Common Sense Media Review
By Weiting Liu
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Frequent explicit sex in soapy Italian romance-thriller.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Deceitful Love
What's the Story?
DECEITFUL LOVE occurs between Gabriella (Monica Guerritore), a wealthy 60-year-old hotel owner, and Elia (Giacomo Gianniotti), a mysterious man a couple of decades her junior. As their passionate romance develops, Gabriella's family, particularly her oldest son, Stefano (Emanuel Caserio), views the racy relationship with suspicion, fearing that Elia might have ulterior motives. Stefano and his secret boyfriend and police officer Mattia (Gabriele Stella) start investigating his mother's mysterious young lover, suspense starts peeling off layer by layer.
Is It Any Good?
Set in southern Italy's idyllic countryside along the azure coastline, the show's steamy romance and soapy twists can feel entertaining and enthralling at times. Deceitful Love's dynamic soundtrack and Guerritore's alluring performance do draw us into Gabriella and Elia's adventures—and we naturally root for the heroine's rebellion and sexual freedom.
But the rest of the cast depict their poorly written characters in a one-dimensional way. Despite the show's intention to portray the psychological complexities of Gabriella's family members, they all just appear shallow and their actions make little sense. Ultimately, the show feels more like a botched farce than a successful slow burn.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Gabriella and Elia's relationship in Deceitful Love. What are the challenges and rewards for her to pursue this relationship?
What do you think of the show's frequent and explicit sex scenes? Do they successfully contribute to the show's storytelling? Why or why not?
What do you think of the depiction of Gabriella's co-parenting with her ex-husband, Mario? Can you think of other non-traditional family units depicted in TV shows?
TV Details
- Premiere date : October 10, 2024
- Cast : Monica Guerritore , Giacomo Gianniotti , Emanuel Caserio
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 22, 2024
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