The Leopard Season 01 (Episodes 6 Added) | TV Series

Sicilian prince navigates family, love, and revolution as Italy unifies in the 1860s.

Review

The Leopard Season 1 is a lush, sultry adaptation of Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa’s classic novel, unfolding over six episodes with a mix of opulence and upheaval. Set during Italy’s unification in the 1860s, it follows Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina (Kim Rossi Stuart), a charismatic aristocrat wrestling with his fading world as Garibaldi’s forces reshape Sicily. Stuart’s brooding intensity anchors the drama, while Deva Cassel’s Angelica—a radiant middle-class beauty—and Saul Nanni’s Tancredi, Fabrizio’s dashing nephew, ignite a love triangle that simmers with passion and betrayal.

The production is a feast: palatial sets, sumptuous costumes, and Paolo Buonvino’s score elevate every frame, though the CGI-augmented battles occasionally falter. Pacing dips mid-season, and some characters—like Benedetta Porcaroli’s Concetta—feel underdeveloped, but the finale’s grand ball and Fabrizio’s introspective decline hit hard. It’s less visceral than Visconti’s 1963 film, leaning into soapier romance over gothic gloom, yet it’s a captivating period piece that probes privilege and change with modern flair. A must-watch for fans of historical drama, even if it doesn’t fully match the novel’s depth.