The final episode of My Brilliant Friend's fourth season, titled "Restitution," is a poignant and intricate tapestry of the lifelong friendship between Elena Greco (Lenù) and Raffaella Cerullo (Lila). It's a narrative that loops back to the series' beginning, with Lenù, now in her sixties and living in Turin, receiving a call from Gennaro about Lila's disappearance. This call triggers a chain of events that not only brings the series full circle but also delves deep into the complexities of their relationship.
The episode opens with Lenù's voice-over, a storytelling device that has become an integral part of the show's universe. Her narration, always in the past tense, adds a layer of reflection and introspection to the events unfolding on screen. As we witness Lenù's reaction to Lila's disappearance, we are reminded that the story we have been following is driven by a mix of truth and spite, a betrayal of a promise made to Lila that her story would never be written down.
The world of My Brilliant Friend is immersive, and "Restitution" is no exception. It engulfs the viewer in the emotional turmoil of Lenù and Lila's lives. We see Lenù, now with a chic bob, grappling with the news of Lila's decision to abandon her business, her relationship with Enzo, and her desire to be utterly alone. Lenù's encouragement for Lila to find purpose falls on deaf ears, as Lila wishes only to "waste time," a stark contrast to her former driven self.
The episode is a study in contrasts, highlighting the dissolution of boundaries that Lila once feared. Her response to Tina's disappearance is to let go, allowing people, things, and emotions to merge into a chaotic blur. This lack of inhibition is evident when Lila, seeing Immacolata's bracelet on Lenù's wrist, warns her of the bad luck it carries.
As Lenù navigates her own family's dynamics, the episode brings to light the consequences of her past neglect. Her daughter Dede's confession of love for Gennaro and the subsequent revelation of Elsa's elopement with Gennaro underscore Lenù's struggle to balance her personal life with her commitment to understanding Lila.
The political subplot involving Nino Sarratore adds another layer to Lenù's character. Her meeting with Nino in the marbled halls of Parliament is a masterclass in subtext and political maneuvering. Lenù's disgust with Nino's politicking culminates in his arrest on corruption charges, a fitting end for a character who embodied the worst of political privilege.
The episode's climax revolves around Lenù's frantic search for her daughters and her eventual confrontation with Elsa at the Airotas' home. The resolution, where Elsa and Gennaro are allowed to stay together, feels unearned and lenient, a critique of Lenù's inability to fully grasp the gravity of her daughters' actions.
In the final scenes, Lenù and Lila share a heartfelt conversation, tinged with the melancholy of impending separation. Lila's theory about Tina's disappearance and her apology to Lenù for past grievances add a layer of closure to their friendship. However, the show's decision to signal this as their final meeting creates a dissonance, as it places the audience outside of Lenù's perspective.
The episode concludes with Lenù's move to Turin and the return to the series' opening scene, Gennaro's call about Lila's disappearance. This cyclical narrative structure underscores the illusory nature of finality and satisfaction in life. "Restitution" is a powerful finale that leaves the audience with a profound sense of the enduring, yet ultimately unfathomable, bond between Lenù and Lila.