My Brilliant Friend poster

TV series

My Brilliant Friend

2018TV-MA4 seasons8.1 / 10

A friendship that defined a lifetime.

When the most important friend in her life seems to have disappeared without a trace, Elena Greco, a now-elderly woman immersed in a house full of books, turns on her computer and starts writing the story of their friendship.

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Checked Sep 2, 2026

My Brilliant Friend is available to stream on HBO (Via Hulu), HBO Max, HBO Max (Via Amazon Prime), and YouTube TV in United States. You can also rent or buy it from Google Play, Amazon, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home. Use the direct links below to open the provider.

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Synopsis

When the most important friend in her life seems to have disappeared without a trace, Elena Greco, a now-elderly woman immersed in a house full of books, turns on her computer and starts writing the story of their friendship.

Season 2 episodes

Choose an episode, then use the watch options above for the show.

← Season 1Season 3 →

Episode 1

The New Name

Feb 10, 20201h 2m6.5 / 10

With Lila on her honeymoon on the Amalfi Coast, Elena struggles to handle school and her relationship with Antonio. When Lila returns with visible bruises on her body, the two girls revert to their natural closeness and Lila’s will to take revenge against her husband grows. Elena continues to be bewitched by Nino Sarratore’s charisma but chooses not to mention him to Lila.

Episode credits

Directed by Saverio CostanzoGuest stars Luca Gallone, Valentina Acca, Antonio Buonanno, Eduardo Scarpetta, Simona Volpe, Raffaele Nocerino, Ilenia Zanfardino, Matteo Taurino

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Episode 2

The Body

Feb 10, 202051m6.9 / 10

Elena's relationship is threatened when Antonio discovers she has asked the Solaras' help to keep him from doing military service, while Lila remains rebellious in her marriage to the often-violent Stefano. After a photo of her is exhibited at a wedding dress shop in the center of town and becomes the subject of much gossip, Lila makes a bet with Elena about how the whole affair will end.

Episode credits

Directed by Saverio CostanzoGuest stars Luca Gallone, Valentina Acca, Antonio Milo, Eduardo Scarpetta, Dora Romano, Imma Villa, Valentina Arena, Simona Volpe

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Episode 3

Erasure

Feb 17, 20201h 1m7.0 / 10

Upset that her picture is featured prominently in the new shoe shop Stefano is opening with the Solaras, Lila comes up with a creative solution to deal with the matter and enlists Elena’s help. Though Lila begins working at the Caraccis’ new grocery store, she continues to resent her husband’s business activities and the source of their income. Model student Elena invites Lila to a party at her teacher Ms. Galiani’s house; there, the two girls become acutely aware of the fact that they belong to ever more distant worlds.

Episode credits

Directed by Saverio CostanzoGuest stars Eduardo Scarpetta, Raffaele Nocerino, Francesca Pezzella, Rosaria Langellotto, Fabrizio Cottone, Matteo Castaldo, Alba Rohrwacher, Consiglia Aprovidolo

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Episode 4

The Kiss

Feb 17, 20201h 2m6.8 / 10

At Rino and Pinuccia’s wedding, Elena accepts Lila’s invitation to go on holiday, provided the destination is Ischia, where she knows she’ll find Nino. On the island, Elena, Lila and Pinuccia begin to spend more and more time with Nino and his friend Bruno and Lila starts to take a strong interest in Elena’s summer reads. As Lila and Pinuccia exhibit signs of nervousness when their respective husbands come to visit for the weekend, Elena is thrown when Lila comes to her bedroom to make a confession.

Episode credits

Directed by Alice RohrwacherGuest stars Valentina Acca, Antonio Buonanno, Antonio Milo, Eduardo Scarpetta, Imma Villa, Francesca Pezzella, Rosaria Langellotto, Fabrizio Cottone

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Episode 5

The Betrayal

Feb 24, 20201h 2m7.1 / 10

As Pinuccia returns to Naples, a new secret excites Lila and numbs Elena, who nonetheless becomes embroiled in its coverup. Subdued by Lila's charisma and indifferent to Bruno's flattery, Elena finds herself the keeper of a far darker clandestine series of events involving Donato Sarratore. After the girls encounter Michele and Gigliola, who have come to Ischia on a day trip, Lila seizes the opportunity to throw the whole truth in Stefano's face.

Episode credits

Directed by Alice RohrwacherGuest stars Valentina Acca, Nunzia Schiano, Rosaria Langellotto, Fabrizia Sacchi, Alba Rohrwacher, Emanuele Valenti, Federica Barbuto, Catello Buonomo

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Episode 6

Rage

Feb 24, 20201h 4m7.1 / 10

Following her formative summer on Ischia, Elena throws herself into her studies and looks towards a future outside of the neighborhood. After a brilliant finals performance, Elena happens upon Lila, who is working at the shoe store and has grand plans for a fresh start. As Elena leaves Naples to commence her prestigious university studies in Pisa, Lila decides to leave Stefano and moves into a modest apartment, but the failings of her plan soon emerge.

Episode credits

Directed by Saverio CostanzoGuest stars Luca Gallone, Valentina Acca, Antonio Buonanno, Eduardo Scarpetta, Raffaele Nocerino, Ilenia Zanfardino, Matteo Taurino, Francesca Pezzella

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Episode 7

The Secret Notebooks

Mar 2, 202059m7.1 / 10

Three years into her time in Pisa, Elena has developed into an elegant and cultured young woman – but still feels like an outsider. After a consequential breakup, Elena falls ill and is visited by her mother, who has come to nurse her back to health. During the night, Elena takes to reading Lila’s diaries, which were entrusted to her for safekeeping; in these tomes, Elena discovers Lila’s dedication to her new role in the face of Stefano’s increasingly violent behavior.

Episode credits

Directed by Saverio CostanzoGuest stars Dora Romano, Francesca Pezzella, Fabrizio Cottone, Giovanni Buselli, Alba Rohrwacher, Sarah Falanga, Bruno Orlando, Giustiniano Alpi

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Episode 8

The Blue Fairy

Mar 2, 20201h 10m7.0 / 10finale

With graduation in sight, Elena is overwhelmed by memories of her past and copes by drafting her first novel. Meanwhile, she finds a new suitor in Pietro Airota, the son of an esteemed academic. After Pietro proposes, Elena entrusts him with her manuscript before heading back to Naples, where she reunites with her family and visits Ada, who updates her on the tempestuous events she's missed. Upon receiving some unexpected good news, she sets out to find Lila, whose circumstances have seen a dramatic change.

Episode credits

Directed by Saverio CostanzoGuest stars Luca Gallone, Antonio Buonanno, Matteo Cecchi, Imma Villa, Daria Deflorian, Ludovica Nasti, Elisa del Genio, Rosaria Langellotto

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Episode information updated Sep 12, 2026

More about My Brilliant Friend

Cast

Margherita MazzuccoElena Greco

Anna Rita VitoloImmacolata Greco

Luca GalloneVittorio Greco

Valentina AccaNunzia Cerullo

Antonio BuonannoFernando Cerullo

Alessio GalloMichele Solara

Francesco SerpicoNino Sarratore

Irene MaiorinoLila Cerullo

Credits

Created by: Saverio Costanzo
Written by: Francesco Piccolo, Saverio Costanzo, Elena Ferrante, Laura Paolucci, Elena Ferrante

Production details

Status: Ended
Series type: Scripted
Episodes: 34
Original language: Italian
Original title: L'amica geniale

Networks & production

Rai 1Italy
WildsideItaly
FandangoItaly
The Apartment PicturesItaly
uMediaBelgium
MoweItaly

Themes

based on novel or bookfemale friendshipfictional biography

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