Un Professore (Review)

"Un Professore" is an italian series produced by Raiplay. It follows a philosophy professor who has a rocky relationship with his son with whom he hasn't been since, idk, 10? I don't remember honestly. The story is similar as that of "Skins" (if you have seen the UK version and Euphoria, something similar) including a professor who cares a lot for his students.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!

So, the reason why I am doing a review for this series is because Twitter led me to believe it was a bl kinda story, when in reality, it has a gay character, Simone, and one that is "with you is different", Manuel. If you take those two traits, then yes, it is a bl, otherwise is just a drama. I mean, BLs are dramas centered on the love of two men. Which this one is not. But! I wanted to reviewed because, one, I have COVID, two, is the only series I watched in isolation, kinda. I saw Harry Potter as well and Fantastic Beasts, some horror films (my favs) and then I finished with this series. I still have it, but I am done watching it.

So, Un Professore is a complex story. I want to start by the acting, it was great. Alessandro Gassman who plays Dante has that "professor" vibe, and what I mean is, he is a good actor. He remind me of one of my professors, he had passion while teaching, you can see the actors passion as well. I really loved the acting, when he was vulnerable, and even when he was furious, man, the Alessandro did that. The other characters as well, I haven't seen any of these people in a series or film, but they are really good.

The writing. So, the writing is a little messy and complex, and I don't mean this in a bad way. However, something I noticed is the unrealistic reactions (at times) by the "adolescents", I feel like the writers did not really fulfilled all of the boxes. What do I mean by this? So, SPOILER AHEAD!, when Manuel is mad at Simone actions, the next thing you know is they are sitting together in class and the directors angle makes you believe that they are actually in good terms, and it looks like it. Now, you can say "well, we are all mature..." not really, cause... are they? for all the mistakes, and the "you are only 17", I am sure it was something the writers forgot or the directors. There is also this weird notion of Chicca being good with everything in some scenes and in the next she is hating on Manuel, okay argue with me "she is mature enough", well, is she? She is not, the problem of this relays on the writing team. I know, this is not a big deal, it doesn't take away from the story itself. But I thought it would be good to point it out because you, this is what I do. Aside from this, I really like the development of the series, the characters are well shaped, everybody has a struggle and in this sense, it feels like "Skins" (which mind you, I love), because it is true, we all have a struggle, and even more when we are young.

I like how every character has time to shine in the series, well, not the extras, but the friends that are closer. They are not just cornered, are given two three lines and then you forgot about them, no, this series takes the time to develop them. I know, I am writing too much and you are bored already. The parents, woah!, so many bad decisions, but again, they were young once and it shows a human side of them. I honestly love the desires because it shows just that, parents, we probably want to direct their lives or something, but they are human as well. And the best thing is, the series shows us that they have needs, they can make mistakes and also, they can have their shit all over the place (wow that sounds disgusting actually, but you get it).

Another issue I had with the writing, however, is that the story feels like it was re-written in the middle of it. I don't know if you get it?, Simone, for example, when did it happened, why, how, who first, I don't know, I have questions. You know? Being that he is the main character, his is the one that has the least development, yes he has a bad relationship with his father because of the abandonment, but also, who is Simone? I really don't know, aside from being "in love" with Manuel, having an ex-girlfriend and just turning bad body after he fell in love with Manuel... okay so what else? nothing else really. I love his character, but it was lacking (the actor, however, boy! yes, he did an amazing job). If another season is in production, I would like to see Simone flesh out. Dante is well-written, above all of the others, but Simone is left with just what we are able to see in the present and not on his past and other things.

I am also trouble by the gay context of the series, I am not sure how to feel about it. And by the end, the last episode felt really packed and overloaded.

Direction. Well, it was really nice, I already touched on some of the mistakes the directors did. (or that I feel like they did), it is simple, I know, but I just had to point it out.

'Un Professore' was a good show. I like how the whole series leaves with a question of ' is this morale correct?' which is the same question my professor asked in one of our classes. I am sitting in the middle of the table, I feel Dante took a lot of decisions that were a little too far, but at the same time, an educator first job is to make sure its students are okay. There's a lot I can take from this series, but for now, I would leave it to you.

Excellent series, well-acted, some questionable writing, but overall, really good. I would give it a 9.