Watch Mafia Only Kills in Summer

Mafia Only Kills in Summer is an Italian television series which aired from 2016 to 2018. The show is a tragicomic retelling of the years between the 1970s and early 1990s, when the Sicilian Mafia – also known as Cosa Nostra – unleashed its endless reign of terror on the island of Sicily. The show is created by the talented screenwriter and director Pif, who also stars in the series.

Each episode of Mafia Only Kills in Summer explores a different aspect of Sicilian life in the midst of violent terror. The show manages to balance humor and tragedy with ease, as we follow the life of Pif himself – played by himself – and his family, friends, and neighbors. Pif narrates the story, as he reflects on his childhood while living in a present-day apartment with his girlfriend.

Despite the pervading sense of hopelessness and suffering, the characters in Mafia Only Kills in Summer never give up. They laugh, dream, and love – even as they survive in a world that is both terrifying and absurd. Pif's optimism and humor keep the show from becoming too dark, while the unflinching portrayal of Mafia violence and corruption gives it a brutal honesty.

The opening episode, set in 1970s Sicily, is a perfect embodiment of the show's approach. Pif and his friends are elementary schoolchildren who are desperate for a return to normalcy. But the Mafia looms large over everything, as Pif's father Giorgio tries to keep the family safe from harm. The episode is a wrenching, beautiful look at the child's view of the world through the prism of fear and loss.

Other episodes depict different aspects of the Mafia's reign of terror on Sicily. In one episode, Pif's uncle, who is a carabiniere (military police officer), is shadowed by the Mafia as he tries to stay alive. In another, a priest tries to help two young lovers who have been targeted by the Mafia. In each episode, the viewer feels the weight of the Mafia's violence and the sense of loss that stays with the survivors.

Throughout all of the episodes, there is a sense of connection – a feeling that the people of Sicily are in this together, even when the Mafia tries to keep them apart. Scenes of children playing in the streets or neighbors gathering for a meal feel particularly poignant in contrast to the savage violence that surrounds them.

There are flashes of humor amidst the tragedy as well, with Pif and his friends getting into trouble with their teachers while trying to dodge Mafia bullets. Pif's sarcastic and witty tone keeps the show from becoming too bleak, even when the subject matter is at its darkest.

Overall, Mafia Only Kills in Summer is a stunningly realized TV series that chronicles one of the darkest periods in Italian history. The show's blend of humor and grief is masterfully done, as it shows the viewer the harsh reality of the Mafia's reign of terror. Pif's storytelling and acting are highlights of the show, and it offers viewers a window into a world that few will ever experience.

Mafia Only Kills in Summer is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (24 episodes). The series first aired on November 21, 2016.