along the Neapolitan coast, where it plays a crucial role in shaping the region. Nowadays, this modern-day organised crime gang is popularly known as the Italian Mafia.

Based on real-life Mafia

As we have informed you in the first paragraph itself, this series is based on the ‘Gomorrah‘ non-fiction book. As a result, quite a few characters are based on real-life Mafia leaders. For instance,

• Don Pietro‘s character was inspired by real-life crime boss Raffaele Cutolo (1941-2021) – the leader of the Nuova Camorra Organizzata, as he renewed the Camorra group. Also, Pietro’s wife has the same name as Cutolo’s wife – Immacolata.
• Genny Savastano‘s character was based on real-life crime boss Cosimo di Lauro (1973-2012) – an Italian Camorrista and the acting boss of the Di Lauro clan from Naples.

We are sure that there are many more characters in the book (and show), who are inspired by real-life Italian Mafia people. It made this book very famous among its leaders. As a result of the popularity of his book, the author Roberto Saviano’s life came under inevitable risk from the gang members of the Italian Mafia.

Therefore, he has been compelled to live under 24-hour armed police protection for the last decade.

The conclusion

So, one can say that this series is inspired by true-life characters linked to the Mafia world of Italy. Not surprisingly, this gritty and realistic Italian crime drama boasts many fans across the world. The fact is that it has high ratings across five seasons. Therefore this show has been sold in over 200 countries. These two facts confirm the high-quality content of the Italian crime drama. It is a raw pulsating crime drama, packed with the right amount of unexpected twists, turns and surprises. We certainly recommend this thrilling Italian crime drama.

Key Details about the Gomorrah (Seasons 1 to 5/Italian) Series

Gomorrah (Season 1/Italian/2014) Series

Synopsis

This series takes an unglamorous look at the extent to which the city of Naples is controlled by the Camorra mob, a network of families whose influence extends beyond the underground world of organised crime and into the everyday running of the city. Five intertwining stories show the effects of mobster rule on Neapolitan citizens from all walks of life.

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FM Brief

Most of us have heard numerous stories about the criminal acts of the Italian Mafia; however, we never got a chance to see their inner workings and dynamics on a screen. Thanks to this show, we got a chance to take a closer look at the Italian crime syndicate. It traces the story of one of the top bosses of the Neapolitan crime organisation – Don Pietro Savastano. When Don Pietro is jailed, a fierce power struggle breaks out among his wife, Immacolata, his son, Genny and his right-hand man, Ciro.

It was thrilling to watch how the power struggle breaks out even in a Mafia family. Then, how is this top leadership position filled in this organisation? We loved its captivating storyline. The ensemble cast does their acting job well while portraying the fascinating set of Mafia characters. It is a good show.

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Gomorrah (Season 2/Italian/2016) Series

Synopsis

This series is set in the back streets of Naples, where organised crime is big business. The show follows the fortunes of warring crime families as they compete for underworld supremacy. In this season, a sinister drug baron returns to Naples intent on stirring up trouble.

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FM Brief

In Naples, Italy – a violent battle breaks out among the different criminal families to gain supremacy in the lucrative drug business. To gain primacy, at no cost, these murderous constituents of the Neapolitan crime organizations are not going to stop, any time soon.

Unless someone powerful steps in to take control of the situation and emerge as a new leader. This is an addictive series with its story and actors in full flow.

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Gomorrah (Season 3/Italian/2017) Series

Synopsis

Genny takes control and ultimately rules over Naples and Rome. Within his network, two women rise to power: Annalisa, named “Scianel”, a key drug pusher and a natural leader, and Patrizia, one of Genny’s most faithful foot soldiers. When Ciro forms a new partnership with the young and ambitious Enzo, a light that once vanished from Ciro’s eyes reappears. The former street-level drug dealers cast their net far beyond the city of Naples and the borders of Italy. Genny, Ciro and Enzo are about to make peace when Enzo demands a sacrifice.

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FM Brief

After his mother Immacolata and father Don Pietro Savastano died, Genny emerged as the big boss of the Neapolitan crime organizations. With Ciro still in hiding, the new Don Genny expands his drug business activities in Naples and Rome.

The gripping story about the rise of a young leader in the world of the Mafia continues to entertain us. The Mafia consists of various hues of colourful characters and their stories are compelling to watch.

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Gomorrah (Season 4/Italian/2019) Series

Synopsis

In the aftermath of Ciro’s death, Genny is left to face Naples once again on the brink of fighting and bloodshed. With Sangue Blu taking back his grandfather’s kingdom and the Capaccio crew making their moves on the Secondigliano turf, Genny’s sole remaining option is to bring in a new player: the Levante family. For a while, their involvement gives Genny a newfound balance on the map of gangland power, and as he starts to shed his old criminal past behind, he dreams of setting up a life for his son entirely different to the one his father left him.

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FM Brief

Don Genny tries to reinvent himself as a legitimate businessman, by putting up a new management style in the working of an organized crime organization. But the clan wars break out. And it once again pulls Genny back into the world of crime. For Don Genny, the set of rules in the legal business world and the illegal business world is not very different. He continues to operate like a Mafia kingpin. His story of the rise and impending fall in the world of crime and violence keeps us (the viewers) engaged. The fresh setup of the Italian backdrop in the criminal activities adds a new variety and fresh ingredients to the Mafia tale.

The battle for supremacy in the world of Mafia gets intense in this Italian crime drama. And we are completely hooked on it.

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The Immortal (L’Immortale/2019/Italian) Movie

Synopsis

As a criminal mastermind and member of the Savastano clan, Ciro Di Marzio drowns off the Gulf of Naples, he’s hit with flashbacks from his life – as an orphan in Naples, his childhood mentor, and wild life-or-death chases. On the verge of death, he’s rescued and forced to work for a new crime boss… because it’s true what they say: no one can kill the Immortal.

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In season three of this show, Ciro Di Marzio, aka The Immortal, reportedly died. But many in Gomorrah's huge global fan base couldn't accept Ciro's death. There was a lot of hue and cry. So, the following movie explains the fate of Ciro Di Marzio.

FM Brief

This stand-alone movie, “The Immortal”, is lightweight compared to the original series “Gomorrah”. We think this film does not boast of the intense drama as that of the series. However, importantly, it tells about the fate of Ciro Di Marzio. Is he alive? Yes, he is alive and kicking.

The story of the frenemies Genny and Ciro will unfold and reach its conclusion in the final season of this series. This is a necessary addition to the Italian crime series.

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Gomorrah (Season 5/Italian/2021) Series

Synopsis

Its final season tells the story of the clash between the Levantes and Patrizia left Naples in a pile of bricks, forcing Genny (Salvatore Esposito) to return to action. But with the police hot on Genny’s heels, he is forced into a bunker alone without Azzurra (Ivana Lotito) and Little Pietro. Now, his only ally is ’O Maestrale (Mimmo Borrelli), the mysterious crime boss of Ponticelli, an eastern district of Naples. War is imminent, and his enemies are fierce.

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FM Brief

With Ciro returning and Genny putting a bounty on him; the all-out war has begun. Every crime boss worth their salt wishes to control the cash-cow business of crimes in Naples and Rome. So, who is left standing at the end of the gory war among the gangsters? What will Genny and Ciro’s fate, as their battle to control the lucrative illegitimate business heats up in Italy? We enjoyed this series, especially Genny and Ciro’s unique (brotherly) friendship. The intense acting of Ciro is good. But we liked the character arc and growth of Genny’s character in this crime drama.

We can share a subtle hint, we loved the satisfactory ending of this series finale. In a way, the series ends with a life lesson that crime does not pay the rich dividend for long.

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Awards Won by the Gomorrah (Seasons 1 to 5/Italian) Series

Bonus YouTube Video link: Gomorrah | The Complete History of Ciro & Genny | HBO Max.

If you love crime drama about the infamous Italian mafia - Gomorrah, then check out the Narcos series about the drug lords of South America.

Featured & Other Images: Gomorrah | IMDb & HBO Max.