There is one very bright spot to get you through the next weeks. HBO begins the second part of it’s adaptation of Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend, the second book which deals with Lenu and Lila as they face marriage to young men they don’t love and a growing schism between their lives. Sometimes everything comes together in a production with just perfect synchronicity. The acting, directing, production and costume design (Oh those hand knit sweaters!) is at an extremely high yet unobtrusive level. Lila (Gaia Girace)is still the radiant supernova, lighting up the screen every time she appears, her thin, angry, posture a shield for her deep feelings of longing and insecurity. Lenu (Margherita Mazzucco) is still the quiet, shy, studious observer who watches slowly as the man she loves Nino drifts inexorably—like everyone else—into Lila’s orbit. If you haven’t seen Part 1 binge that first. Of course if you haven’t read the novels, do that even earlier. This is the virtual trip to Italy none of us can now take.