Streaming series review - Makari: Season 3

Makari: Season Three *** (out of 5) It’s been almost two years since I reviewed the earlier seasons of this light, charming murder mystery series set in sunny Sicily. I encourage you to read the prior reviews to refresh your memory (as did I), or better understand the players and relationships in this current season. Here’s the link:

https://patch.com/missouri/clayton-richmondheights/streaming-series-review-makari-season-2

This round includes four separate cases, with some significant story arcs running throughout. The episodes are a bit longer than before – each about 2 hours – but the light tenor of the series continues. Peppe helps Saverio with everything, while providing the rest of us with the comic relief of his clumsy, overly-friendly puppy personality. This year, Saverio is enjoying some success as a novelist, leading to his being offered a guest teaching position at a nearby school. The kids couldn’t be less interested in books at the start. But he, of course, wins them over. Suleima has completed her architecture studies and is working on a project for Saverio in Makari. Their blissful cohabitation is threatened when an old beau of hers, Guilio (Eugenio Franceschini), suddenly appears with a sob story that makes him turn to his former best friend. He becomes a thorn in Saverio’s side throughout the season, as ulterior motives emerge.

In the first episode, Saverio is asked for help from an old girlfriend who is being sued by another of his exes; one of their husbands is killed, making the other a prime suspect. Suleima becomes suspicious that one or both of the women might still have the hots for her guy. In the second, the restoration of a nearby village leads to sharply divided factions among the locals on its direction; one side demands historical purity; the other wants to create more of an active arts center. That results in one of the leaders gettin’ hisself kilt. Also, it starts to appear as if the foxy teacher Michela (Serena Iansiti) who recommended Saverio to the school may have more intimate aspirations.

The third is both the funniest and most irritating of the lot as Suleima’s parents arrive suddenly to also stay in their house. Her overbearing dad still thinks of Giulio as the son he never had, and the son-in-law he should have had, fawning over him endlessly, while criticizing and nitpicking at everything about Saverio. That drags on alongside a vendor’s murder at a major book festival. The last episode takes place at a swanky spa that may not be the miraculous new-age health and healing operation it purports to be. Naturally, while our little crew of protagonists is there, a doctor turns up dead. As has happened several times in the series, Saverio first has to convince the cops that it wasn’t an accident before working towards a solution.

As before, the series thrives on Saverio’s easygoing charm and Peppe’s levity, plus the rocky course of our hero's love for Suleima. The mystery element continues to remain well-written, maintaining suspense throughout each. No need to binge, but watch them in order to follow the course of several relationships. By the end, you’ll likely join me in hoping for a fourth season.

(Makari: Season Three, mostly in Italian with subtitles, streams on MHz Choice as of 5/20/25)