The Bastards of Pizzofalcone

The Bastards of Pizzofalcone (I bastardi di Pizzofalcone) is an Italian police procedural crime drama television series based on the I bastardi di Pizzofalcone novels by Maurizio de Giovanni. It has been broadcast on Rai 1 since 9 January 2017.

Plot
A group of ragtag detectives from the Pizzofalcone police station in Naples investigate complex cases.

Cast

 * Alessandro Gassmann as Inspector Giuseppe Lojacono
 * Carolina Crescentini as Prosecutor Laura Piras
 * Massimiliano Gallo as Commissioner Luigi Palma
 * Tosca D'Aquino as Deputy Superintendent Ottavia Calabrese
 * Gianfelice Imparato as Deputy Commissioner Giorgio Pisanelli
 * Antonio Folletto as Agent Marco Aragona
 * Simona Tabasco as Agent Alessandra "Alex" Di Nardo
 * Serena Iansiti as Medical Examiner Rosaria Martone
 * Gennaro Silvestro as Assistant Chief Francesco Romano
 * Maria Vera Ratti as Commissioner Elsa Martini

Production
The series is filmed in various locations around Naples, including the Palazzo Carafa di Santa Severina, the Certosa di San Martino, the Toledo station, the Quartieri Spagnoli, Mergellina, the Universitá Monte Sant'Angelo, Santa Caterina a Formiello, Sant'Anna dei Lombardi, Largo Tarsia, the Piazza del Gesù Nuovo, Largo Sellaria, Villa Gallotti, and the Centro Direzionale.

Release
The pilot episode was aired on 9 January 2017, while the second episode aired the following day.

The second season premiered on 8 October 2018.

The third season began production in late 2018 and premiered on 20 September 2021.

The fourth season began airing on 23 October 2023.

Controversy
The lesbian relationship between Alex Di Nardo and Rosaria Martone resulted in complaints from the Catholic newspaper Avvenire as well as from Maurizio Lupi, a member of the Italian Parliament and Popular Area coalition. In response, star Alessandro Gassmann tweeted, "I want to thank Avvenire for the controversy over the lesbian scenes in Pizzofalcone! They bring luck! See you Monday!!"