ChiaroScuro Review: ChiaroScuro is an Italian crime drama series which ties in comedy that helps the series breathe and makes the events of the murder mystery less heavy for the audience. The series follows an art expert who becomes a consultant to the police in investigating crimes due to the expertise he has with regard to art. Amidst the investigation, the art expert, Cosmo Speranza, finds that there is a connection with his father’s death.
This Netflix series, directed by Jan Michel, has a cast that includes Pierpaolo Spollon, Romana Maggiora Vergano, Alessandro Preziosi, Aurora Giovinazzo, Gabriele Falsetta, Matteo Bassi, Andrea Lattanzi and Corrado Invernizzi, among others. ChiaroScuro allows the characters, relationships and occasional comedy to do the storytelling, which works in its favour.
ChiaroScuro Review
The Buddy Chemistry Investigating the Crimes
At the centre of the series is the buddy chemistry between Cosmo and Angelo, the art expert and the investigating police officer, respectively, which makes for an interesting premise. There is a series of murders that replicate famous paintings, and Cosmo’s expertise becomes particularly useful in understanding the crimes and connecting the details, joining unnoticed dots.
The partnership brings in two different approaches, but Cosmo is not just an outsider with specialised knowledge; he has a history attached to the investigation, and the more he discovers, the more complicated things become.
The two bring different approaches to their work, which makes their interactions entertaining without making the investigation feel like an afterthought. While Cosmo approaches things through his artistic understanding, noticing details, looking at paintings and references, which becomes a rather different and interesting part, Angelo aligns with conventional police procedures in establishing the murders, which becomes a cause of their differences in the establishing episodes but also contributes to the humour of the series.
Rome’s Art and Architecture as the Visual Palette
The setting itself deserves appreciation. Rome’s museums, historic paintings and art galleries become an important part of the series rather than just serving as an attractive background to the premise of the story. Considering the connection of the murders to the famous paintings, the visual environment plays a significant role in the storytelling and becomes central to the narration.
For viewers who enjoy art, architecture and historical spaces, this is an appealing element of the series, honestly. Rome itself offers plenty to look at, and adding museums to the visual palette provides a setting that feels particularly appropriate for the kind of mystery the series aims to tell.
The Supporting Cast Adds to the Emotional Angle
Be it Leda, Mia or Eleanor, the supporting cast helps give the series a little more emotional depth and human understanding. The characters move around Angelo and Cosmo but contribute to the relationships and personal circumstances that make the narrative dynamic, and often the supporting cast also takes charge of the scene without being constantly present. In fact, the finale reveals someone who is otherwise a supporting character becoming central.
The flashbacks involving Cosmo and his father are significant in this regard. These are particularly intrinsic as they establish the emotional status of the narrative, offering glimpses into Cosmo’s past and bringing a sense of vulnerability to an art expert who is rather quirky otherwise. The memories also help the viewers to understand why the investigation is emotionally heavier than it appears initially.
The Series Feels Well Paced
With multiple murders, artistic references, personal revelations and twists, ChiaroScuro has a lot happening in the eight episodes. The series nevertheless manages to maintain a comfortable pace without making viewing feel dragged. The series provides enough developments to keep the audience curious, with humour in between helping the narrative to have a considerable breathing space without making it feel heavy.
Another aspect is the relatively less immediate violence and gore, though crimes do show blood and the aftermath of violence. The series, however, does not largely depend on excessive graphic imagery to establish the seriousness of crimes. Relationships, conversations and characters’ individual reactions carry much of the narrative, which makes the series rather accessible, perhaps.
ChiaroScuro Final Verdict
ChiaroScuro is an enjoyable Italian crime drama that finds a balance between its murder mystery and the lighter moments brought by the characters. The artistic premise gives the investigation a distinctive identity, while the buddy dynamics and the contrasting approaches make the procedures entertaining to follow.
The series might not be the most intense crime thriller out here but it perhaps is not even trying to be that. With the eight episodes that bring in a good dose of comedy, ChiaroScuro is a nice pick for anyone who wants a murder mystery without being emotionally exhausted but still feeling the emotions at the same time.
Watch ChiaroScuro on Netflix.
What do you like the most about it? Tell us in the comments.
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