Why Gomorrah Hits Different | A (Mostly) Spoiler-Free Analysis

Gomorrah is an Italian crime drama adapted from a nonfiction book This review/analysis is spoiler-free for fans and newcomers alike.
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Sources:
Saviano on Mafia Media:
www.theguardian.com/film/2018...
Saviano discusses life under protection:
www.theguardian.com/world/202...
Silvio Berlusconi linked to mafia:
www.independent.co.uk/news/wo...
Vele de Scampia:
www.theguardian.com/world/202...
www.theguardian.com/world/202...
www.thelocal.it/20190517/napl...
www.globalconstructionreview....
Music used (in order):
Doomed to Live - Mokadelic
Vespers on the Shore - Mini Vandals
Doomed to Live (Lele Sacchi Remix) - Mokadelic

[@Rutgo]

If you like Gomorrah and wish you had more, check out Saviano's fiction novel Piranhas and the sequel Savage Kiss. It feels just like the show in book form.

[@neverdavenever]

I just bought Piranhas. Can't wait go read it!! Great video!!! I appreciate your insight into my favorite show.

[@pessi6185]

I just finished the Italian gangster series Romanzo Criminale and I would highly recommend too if you haven't already seen it 👍🏿

[@Rutgo]

@@pessi6185 I'm nearly done with season 1 now and I'm loving it, thanks for the recommend.

[@pessi6185]

@@Rutgo You're very welcome, I am glad you enjoyed the first series the second series is just as good. Suburra is meant to be a very good Italian series too. I've seen the film which was really good but I can't get my hands on the series on dvd where I live unfortunately.

[@tinadavies4195]

​@@pessi6185so is this on Netflix?

[@tomcooper6108]

Gomorrah made Breaking Bad look like Sesame Street. Unbelievably realistic. Loved the way they didn't force some hero characters on you.

[@billytitus1519]

Spot on.

[@marcantunez836]

@@vaclavnosek777 you have watch the movie "the immortal" between season 3 and 4. its so good

[@MrTripleXXX]

How would people know it's realistic unless they have real life experience with these kinds of people? Lol

[@jaydenpierre9684]

Maybe for the first season or three , it got stupid

[@mikisavic6765]

​@@MrTripleXXX Robert Saviano was a part of the Sicillian mob i guess he knows more than us

[@calipachanguero]

I think I understand why this show isn't as popular as the Sopranos, it forces the audience to experience and feel misery in the hope of creating change, and a lot of people, goverments, groups don't like facing their demons.

[@jackwang9536]

At the heart of it, The Sopranos is a suburban family melodrama, and that family happens to be mafia. Gomorrah is ONLY about crime. It's exclusive that way. It's a war documentary, if compared to the Sopranos. And unlike most war movies there's no winners and no glory, only destruction.

[@earlpipe9713]

It's also hard to get many people to view anything requiring the reading of subtitles in America

[@theportugueselegend]

It's a different reality. Camorra is very different from the Mafia. They kill innocent people, rich, poor, old, young, left and right. All the ugliness you see is real and is in the series. Honestly, it's too close for some people to experience.... if my parents want to watch TV they want to be entertained, not be told how life is. I love this series, but I understand how it's not as popular as most TV shows

[@risunderrated]

its very big in italy

[@calipachanguero]

Yeah i know my Italian friends put me on to it, i was referring to the US@@risunderrated

[@bogdanbogdan3462]

I just finished the series. It's ruined TV for me at last for the near future, because realistically speaking I dont know what other film is going to rise to the quality of Gomorrah. By the way, a lot of scenes are inspired from true stories- the names are changed, but a lot of the action actually happened in reality

[@great567]

Top Boy, Snabbah Cash, Dealer, The Wire, Zero Zero Zero, Suburra

[@bogdanbogdan3462]

@@great567 They're good, but Gomorrah is above all. Much above

[@juiceboxleal6254]

@@bogdanbogdan3462 i agree. I feel like gomorra is another level. The quality of the actors even with minor roles are all amazing. I must admit that there were some things about the final season that i didnt love, but still, nothing can compare to this series in my opinion. I just got the book recently too

[@earlpipe9713]

I read the book a long time ago, and this show did such a great job integrating various elements scattered all throughout the non fiction of the book into the fictional narrative of the tv series

[@asmo1313]

suburra was a nice way for me to come down of the gomorrah addiction

[@earlpipe9713]

That grenade throw into the shop, followed by the concussive force pushing dat scooter out n into the car, is such an iconic action scene for me

[@earlpipe9713]

That and when the smooth af boss character sticks Ciro with his knife & gives him the 'Dissed and Dismissed' ejection toss right off the side of the boat. Amazin

[@great567]

It felt very authentic to me because they didn't try to make enhance the small cheesy details like how they dressed or what they bought with their drug money. I grew up in the suburbs of Paris and although it wasn't as bad as Naples, I experienced this life to some degree. Like anxiety, frustration, being fearless, and naive. How people die or get hurt in this show too is also telling, because in reality there's nothing sexy about death like what you see in a Hollywood movie. I really believe every time you experience a death, you die a little too, inside.

[@mryagami8448]

One of the deaths that hit me the most was the lesbian girls. She was trying on that dress making you think you'd get a new depth to her character with her struggles with her identity. Then boom, gunned down like an animal.

[@grisharotov9735]

I agree, it was what hooked me into the series.

[@AnabolicSaagAloo]

I think Blue Blood's sister told her son Cosimo something like that just before she dies. Basically "death is scary. It's lonely and you shit yourself"

[@Camerasdontlie]

Try these 2 Irish crime dramas. The first is (Love/Hate). and. The Second is called. (Kin) you get too see the new breed of Irish gangster tv shows.

[@LondonBluecat]

@@Camerasdontlielove/hate is good but Kin is straight garbage

[@vasilisvasiliadis3256]

I’d’ve never thought I would watch a better show than Sopranos or Suburra ...never ...i was wrong. Gomorrah is a piece of art in all aspects, first episode and i was hooked

[@wigglethemiddle1]

Wish I could watch this series for the first time again ! Had a bunch of time two years ago and splurged my way through the series over 2-3 weeks. No one I know is aware of the show, so it seemed like my little secret. Amazing show. Great ending. And Gennaro’s transformation is terrifying! So good

[@juiceboxleal6254]

Such a legendary show. So many great characters throughout the series. Really gonna miss Gomorra

[@Camerasdontlie]

Try Boardwalk Empire or Love/Hate.

[@enterthebruce91]

​@@CamerasdontlieMy all time top five T.V series of all time are: 1. The Wire/Boardwalk Empire 2. Banshee 3. Rome 4. Tokyo Vice 5. The Night Of

[@Le_Schlag]

the worst scene for me was when blue blood killed the poor dad in front of the kid, i was litteraly destroyed after this

[@danielvanderlinden9533]

I found the daughter of ciro way more heartbreaking

[@maggyfrog]

for me, the point of no return for ciro as a human being is somewhere between killing that teen girl and killing his own wife. it was sobering in a bleak way to see really bad people be the protagonists of a really good show. it was brilliant. i would not want to encounter a real-life ciro, ever. but the art of the character storytelling in the show is truly superb. *edited for typo

[@harrycahill2140]

The kid unfortunately no sold that scene. He looked more confused than shocked and genuinely sad that his father was killed in front of his eyes. I don't know if it was because it was a kid with special needs but his reaction seemed really odd.

[@neca7602]

Gomorrah, the only tv show i watched two times with absolute pleasure, truly a masterpiece. After watching every tv show worthwhile out there, Gomorrah is the best tv show i ever watched!

[@tinadavies4195]

Totally agree..👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@FabioTheWildOne]

Even the soundtrack hits you in a different way,when a song start you know something is about to happen and probally is gonna be bloody.

[@joshuajarod1909]

A fantastic review of a show that isn’t covered enough. From using clips of the show in your review to going back to the source of Mr. Saviano’s book and cross referencing the show with real life events this was surely a project of considerable time and effort. Subscription earned

[@wlove528491]

Appreciate your analysis so much! This show (and your video) deserves much more attention.

[@fettywap1738]

I found gomorrah in 2014. It’s been seared into my mind since then. Nothing I have seen will ever come close. Bravo Robert Saviano

[@joeyknuckles2721]

Gamorrah is such a great show. And this video is a really excellent comprehensive review!

[@pascalwilson6707]

You speak on such key moments!!! I thought other wouldn’t see, from the eneing from episode one to the priest!! Who btw alway get me emotional thank for mentioning those detail

[@NoahsNostalgia]

Excellent video, great to see people appreciating this incredible show

[@tommyallthetime7759]

I think you summed it up magnificently, as a Napolitan I’ve ridden with the story of Gomorrah since the book till the end of the series, and it’s always been a very emotional and powerful journey. It’s touched me many different ways in my personal life. My grandfather went to prison in 2006, the same year the book came out. I was only 15 at the time & My family and my life was never the same from that point on. Although to hear you break it down also on a technical level is very accurate. In my opinion. Well done!

[@Adman1175]

Superb analysis - really well done. Gomorrah is absolutely amazing - so gritty, depressing and real. I believe the locations it was shot in is what made it seem so special and so authentic.

[@juiceboxleal6254]

7:15 I couldn’t agree more. I realized that when Ciro killed the young kid Daniels girlfriend and then both him and his brother were killed.

[@joshuajarod1909]

He didn’t just kill her, he tortured her then burned her alive. Also went on to strangle his own wife to death for wanting to leave him and take his kids. I could never imagine Tony Soprano doing that.

[@juiceboxleal6254]

@@joshuajarod1909 yea that was super dark. I liked that kid daniel and his brother too. I like Don Conte as a character too. He was different and brought a different dynamic to the show, i wish they kept him alive longer. But yeah I love the sopranos but gomorra is great bc it shows the realistic contrast of how different organized crime works over there in napoli compared to the stereo typical italian american movies and shows we were used to seeing.

[@earlpipe9713]

Oh man, Ciro going full on amoral machiavellian supersaiyan ubermencsh scorched earth tactics was both unexpected and beautiful. We're not likely to see its match until a Bteaking Bad remake that has Heisenberg torture Finn to lure Skylar into a brutal Chris Benoit crippler crossface Mortal Kombat finisher!

[@marcusanark2541]

@@juiceboxleal6254 While I didn't like Salvatore Conte and expected him to die, I did feel more than a little sad over the trans woman situation.

[@DosEquisMan45]

Fantastic analysis, very well done.

[@OZD_Collective]

This has to be the most intense and best produced shows out there. I was there from start till finish, and I swear to god. This has to be just as or even beter then breaking bad.

[@QuayCur]

Really good analysis! what a masterpiece of a show!? Appreciate your in depth look at one of the best shows ever made.

[@QuayCur]

Also yeah love to hear someone talk about the music/cinematography cuz the establishing shots and opening/closing wow!

[@homie3322]

I wished that more people knew about Gomorrah and even the book.

[@marcusanark2541]

I read it last month man, and it was trip! Specially the cement and fashion stories.

[@Tommy-5684]

and what about the Film?

[@homie3322]

@@Tommy-5684 ofcoures man, also the film!

[@homie3322]

@@marcusanark2541 yeeah its so wild!

[@earlpipe9713]

@@marcusanark2541 The fashion industry parts were very enlightening

[@authunhx3129]

A good analysis, well articulated.

[@billytitus1519]

I love this video so much. It is everything.

[@SergioBlackDolphin]

They all die. You can’t start to relate or even sympathise with one of the characters that they will die. Some people said this is an ad for the Camorra. But this is not. They all die. There is no point in becoming one of them.

[@stevenlaw310]

Great review of the best series ever made 👍

[@TheRealRiverRansom]

NGL i clicked on this so excited to hear about Gamera... dunno how my brain read that. Still, excited for this!

[@meggalavk3ktt]

excellent analysis . this is now the bench mark for mafia tv Series. make sure you catch the movie "The immortal". thanks for the work you put into this. zero zero zero is also worth watching from the same author.

[@pessi6185]

Good shout I really enjoyed Zero Zero Zero. I just finished watching Romanzo Criminale and I would also recommend 👍🏿

[@marcusanark2541]

ZeroZeroZero was the best original series to come out that year, I specially loved the Manuel storyline.

[@mehmetc3660]

GOMORRA THE MOVIE IS VERY GOOD MOVIE

[@YouSmokeChed]

Such a good show man ciro one of the best written characters ever

[@thesitdownwithjeffnadu]

The greatest piece of entertainment I've ever seen. A masterpiece

[@jonny1943]

IT TIME! Its time to watch it once again.

[@rccdbcars9993]

Very good analysis

[@241ae]

Great video about a show almost no one is talking about!

[@darrenjones-yb1cq]

I tell everyone about this show but they swerve it and lot don't like subtitles I loved the show it is undurated fr compared to how many have watched sopranos wire breaking bad etc

[@Luckyluciano21]

Im about to rewatch this again this time straight though not episode by episode

[@richardrumana5025]

It's the directing, camera work, lighting and editing that's great. Characters are good. Plots are Good. Dialogue is good. But it's the way that the director bring the viewer into the action that's great. IMHO

[@ronoccc]

The first two season are genius. Some of the most amazing television you'll ever see. After that i'm afraid to say it's hit and miss. The latest season is ridiculously stupid. And it does get quite samey. But WOW, the first two seasons i've rewatched many times

[@Rutgo]

S1 is definitely the all-time high. The later seasons leaned more into fan-servicey drama, but I appreciate how it ended.

[@gioluvs1893]

The quality falls in the order that the seasons debuted. I agree it got too melodramatic. However I was still entertained throughout the entire run. Ciro coming back from that boat incident was the worst. The writers were scared to kill him off.

[@ronoccc]

​@@gioluvs1893 ye man, ciro coming back was ridiculous guy was shot point blank in the heart

[@gioluvs1893]

@@ronoccc Right! I like Ciro. We all do. But once you write that into the story you need to commit. That's like bringing Richie Aprile back in the last season of the Sopranos just because he's a fan favorite. Pure fan service like you said.

[@Flip4910]

The music in my opinion is what helped make this show so fricking good

[@LambSartoria]

Great analysis. Gripping series! Season 1 & 2 are just …. man

[@kierkegaardi]

Such a good video

[@MrAgbxl]

The Wire is still out there in a class of its own, but Gomorrah is not far behind. Would like to hear more from Roberto Saviano's view of Naples today.

[@leewilson5389]

Gomorra wipes the floor with the wire

[@MrAgbxl]

@@leewilson5389 hilarious comment.

[@leewilson5389]

@@MrAgbxl Gomorra wipes the floor with the wire. U clown.

[@leewilson5389]

@@MrAgbxl you compared a police drama to a gangster drama…. Ye nut sac

[@leewilson5389]

@@MrAgbxl you compared a police drama to a gangster drama…. Mug

[@davidcazale2339]

Masterpiece! Rewatching it 3rd time. I liked Suburra also maybe you should try it.

[@Rutgo]

Suburra is an alright time, I've gone through it a couple of times. It's a lot more lowkey, there's a weird sort of comfort to it.

[@RonTheAnarchist]

"Horray for Drugs". That's a hell of a note to end on, contextually.

[@harshit.mishra]

1:40 strikes different because of the iconic background music

[@BigManOnBetting]

The greatest show ever made

[@fjbayt]

Besides all of what has been said with that i agree is the look, feel and dialogs of Italians that i like. There is a language gap that prevent us to understand them a little bit better, they almost only use Italian to speak and even though i speak portuguese (of latin origin) almost 75% is not understandable to me (compare that to 5% with spanish), they dont use the international english to communicate, well not everybody but almost. And i like also those house decors over the top, very different from where i live. And its an european series neverthless without the american filter. Im only at the second series but im really enjoying this european/italian production!

[@Koksn_Todorov]

Cmon man, it's not Italian. They speak heavy neapolitan dialect, which most Italians have a hard time understanding. I read only the dialect from Bergamo is more hard to understand.

[@haveagooddaypod]

just finished it last night, so good!

[@buymybooks437]

well done

[@dantemarotta356]

Fantastic breakdown of the best TV series in the World

[@mickyeverton]

Outstanding Series!! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@fabolous514]

The destruction of those building reminds me of the same thing happening in the wire series ... but that’s political band-aids and not really a solution to anything

[@earlpipe9713]

In my city it'd just lead to the community betrayals of gentrification & poor and working class lifelong residents no longer able to afford living in the only place they've known their entire lives. Governments never take on such projects for the common people's benefit in the Western world of out of control hyper capitalism - it's always a scam/flimflam

[@jhep1]

Totally spot on

[@harshit.mishra]

What is the name of the background track at 13:25 ?

[@Rutgo]

Tragic Vodka by Mokadelic

[@bodiesatva]

It really do be like that sometimes.

[@Pystoria]

Really interesting, I had no idea this show existed

[@dubstepper4647]

We have the double-cross, Gomorrah introduces the "triple-cross", honestly, this bunch in Napoli put the Borgias to shame. I'm still trying to figure out who pulled the trigger in the final episode before the credits rolled. What's intriguing about Gomorrah are the plot twists, trust is not a word used in the Neapolitan dictionary.

[@schlomonoseberginterracial3906]

phenomenal show.

[@nostalgiabarn4072]

Ans the word camorra is used in the show several times, and the main characters use the word, nothing to do with exclusively calling it the system

[@KFJN]

Southern Italy baby. Beautiful and deadly at the same time.

[@DarkKnight-yz2wg]

I saw the movie on BET in 08 when it came out. Terrifying. I really want to go to Naples.

[@wexfordgirl1]

Forget the movie you absolutely need to watch the series. Just unbelievably incredible.

[@ryanmurphy7976]

Perfectly summed up one of the greatest series ever made in my eyes

[@jn603]

breaking bad is a very superficial and fanciful television show in some chapters that become absurd instead Gomorrah shows the crudeness of organized crime

[@baubaul]

Most of the stories actually happened in real life. Gelsomina Verde especially

[@chiapets2594]

Loved the show

[@Private_glob]

Best show ive ever watched

[@Camerasdontlie]

Try love/Hate. It shows you how the Irish gangs start out. Then watch Another Irish Gangster Drama called KIN. Gomorrah is absolutely brilliant it’s savage.

[@southpaw578]

I was born in Naples amongst my people that survived the earthquake and the wars.

[@ignis3921]

Salvatore Conte is my favorito boss

[@SS_LFC]

dont forget to watch the immortal movie after season 4 this show is up there with the wire and the shield for me

[@wilsonfisk4741]

Don't know if it hits different but as an italian American who knows his people especially those of southern italian backgrounds this show is a true ethnic depiction of southern Italian crime culture

[@mehmetc3660]

There is before the series a film also named gommora who won the cannes movie award:.. good movie

[@dankeroner]

"That is NOT Solid Snake!!!"

[@jocimarbarbosa]

Gomorra change my life forever, everything now is pure BS when I compare with Gomorra. Some episodes traumatize me because feels so real that is like all other shows are now a black and white comedy. I miss the show soo much

[@slimjong-un5743]

This show was a fkn ride man

[@frankpeters-fq8kv]

great series but im saving season 5 for a rainyday

[@darrenjones-yb1cq]

I stumbled on this show randomly years ago patiently waiting for next episode lol loved it I do feel season 4 5 was not as good 123 ngl movie was good my fav bit when he saved the girl in Russia and smoked them all thinking of his daughter and the mistakes he made

[@Koksn_Todorov]

It was not in Russia. It was in the country where the Cyrillic alphabet was made.

[@lloydcrooks712]

It's one of the greatest TV shows I have seen

[@Joe-sf7pj]

Some people just hang around the Mediterranean for now reason.

[@Janon48]

The first two seasons were masterful and really made life in the mafia seem almost like a living hell. I don’t understand how anyone could see it and think it glamorizes them when even Ciro who is one of the more likeable characters does some despicable shit and is clearly haunted by his crimes. I did feel like the later seasons were veering more into fan service and stopped watching them though

[@michaeldadon2325]

I really wanted to watch this show but HBO took away the Italian speaking and switched it over too English dub and I just can’t do it.

[@Rutgo]

It defaults to the dub, but you can still switch it to Italian with subtitles. The dub is pretty much unwatchable.

[@michaeldadon2325]

@@Rutgo really? I have HBO on my prime video service and it only gave me one option and it was English. I’ll have to double check later and figure it out.

[@Rutgo]

Oh, maybe it's different if you're doing it through Amazon. But it's definitely available through HBO Max.

[@lh7325]

The violence is over-the-top though. Italy is nowhere near as violent as depicted in the show, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it's certainly not realistic.

[@billytitus1519]

Continue making these essays. You are good. Go deeper even. We have to give voice to the substructures that are created by the hegemonic system of capitalism. Truly, continue. You will be a legend when you finish.

[@yuhaochen4470]

you can not measure Camorras size by saying five camorrasti ratios one mafiaso. Camorra has no initiation ritual to begin with,you are comparing the number of affiliates with Cosa Nostra's made men, which are completely different concepts.

[@riccardomallardo7779]

The camorra has an initiation ritual actually

[@sopranofan6118]

Theres nothing quite like gonorrah. Ooft. Class

[@onebadmoto5081]

The immortal was good too

[@billytitus1519]

It is such a masterpiece. It is the materialist answer to the Wire. And Obama would not like it. You should dig further - Frederic Jameson as an analysis. Otherwise I will do it.

[@arberreka2242]

It was a good series. Some cringe moments in season 3 and 5, but overall very good.

[@kevinfoo8031]

Any suggestions to watch similar? This gripping series took over my hours of sleep.

[@Rutgo]

Romanzo Criminale, this is probably the closest in style. It's a lot of the same team. Zero Zero Zero is pretty good, it's also a lot of the same team. A lot of people bring up Suburra: Blood on Rome - I think this is kind of a reach. It's fine, but don't go expecting anything as good as Gomorrah.

[@kevinfoo8031]

@@Rutgo Thanks so much. Romanzo Criminals sound good. Zero Zero Zero I think have seen which another good one though too short which can't understand why it should be. Gomorrah still wins.

[@enriquevargas1984]

Shit I can relate to gomorrah

[@ROC14088]

It's nothing like BB!! BB is n̈ot in the same league

[@jeffcarlin5866]

The Fifth Season was a disappointment. Seasons One, Two, Three, and Four were excellent, but the final season was more of the same. I found it to be repetitive -- and the FINAL episode...? Who killed Gennero? Some random criminal? And who killed Ciro? Who knows? I'm guessing that the pandemic effected the ending. It felt sloppy.

[@Rutgo]

They were killed by Nunzia's people. Just before she's killed she sends reinforcements to the rendezvous point, which Ciro was unaware of. Having them killed by someone random was necessary. Season 5 has a very different tone from the previous four. Ciro and Genny lean hard into their "legendary" reputations and it starts to feel like they're larger than life. But the point is that they aren't, they were just two people who lived hard, violent lives and did horrible things. All the hype Ciro built up around his resurrection was just a flimsy pretext to continue that violence. Ultimately their lives amounted to nothing and the Camorra will hardly notice their absence.

[@vanstraelend]

Amazing serie,but very brutal and bleak just like you explained,Genny killing Patri is one of the most devastating moments ,

[@vanstraelend]

​​​@@Rutgothe serie braquers,aka ganglands is a must watch ,it hase a similar vibe,season 2 is very good!!

[@vanstraelend]

Great inside,almost spiritual!

[@Koksn_Todorov]

​@@vanstraelendshe fked up, she needed to go. It's the only outcome. Just like Fredo in The Godfather (Michael should've done it himself).

[@sn0ooo0p]

FFS don’t be ridiculous! Don’t compare this masterpiece with breaking bad 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ You could compare it with Sopranos though..

[@jeffcarlin5866]

Why is Season One so BLOCKY and plagued with ailising?

[@maggyfrog]

spoilers: did ciro's humanity die when he killed that teenage girl or when he killed his own wife?

[@Xtazation]

Turn into solid snake ha

[@jeffcarlin5866]

"Italy's answer to Breaking Bad!" is on the cover of EVERY season...but that's not a good selling point for me. Breaking Bad was VERY MEDIOCRE. Gomorrah is more like The Wire.

[@Provocateur991]

It hits the same… No I’m just kidding 😂

[@SirWolfgangMozart]

I came here from ultraman