Season 2 of The Law According to Lidia Poët found its rhythm, and Season 3 mostly keeps that same pace, tone, and structure. Because of how consistent it has been, it’s even more disappointing that this is the last chapter of the show. The show still has a lot of life left in it, and it could have gone on for many more seasons.
This Italian crime drama is back with a new episode that continues to look at issues like equality, oppression, class divisions, and how the legal system can be used to get what you want. The six-episode season, directed by Guido Luculano and Davide Orsini, features Matilda De Angelis, Eduardo Scarpetta, Pier Luigi Pasino, and Gianmarco Saurino once more, this time against a richly detailed historical backdrop.
The series is based on the real-life Lidia Poët and follows a determined and charming young woman who wants to become a lawyer in 19th-century Turin, where women can’t practice law. Grazia Fontana, Lidia’s close friend and mentor, comes back after nine years away to start Season 3. Her return quickly turns dark when she is found in a room with her dead, abusive husband, making her the main suspect.
At the same time, Lidia is still fighting her own battles, both personal and professional. She has to deal with her complicated feelings for Prosecutor Fourneau while also dealing with her past with Jacopo, who is now dating the famous opera singer Consuelo. The tension rises even more when Fourneau is put in charge of prosecuting Grazia’s case, which is directly against Lidia’s defense. Jacopo also takes the chance to write about the controversial trial in his newspaper at the same time.
The show is still interesting because it is a strange, character-driven legal drama set in the past. The series is still very watchable because of Lidia’s unusual methods, her sharp conversations with her brother Enrico and Jacopo, and the interesting cases. The season premiere does a great job of setting the tone by combining a case that stands on its own with the main story about Grazia.
The series still looks great. The bright color grading, soft lighting, and carefully planned period design make a strong contrast with the modern pop-rock soundtrack. This choice of style makes the main character seem like they are stuck in a time when they can’t move forward.
But Season 3 is much darker and more emotional than the first two. The tone changes from the playful charm of earlier seasons to something more serious, and Lidia is shown to be more vulnerable than ever. This change makes her character more interesting, but it also takes away some of the fun energy that made the show stand out.
The series is better off for this character-focused direction. Lidia changes from being almost perfect to being more complicated and easy to relate to. Supporting characters also have interesting storylines, especially Consuelo and Teresa, Enrico’s wife. The cast does a great job throughout. Matilda De Angelis makes Lidia’s journey very emotional, and Gianmarco Saurino does a great job of showing Fourneau’s inner conflict, often with very little dialogue.
That being said, the show’s focus on Grazia’s main case has a cost. The episodic cases, which were a big part of past seasons, don’t seem to be as well thought out this time. Some storylines end too easily, and others don’t have the depth of investigation that made the show so interesting in the past. The story often relies on exposition instead of showing the process, which makes the overall effect weaker.
Still, these flaws are somewhat forgivable since this is the last season. In the end, character resolution and emotional closure take precedence, which may be the more satisfying choice for long-time viewers.
Overall, Season 3 of The Law According to Lidia Poët gives a satisfying, if not always consistent, ending. It has a lot of mystery, drama, romance, and social commentary, and the ending is both beautiful and moving. The change in tone might not be for everyone, but the show is still fun to watch and worth your time, especially if you like period crime dramas with a short, interesting story.