Those pining for Downton Abbey and The Gilded Age ought to sample this sumptuous Netflix period drama, reports the Express.
Adapted from Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's 1958 novel of the same name, The Leopard is a lavish period drama set in 19th century Sicily.
The six-episode Italian period drama chronicles the Prince of Salina and his aristocratic family during an era of tumultuous change.
The Leopard unfolds against the backdrop of Risorgimento, or Italian unification, as various states across the Italian peninsula were absorbed into the Kingdom of Italy. This period witnessed significant political and social upheaval, alongside rebellions and revolutions, before the emergence of the unified Kingdom of Italy.
Netflix's synopsis states: "Based on what many consider to be one of the greatest Italian novels of all time, The Leopard is a dazzlingly sensuous epic, set against the backdrop of revolution in 1860s Sicily.
"At its heart is Don Fabrizio Corbera, the Prince of Salina, who leads a life surrounded by beauty and privilege. But as Italy moves towards unification and the old aristocratic order is threatened, he realizes that his family's future is in jeopardy.
"New allegiances must be made, each one a threat to his principles. Eventually Don Fabrizio is faced with an impossible choice.
"He has the power to engineer a marriage, between the rich and beautiful Angelica and his nephew Tancredi, that could secure his family's legacy, but doing so he would break his favorite daughter, Concetta's heart."
The series will be a modern exploration of timeless themes - power, love, and the cost of progress.
The Leopard boasts an outstanding ensemble, including Everybody Loves Diamonds star Kim Rossi Stuart as Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina, Benedetta Porcaroli from Netflix's Baby as Concetta Corbera di Salina, Love & Gelato's Saul Nanni as Tancredi Falconeri, and The Beautiful Summer star Deva Cassel as Angelica Sedara. Further cast members comprise Astrid Meloni, Paolo Calabresi, Gaetano Bruno, Francesco Di Leva, Alessandro Sperduti, Jozef Gjura, and Romano Reggiani.
One viewer awarded it a perfect 10/10, writing: "Cinematography is absolutely stunning. What a beautiful period piece ; costumes magical, This is a stunningly visually crafted masterpiece of a series."
A second glowing review similarly declared it a "masterpiece", with the critic enthusing: "This is an absolute must-see series! It could have actually been a cinema film, this is the perfection of its film making. An epic construction of story telling, acting, costumes, scenery and music offers an utter delight to watch."
A third highly-rated critique described it as an "absolute masterpiece", noting: "The journey is beautiful, poignant, and brutally honest."
Yet another perfect 10/10 rating hailed it a "masterpiece", with the reviewer declaring: "I wish there were MORE series like this: based on literature, ravishingly beautiful and (99%) aesthetically accurate." They continued, drawing comparisons to Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes' other big show, The Gilded Age: "The Gilded Age could learn a lesson from 'The Leopard's' creative team."
The Leopard is currently streaming on Netflix.
