TORONTO – As of April 20th, North Americans are being treated to all four seasons of Italy’s most popular tv series, The Sea Beyond, thanks to a “unique deal” reached with powerhouse streamer Netflix. The series follows a group of delinquents including Filippo (Nicolas Maupas) and Carmine (Massimiliano Caiazzo), who are serving time in a juvenile detention center on the Gulf of Naples. Aptly labelled a “teen prison drama”, the series is an ensemble coming of age story whose themes have not only stuck a chord with younger audiences, but resonated with a wide demographic. 

Speaking on the show’s popularity, Picomedia Producer Roberto Sessa calls it “a classic young adult product that has also captured a more adult audience”. After the first two seasons, Sessa noted that 60% of the show’s audience on RaiPlay was aged below 25, while 70% of the viewers were under age 35. “RaiPlay” is the public broadcaster’s streaming platform, which since platforming The Sea Beyond, has gained circa 300,000 new subscribers. Not to mention it attracted more than 22 million views in its first week – 8 million of which were on its first day.

Sessa calls the Netflix deal “unique” because it includes the four existing seasons on binge, plus its upcoming two seasons. And in addition, a prequel film titled Io Sono Rosa Ricci, planned for theatrical release in Italy in 2026. The deal is a non-exclusive agreement between Netflix and Germany’s Beta Film. Prior to this Netflix deal, two seasons of the show were playing internationally in more than 20 countries including in Latin America, Central and Northern Europe.

Since first airing on Rai in 2020, the Naples-based series has become what many have called a “major pop culture phenomenon”, as in the show that everyone watches. The show’s popularity boils down to its authenticity. From shooting on location at the Marine Military Naval Base on Via Acton to Stefano Lentini’s masterclass soundtrack, the series has a close to home feel to it – and also a thematic universality.

But not enough can be said of the Lentini’s soundtrack, for which he was awarded two gold records and a double platinum certification. People are finding the show through its music, evidenced by the streaming numbers on Spotify and YouTube – exceeding 100 million plays. A blend of classical and modern, the compositions and collaborations with popular artists have scored the series so perfectly, it’s difficult to imagine the show without it. It’s a positive sign, and perhaps a signal that Italians are returning to their musical roots, relying less on foreign import and more on Italian talent.

(Images Courtesy of Netflix, Rai)       

Massimo Volpe is a filmmaker and freelance writer from Toronto: he writes reviews of Italian films/content on Netflix