The culminating chapter of My Brilliant Friend's fourth season, entitled "Restitution," weaves a poignant and intricate tapestry of the enduring bond between Elena Greco (Lenù) and Raffaella Cerullo (Lila). It serves as a narrative odyssey that loops back to the series' inception, where Lenù, now a sexagenarian residing in Turin, receives a harrowing call from Gennaro regarding Lila's mysterious disappearance. This phone call initiates a cascade of events that not only ties the series into a neat bow but also plunges into the labyrinthine depths of their friendship.
The episode unfolds with Lenù's haunting voice-over, a storytelling mechanism that has seamlessly integrated into the fabric of the show's universe. Her retrospective narration, bathed in the past tense, layers the unfolding scenes with a profound sense of introspection and reflection. As we bear witness to Lenù's heart-wrenching response to Lila's absence, we are reminded that the narrative we've been avidly following is fueled by a potent mix of truth and resentment, a violation of the solemn promise Lenù made to Lila—never to immortalize her story in print.
The world of My Brilliant Friend is immersively vivid, and "Restitution" is no exception. It envelops the viewer within the turbulent emotional landscape of Lenù and Lila's lives. We behold Lenù, now adorned with a chic bob haircut, grappling with the startling revelation of Lila's decision to abandon her burgeoning business, her relationship with Enzo, and her yearning for solitude. Lenù's earnest pleas for Lila to find a renewed sense of purpose fall upon deaf ears, as Lila craves nothing more than to "waste time," a stark divergence from her former, fiercely driven self.
This episode stands as a study in stark contrasts, shedding light on the erosion of boundaries that once caused Lila such dread. Her reaction to Tina's disappearance is to relinquish control, allowing people, possessions, and emotions to converge into a chaotic whirlwind. This unbridled lack of restraint manifests when Lila, noticing Immacolata's bracelet adorning Lenù's wrist, solemnly warns her of the ill fortune it harbors.
As Lenù navigates the intricate dynamics of her family, the episode unearths the far-reaching repercussions of her past oversights. Her daughter Dede's heartfelt confession of love for Gennaro, followed by the startling revelation of Elsa's elopement with him, intensifies Lenù's battle to maintain a delicate equilibrium between her personal life and her relentless pursuit to comprehend Lila.
The introduction of the political subplot featuring Nino Sarratore enriches Lenù's character even further. Her encounter with Nino within the marble-clad halls of Parliament serves as a riveting display of subtext and political intrigue. Lenù's disdain for Nino's machinations reaches its zenith when he is apprehended on corruption charges, a fitting conclusion for a character who embodied the darkest facets of political entitlement.
The episode's climax unfolds with Lenù's frantic quest to locate her daughters, culminating in her confrontation with Elsa at the Airotas' residence. The resolution, allowing Elsa and Gennaro to remain together, strikes a discordant note, appearing overly lenient and unjustified, mirroring Lenù's inability to fully grasp the gravity of her daughters' actions.
In the closing scenes, Lenù and Lila share an intimate and heart-wrenching conversation, tinged with the melancholy of an impending separation. Lila's theory regarding Tina's disappearance and her apology to Lenù for past grievances provide a poignant sense of closure to their bond. However, the show's portrayal of this as their final meeting creates a jarring dissonance, placing the audience at a remove from Lenù's emotional perspective.
The episode draws to a close with Lenù's relocation to Turin, echoing back to the series' opening scene—Gennaro's call regarding Lila's disappearance. This cyclical narrative structure underscores the elusive nature of finality and satisfaction in life. "Restitution" stands as a potent finale, leaving the audience with a profound appreciation for the enduring, yet ultimately inexplicable, bond that ties Lenù and Lila together.
