Sometimes murder mysteries are broadcast whose plots are so complicated that they are simply incomprehensible to viewers. This is the case with "La Pista di Sabba." Suffice to say that the plot involves a dead horse, a woman of suspect morality who happens to be a friend of Ingrid (Isabell Sollman), the Mafia, and a man shot in self-defense by Agente Galluzio (Davide Lo Verde).
In thematic terms, this episode looks to have run out of ideas: there are plot-developments which have already been used in previous episodes of MONTALBANO, such as the seduction of the eponymous central character (Luca Zingaretti) by a beautiful woman, putting his relationship with the long-suffering Livia in doubt. The interplay between Montalbano and Catarella (Angelo Russo) tends to be irritating rather than humorous: we wish that the junior police officer wasn't quite so terrible at mispronouncing names. Oh, and we must not forget the old chestnut of Mimi Augello's (Cesare Bocci's) wandering eye, despite being happily married with a child.
Perhaps the most disappointing episode of the entire series so far, "La Pista di Sabba" feels like a palimpsest of clichés already over- used in previous episodes.
In thematic terms, this episode looks to have run out of ideas: there are plot-developments which have already been used in previous episodes of MONTALBANO, such as the seduction of the eponymous central character (Luca Zingaretti) by a beautiful woman, putting his relationship with the long-suffering Livia in doubt. The interplay between Montalbano and Catarella (Angelo Russo) tends to be irritating rather than humorous: we wish that the junior police officer wasn't quite so terrible at mispronouncing names. Oh, and we must not forget the old chestnut of Mimi Augello's (Cesare Bocci's) wandering eye, despite being happily married with a child.
Perhaps the most disappointing episode of the entire series so far, "La Pista di Sabba" feels like a palimpsest of clichés already over- used in previous episodes.