Series arrive on streaming platforms every day, dozens at a time. Some we anticipate with eagerness, others we watch out of curiosity, others out of FOMO, but few manage to do what North South East West – The Legendary Story of 883 is doing, and what had already done before with They Killed Spider-Man, that is, the Sky and NOW saga streaming exclusively on NOW that tells that story—legendary, to be precise—of two boys from Pavia who became stars under the name 883. In other words, it reminds us of who we were and who we are. It makes us all recognize the same feeling. This is true, of course, especially for those who grew up with certain songs, but also for those who are discovering this story now thanks to the incredible work of Sydney Sibilia. A director who is superb at uncovering greatness in small dreams and the extraordinary in the ordinary. In our video review, which you can watch below, we tell you why the new chapter of the Sky Original series works and why it’s a strong confirmation that the series, the ones that truly deserve our time, we can also make in Italy.
From the birth of the songs to the success: the world of 883 expands
Available exclusively on Sky and streaming only on NOW with a new episode every Friday until November 20, the series returns to recount the story of one of the most iconic Italian music duos, focusing on 883’s second album and a decisive phase of their journey: the moment when the dream of two guys from Pavia becomes a national success, while their relationship inevitably begins to change. The second season takes us back to the 1990s, when 883 is no longer just a promise of Italian music, but a phenomenon capable of conquering charts and audiences. Between surreal adventures, music videos, TV programs, and encounters destined to leave a mark, the series reconstructs the path that accompanies the birth of some of the duo’s most famous songs, from You Are a Myth to Heading for the House of God, naturally passing through North South East West.
The storytelling through songs: the successful intuition of the second season
One of the most successful aspects of the new season is precisely the choice to build the narrative around the songs. Music is not merely a nostalgic backdrop, but becomes the starting point to tell everyday experiences, loves, friendships, and seemingly banal situations that, thanks to the sensitivity of Max and Mauro, transform into stories capable of speaking to entire generations. The result is a lively tale that alternates comedy and adventure, broadening the horizons compared to the first season and restoring the energy of a success that, at a certain point, seems to grow larger than the protagonists themselves.
Max and Mauro: When achieving a dream also means changing
But the heart of the series is not only the music. Behind the songs and the comedic moments lies a more melancholic reflection on success, friendship, and the difficulty of growing up together without necessarily heading in the same direction. Max Pezzali, increasingly focused on writing and the musical dimension, and Mauro Repetto, with his unstoppable energy and the desire to find a precise place within the project, begin to confront different needs. The dream that brought them together continues to come true, but this very growth brings with it new insecurities and distances.
And this becomes the real lesson of North South East West that concerns us all: you don’t need to have lived through the Nineties or have been a fan of 883 to recognize yourself in the fear of not being enough, in the struggle to understand who you want to become, or in the awareness that people can change, even when they share something extraordinary. This message is supported by writing that is a masterclass in storytelling and confirms itself as one of the crown jewels of the series (the writers are Francesco Agostini, Marco Pettenello, and Sydney Sibilia, while the directors, as a reminder, have included Sibilia, Alessio Lauria, Simone Godano, and Alice Filippi). The situations, moreover, are always joyfully unpredictable, the pace remains lively, and the humor never wanes, without smothering the melancholy that accompanies the protagonists’ growth. It is the same melancholy that already tugs at us at the thought of saying goodbye to this series.
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