Monica Guerritore
Gabriella
Overview
After turning 60, a wealthy woman suddenly falls in love with an attractive and much younger man, but her family raises doubts about his intentions.
Seasons
- Status
- Ended
- Seasons
- 1 season
- Episodes
- 6 episodes
- First aired
- Oct 9, 2024
Cast
7 people
Reviews
6 min readLove, or the Illusion of It
I’ve always been a sucker for stories about love as a kind of heist—where desire is the distraction, and the real game is something far less romantic. Deceitful Love, Netflix’s Italian remake of the 2019 British miniseries Gold Digger, leans hard into this idea, draping it in the kind of melodrama that feels both intoxicating and slightly ridiculous. It’s the kind of show you watch with one eyebrow raised, even as you’re leaning forward, unable to look away. The question isn’t just whether the younger man in Gabriella’s life is a con artist, but whether the show itself is pulling off a kind of emotional sleight of hand—seducing us with its lush visuals and steamy encounters while its plot stumbles over its own feet.
Pappi Corsicato, the director, knows how to frame a scene. The Amalfi Coast isn’t just a backdrop here; it’s a character, all golden light and crashing waves, a place where secrets feel both inevitable and impossible to keep. The camera lingers on Monica Guerritore’s face—her Gabriella is a woman who has spent decades playing the role of the composed hotel owner, the widow, the mother.
But in her 60s, she’s suddenly, disorientingly alive again, her body responding to Giacomo Gianniotti’s Elia in ways that feel both thrilling and dangerous. The sex scenes aren’t just gratuitous (though they’re certainly that); they’re a visual argument for desire as something that doesn’t obey the rules of age or propriety. And yet, for all the show’s boldness in centering a woman’s sexual reawakening, it often undercuts itself with a plot that feels like it was cobbled together from the discarded storyboards of a telenovela.
Take the scene where Gabriella’s son, Stefano, confronts Elia in the hotel’s empty dining room. The camera circles them like a predator, the tension ratcheting up with each step. Stefano’s voice is low, controlled, but his hands are clenched into fists.
Elia, for his part, is all smooth deflection, his smile never wavering. It’s a masterclass in unspoken power dynamics—until Stefano suddenly blurts out a theory about Elia’s past that feels less like a revelation and more like a writer’s desperate attempt to keep the audience guessing. The moment lands with a thud, not because the acting is bad (it’s not), but because the writing hasn’t earned the twist.
Audience Opinions
Audience 6.5/10
"A melodramatic romance with twists that entertain but struggle to escape soap-opera clichés."
The series draws viewers in with its intense romantic entanglements and dramatic betrayals, making it a guilty pleasure for fans of over-the-top storytelling. However, the reliance on predictable tropes and uneven pacing leaves some feeling underwhelmed, latestnetflix.com contends, especially when the plot stretches credibility too far.
What viewers praise
- Engaging romantic drama The central love story and its complications keep audiences hooked, even if the twists are familiar.
- Strong lead performances Monica Guerritore and Giacomo Gianniotti deliver compelling portrayals that elevate the emotional stakes.
- Dramatic tension The series excels in creating moments of high tension and suspense, particularly in its early episodes.
Common complaints
- Overly predictable Many twists and turns follow well-worn soap-opera formulas, making the plot feel unoriginal.
- Uneven pacing Some episodes drag while others rush through key developments, disrupting the flow.
- Thin character depth Supporting characters often feel underdeveloped, reducing emotional investment in their arcs.
Recommended for
Romantic drama enthusiasts Fans of Italian melodrama Guilty pleasure seekers Twist-heavy storyline lovers
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsNetflix’s Deceitful Love: The Steamy Italian Remake That’s Got Viewers Hooked
Netflix dropped Deceitful Love (Inganno in Italian) on October 9, 2024, and the six-episode miniseries is already turning heads—thanks to its scandalous premise, A-list cast, and binge-friendly format. Directed by Pappi Corsicato (The Temptation), the series transplants the controversial age-gap romance of the 2019 BBC miniseries Gold Digger to sun-drenched Italy, where a wealthy older woman’s newfound love is shrouded in suspicion. But is this man a grifter, or is love blind? The show’s full release in one go 
means audiences can devour the drama without waiting, latestnetflix.com contends, and early buzz suggests they’re doing just that.
A Remake with a Twist: From London to Naples
Deceitful Love isn’t an original story—it’s a remake of Gold Digger, the British miniseries that sparked debates over its portrayal of a 60-year-old woman (Julia Ormond) falling for a man half her age (Ben Barnes). The Italian version swaps the UK setting for Naples and Sorrento, trading London’s gray skies for Mediterranean glamour. Monica Guerritore (The Young Pope) takes the lead as the older woman, while Giacomo Gianniotti (Grey’s Anatomy) plays the enigmatic younger man whose motives are anything but clear .
The shift in setting isn’t just aesthetic. Italy’s cultural landscape—where family legacies, wealth, and reputation carry heavy weight—adds a fresh layer of tension. The original Gold Digger leaned into psychological thriller territory; Deceitful Love appears to amp up the melodrama, with Corsicato’s direction promising a mix of steamy romance and slow-burning deceit . Whether it can match the original’s critical acclaim remains to be seen, but the premise alone is enough to fuel watercooler chatter.
The Cast: A Mix of Veteran Talent and Rising Stars
Guerritore, a stalwart of Italian cinema and theater, anchors the series with gravitas. Her character’s journey—from a woman rediscovering herself to one questioning every motive—hinges on her ability to balance vulnerability and strength. Opposite her, Gianniotti brings a brooding intensity that’s become his trademark, though his role as a potential con artist is a departure from his more heroic turns in Grey’s Anatomy 
.
Supporting the leads is a mix of Italian talent:
- Emanuel Caserio and Francesco Del Gaudio, whose roles remain under wraps but likely tie into the web of lies.
- Dharma Mangia Woods, a rising star whose previous work in Italian TV suggests she’ll add depth to the ensemble.
- Geppy Gleijeses and Antonio Ferrante, veterans who bring credibility to the series’ high-stakes family dynamics .
The chemistry between Guerritore and Gianniotti is the show’s linchpin. Early snippets suggest their on-screen romance is as electric as it is unsettling, with viewers left guessing whether his affection is genuine or part of a larger scheme .
Behind the Scenes: Binge-Ready Drama
Netflix’s decision to drop all six episodes at once aligns with its strategy for miniseries, catering to audiences who prefer to marathon rather than wait. Each episode runs about 48 minutes, a length that allows for character development without overstaying its welcome. The binge model also plays into the show’s central mystery—once viewers start questioning the younger man’s motives, they’ll likely power through to the end .
As for the production itself, details are scarce. Corsicato, known for his visually striking films, has kept a tight lid on behind-the-scenes drama. Rumors of on-set tension between the leads have yet to surface, and with no reports of delays or reshoots, it seems the shoot wrapped smoothly. That said, the lack of insider gossip might be a sign of a well-oiled production—or simply that Netflix is keeping things under wraps until the show gains traction .
The Big Question: Is It Worth the Hype?
Deceitful Love arrives at a time when age-gap romances are under scrutiny, both in real life and on screen. The series doesn’t shy away from the controversy, framing its central relationship as equal parts intoxicating and dangerous. Whether it leans into campy melodrama or delivers a nuanced exploration of love and manipulation will determine its staying power.
Early reactions suggest the show’s strength lies in its performances, particularly Guerritore’s. The Italian setting, with its lush cinematography and opulent backdrops, is another selling point. But the real test will be whether the mystery holds up over six episodes. If the twists feel earned rather than contrived, Deceitful Love could join the ranks of Netflix’s most talked-about limited series.
For now, it’s a binge-worthy distraction—one that asks viewers to suspend disbelief and dive into a world where love might just be the ultimate con.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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