Suburra: Blood on Rome

In 2008, a dispute over a stretch of coastal land outside Rome spins out of control and pulls together criminals, politicians and Vatican figures into a web of violence and deals. The story follows rival street clans, ambitious local politicians and ambitious outsiders as they try to carve out territory and influence, while younger players push boundaries and older powers try to hold on. The plot keeps the focus on power at the street level and the institutional partnerships that make both legal and illegal schemes possible, presenting a steady rise in stakes without revealing major twists or outcomes.

Released in 2017 on Netflix, the series was created by Carlo Bonini, Daniele Cesarano and Barbara Petronio, and draws on the Suburra novel and the 2015 film adaptation. Alessandro Borghi, Giacomo Ferrara and Carlotta Antonelli headline a cast that helped bring the story from page and screen to episodic format.

The show played a role in bringing Italian noir-style crime drama to a wider international audience, making characters like Aureliano and Spadino recognizably linked to contemporary Roman underworld fiction. Its urban setting and frank depiction of corrupt ties between crime, politics and religious institutions sparked conversations beyond Italy about how those worlds overlap.

The series raised the profiles of several performers and production talents in Italy, and it was discussed during domestic awards cycles for its acting and writing, even if it didn’t dominate international prize lists. Industry attention helped solidify the producers and cast as notable contributors to modern Italian television drama.

Critical reception has been generally favorable, reflected in a user vote average of 7.43/10 from 230 votes, with particular praise for the cast’s intensity and the show’s gritty tone. Recurring themes include the corrupting lure of power, the ways local loyalties shift under pressure, and the cost paid by young characters who get drawn into systems they barely control.