La Piovra is a gripping masterpiece of TV crime drama, but Season 8 was in a class of its own. Taking the story back 30 something years to Sicily in the 1950's it follows the story of the corrupt banker Tano Carridi, his childhood, the death of his mother and his education by the grateful Baron Altamura after Tano helps the Baron's kidnapped son escape. The two part series was filmed in Sicily and the stunning exterior locations and interiors get away from the Made for TV look. This film could have been released as a theater film and would have appealed to fans of The Godfather, in fact, the whole 'look' of the film resembles the Sicilian section of the Godfather films, and the location shooting in Sicily gives it a very authentic feel.
Luca Zingarelli, who is best known as Inspector Salvo Montalbano, plays the mafia boss Pietro who didn't get to the top by making friends and influencing people. I would vote this way over and above the usual TV series.
