Gomorrah: The Origins [2026-]

May 1, 2026

Series – 1 Seasons – 6 Episodes (50 minutes) – Thriller/Crime
Second season coming next year (2027)

Allora, what do we have here? A sequel to one of my favorite Italian television series, well, don’t mind if I do. So, let’s start from the beginning. Back in 2014, Gomorrah premiered on Sky Atlantic in Italy. Based on a novel by Roberto Saviano, a man marked for death by the Italian mafia for his reporting, it was a huge hit. Five seasons, 58 episodes, of pure crime gold are available for you to enjoy right now. After the show ended, Marco D’Amore, who plays one of the lead roles, wrote, directed, and starred in a spin-off movie, The Immortal. It wasn’t anything special, but it was quite watchable. Especially for the fans of the show. Seven years later, Marco returns to the director’s chair with the show we’re going to be talking about today.

Gomorrah: The Origins follows young Pietro Savastano growing up on the tough streets of Secondigliano, Naples. The same Pietro who would go on to become a powerful figure in the Camorra, even forming his own clan. He’s just 16 years old here, running with his band of misfits and trying to get that cash. What follows is a classic story of a young thug linking up with an older crew, especially its leader Angelo A Sirena. It’s the year of our lord Satan 1977 and there’s not much cocaine in Naples, Italy. Believe it or not but main things back then were cigarettes and stolen goods. With a healthy dose of extortion, blackmail, and other fun activities. However, all of that is about to change very soon. The French Connection is coming to Italy.

I don’t want to spoil too much, so I’ll just stop here. Gomorrah, the original series, features an incredibly tense atmosphere, tight direction, and phenomenal character development. Add to this a superb story with numerous and highly engaging subplots, and you’ve got yourself a monster. Gomorrah: The Origins decides on a different path. First of all, it’s worth watching, let me make that clear right away. However, if you’re expecting a return to the glory of the original, you will be disappointed. What drives this show forward are vibes, and I’m not even kidding about that. The whole thing feels much more artistic and dreamy. When you look at the events that unfold, on paper, they do look like the real deal. Robberies, betrayals, murders, it’s all there.

The realism that was the linchpin of the original is practically gone, especially when it comes to the characters. You just can’t connect with them. I have just gone through the first episode again to get some good screenshots. And, as I said, the events that should be there in a story like this are there. It’s just that they lack the edge provided by the gritty characters. Almost everyone here looks like a Roman god, but most of all Angelo A Sirena, played by Francesco Pellegrino. With his charming presence, long curly hair, and that million-dollar smile, the man is a certified player. Not to mention his extravagant clothes. To make things even more bizarre, his character is modeled after a real Camorra member, Aniello La Monica.

His nickname was The Butcher, not only because he had a butcher shop but also because he would cut out the hearts of his enemies to instill fear in rivals. Now compare this to the characterization we see in the series here. Or maybe it’s all a consequence of the lack of proper build-up. What’s also missing are the little things that characters do that do anything to develop their character or push the narrative forward. I talked about this often. The presence of these scenes feels almost counterintuitive. Why would you have someone just driving or doing some menial but necessary chore? Well, because it helps you to ground the character and make him more relatable. I guess one of the examples of a good subplot was the toilet paper one, especially at its end.

Only the absolute best directors can get away without showing these scenes. So, the stylistic choices overpower any sort of mafia narrative. Mafia narrative drowned in stereotypes. Old wise boss – young brash son and so forth. Perhaps the best thing about it is its setting, the late seventies in Italy. Featuring excellent production values and cinematography, we’ll be transported into the past instantly. The bars, cars, clothes, and everything else that marked this decade are there for the “taking in”. I wouldn’t call this nostalgia, as there’s not much good to remember. The cast did a great job, especially Francesco Pellegrino, Luca Lubrano, and Tullia Venezia. Another great thing was the relationships between friends.

More specifically, true male friendships, that are almost completely gone now in this post-modern world. The innocence of a hug or a look that doesn’t have a sexual component to it is truly a sight to see. I deliberately say look, but because a lot of times scenes consist of just a couple of lines of text and different stares in different directions. If you’ve ever watched Mexican telenovelas, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Now imagine this vibe but in an Italian style. Many scenes with Sirena end exactly like this, with him looking mysteriously into the distance, with the rest of the characters just standing in the background. Maybe this whole first season is about that, the loss of innocence and the beginning of that thug life. Mi scusi, mafia life.

Gomorrah: The Origins features just six episodes and that was the right choice. Just imagine if they stretched this to an eight or even 10-episode run. With how things stand now, you’ll burn through this prequel over the weekend and forget all about it. Well, maybe Mr. Angelo A Sirena will come to you in your dreams, questioning your sexuality but is that such a bad thing? Finally, if you’re looking for something Italian, gritty, and fucking awesome do check out A.C.A.B. La Serie [2026]. It’s one of those shows that stay with you long after you’ve watched them. And it showcases how to do character development properly. Moreover, it features the exact same format used here, 6 episodes with the running time around 50 minutes per episode.