'My Brilliant Friend' Season 2 Episode 6: Lila and Nino's relationship was destined to be doomed
Spoilers for 'My Brilliant Friend' Season 2 Episode 6 'Rage'
Episode 6 of HBO's 'My Brilliant Friend' offers a glimpse into the relationship of Nino Sarratore (Francesco Serpico) and Lila Cerullo (Gaia Girace).
Breaking all her marriage vows, Lila begins a covert affair with Nino in episode 5 'The Betrayal'. At first, she expects Elena Greco aka Lenu (Margherita Mazzucco) to help her keep the affair under wraps — lie for her, help her sneak out so she can spend time with Nino in Ischia. Eventually, the Solaras get a whiff of their affair and the news reaches her husband Stefano Carracci (Giovanni Amura).
After he drags her back home to their dusty neighbourhood, Lenu vows to never seek Lila and Nino because of their breach of her trust. And she does — she has no idea about their whereabouts and only finds out that they are continuing with their affair after she practically runs into Lila.
As it turns out, Lila has been working at the shoe store only so she can hide Nino in the closet. She reveals to Lenu that she wishes to leave Stefano and live with Nino — together they will start a family, he will work and she will take care of their children.
One can almost see Nino wince as Lila details her plan to Elena. Even more so when Elena reveals her plans for further studying at the University of Pisa.
Back at home, Lila tells Stefano that she wants to leave him. Just as he is about to get violent with her, she grabs a knife and threatens to kill him. Stefano, her abusive husband, backs away and Lila leaves him for Nino — nursing the thought that she has found hope and love both in Nino Sarratore.
When she moves out of Stefano's house and in with Nino, Lila is brimming with joy and possibilities — finally, she is out of the neighbourhood, far away from the life she so desperately wanted to run away from.
But this was a mere fantasy and reality doesn't take long to catch up with Nino and Lila.
One night, they have an argument. An article by Nino is refused publication in a paper. He proceeds to blame Lila for it. Why? Because she asked him to rewrite it several times suggesting changes. Their intelligence — the virtue that attracted them to each other in the first place — eventually leads to differences between them.
There are also other things that were threatening this fantasy from the get-go. Most importantly, they were living in a dingy room in the city with bare amenities. Where were the two of them going to get their money from?
The same night, Nino walks out on Lila after their argument goes downhill. He is about to get on a bus but decides to go back. On the way back, he is intercepted by Antonio Cappuccio (Christian Giroso), who beats him black and blue.
At home, Lila finds out she is pregnant with Nino's child. It is Enzo Scanno (Giovanni Buselli) who takes her back to Stefano's house, where she reveals that she is pregnant with someone else's child.
In the end, Lila and Nino lived together for only 23 days — their brief fantasy coming to a brutal stop.
For Lila, it was the only glimmer of hope to escape the neighbourhood — finally taking charge of her life and making her own decision.
For Nino, on the other hand, Lila was a prize because of her unavailability. He is, after all, a narcissistic selfish man much like his father Donato Sarratore (Emanuele Valenti).
'My Brilliant Friend' airs on Mondays on HBO at 10/9c.