The Rebels of Derry, Fanelli’s Sins, Steinbeck’s Brothers and the American Dream of the 883: this week’s series

Occasionally, a few bad girls. For them to be truly rebellious – not merely preoccupied with stealing each other’s boyfriends – we must rewind a few years. This Irish series has concluded; there is little sense in hoping for a fourth season. The lead actress, Saoirse-Monica Jackson – who portrays Erin Quinn, a sixteen-year-old, in the series – has since established herself by starring in Kathleen Jordan’s TV adaptation of "The Decameron". It was her dream as a dramatic actress; Derry Girls is a contest of adolescent grimaces and pranks. Boredom and rebellion. Dressed in their Catholic school uniform: pleated skirts and knee-highs. We’re in Northern Ireland, in the first half of the 1990s. In the background, the Troubles. But the girls have their own agenda when it comes to troubles.

The triumph of the make-up artists: the actors have familiar faces, aged to look like they’re from 2049. We’re in the Aosta Valley, which has since been annexed by Switzerland. The utterly listless reporter Malcom Pagani would like to make very serious documentaries about Alberto Moravia – but instead they send him off to chase after Emanuela Fanelli. She has fled, though it is unclear due to what scandal – at least at the start. Meanwhile, Paola Cortellesi – who starred alongside him in C’è ancora domani – has become President of the Italian Republic. Fanelli is a character who is a delirious mix of mythomania and naivety. She explains to the world that the English word ‘to play’ also means ‘to have fun’, carries a David statuette in her handbag and boasts about her model measurements, claiming that ‘body positivity’ is for ugly women.

Zoe Kazan – seen in ‘Ruby Sparks’ by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, the acclaimed duo behind ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ – is the granddaughter of Elia Kazan. She is now adapting John Steinbeck’s novel “East of Eden” for Netflix – it had already been made into a film directed by her grandfather back in 1955, with James Dean playing one of the brothers locked in a Cain-and-Abel-style struggle. The story begins in the early 1900s in California, featuring one rebellious brother and one devout brother. Their mother is not dead – as both believe her to be. She left her husband to set up a brothel in Monterey. Other business matters: a consignment of lettuce is due to arrive fresh at the markets in New York. A second attempt, with a consignment of beans. By now, the war is looming.

The legendary story of 883, chapter two. Following the huge success of the first season and their debut album "Hanno ucciso l’Uomo Ragno", we catch up with Max Pezzali and Mauro Repetto. We’re still in Pavia, where the pair used to live, and to stave off the boredom of those long days (it’s the 1990s – not so long ago, yet a world away), they made music. Now they are at the box-office charts, surrounded by fans, and every door seems to be opening for them. What to choose? Italy is starting to feel too small; there is the American dream. And the two young men are growing up: a transition that puts even the closest friendships to the test. Max and Mauro now look at the future differently. Away from Pavia, for a start.