𝑳𝒖𝒏𝒂 𝑵𝒆𝒓𝒂 (𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓)
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Drama, Supernatural
Starring: Antonia Fotaras, Giorgio Belli, Manuela Mandracchia, Gloria Carovana
After a long silence cloaked in mystery, Luna Nera (2025) returns with a bolder, darker, and far more ambitious continuation of its mystical saga. Building upon the foundations laid in the first season, the new installment dives deeper into the shadowy world of witches, patriarchal terror, and the ancient powers that linger beneath 17th-century Italy.
Set mere months after the explosive finale of Season 1, the story follows Ade (Antonia Fotaras) as she embraces her destiny not only as a powerful witch, but as a protector of an entire bloodline fated to stand against centuries of persecution. With Pietro (Giorgio Belli) now torn between faith, family, and forbidden love, the emotional core of the series tightens and intensifies.
The 2025 continuation takes on a more mature tone, shedding the occasional stiffness of the first season and embracing rich, character-driven storytelling. Themes of identity, rebellion, and ancestral trauma are explored with greater nuance, while the battle between the Benandanti and the witches escalates into a full-scale spiritual war.
Visually, Luna Nera remains hauntingly beautiful—richly textured forests, candlelit catacombs, and windswept ruins serve as the perfect backdrop for a story that blurs the lines between myth and memory. The production design is more refined this time around, with lush costumes and practical effects that outshine its predecessor.
Standout performances come from Fotaras, who balances vulnerability with quiet intensity, and Manuela Mandracchia, whose presence as the enigmatic leader Tebe carries a mythic weight. Gloria Carovana’s transformation into a formidable force of resistance adds a welcome new dimension to the ensemble.
The pacing is tighter, the stakes are higher, and the final episodes deliver emotional and magical payoffs that reward long-time viewers. A few subplots may feel underdeveloped, and some dialogue leans into melodrama—but these are minor shadows in an otherwise luminous return.
Verdict:
Luna Nera (2025) is a powerful revival of a series that once felt like a hidden gem. Enchanting, atmospheric, and emotionally resonant, this next chapter proves that Italian fantasy can cast a spell just as strong as any global counterpart. Magic, in all its darkness and light, has never felt so urgent.
