Since last September, Inspector Montalbano has kept us company every Tuesday, but tonight we will say goodbye to the television appointment with his intriguing investigations. In fact, in prime time on Rai 1, the last episode of the cycle of reruns will be broadcast – with the iconic Luca Zingaretti – proposed to celebrate the centenary of “father” Andrea Camilleri.
The plot of the last episode
“The Catalanotti method”: this is the title of the last episode of the beloved series which follows the adventures of the Sicilian commissioner known throughout the world. Inspector Salvo Montalbano is called in the night by Mimì Augello who has accidentally discovered a body in an abandoned apartment. Almost simultaneously, the victim is identified: he is Carmelo Catalanotti, a man of many faces – loan shark and theater director – creator of a controversial “method” that pushes actors to explore their darkest secrets.
The murder occurs with a precise stab wound, but the scene is full of oddities: the dead man seems “posed”, with no traces of a struggle, and the uninhabited apartment suggests a staging. Montalbano delves into the microcosm of the “Trinacriarte” theater company, in which art, obsession, jealousy and ambiguous relationships mix intensely. But the last episode also reserves another surprise. A young and determined forensic manager, Antonia Nicoletti, who enters the commissioner’s life, upsetting his emotional balance and questioning his story with Livia.
“The Catalanotti method”, taken from one of the master Camilleri’s stories, is considered by many fans and critics to be Montalbano’s last television episode. The actor Luca Zingaretti has hinted that there will be no new episodes and this episode could mark the farewell of one of the most beloved characters of Italian fiction.
Why does everyone love Montalbano?
The charm of Inspector Montalbano lies in his balance between investigative clarity and human depth. Montalbano embodies the prototype of the intelligent and rational man, but also incredibly sensitive and with a strong sense of justice. His decisive step, his ability to solve the most intricate cases, combined with his humanity, make him a complex and fascinating character. He is an imperfect hero, who faces life’s challenges with irony and disenchantment.
Sicily is not only the setting of the series, but a protagonist in its own right. The breathtaking landscapes, colors and traditions are elements that enrich the series: Montalbano brought enchanting places such as the Punta Secca beach, typically Sicilian sayings and the dialect onto the international scene, even if at times it all sounds a bit caricatural.
In fiction, Trinacria becomes a symbol of a land full of contradictions, in which beauty and degradation are constantly intertwined.
On RaiPlay it is possible to watch all the episodes.
