The Octopus

La Piovra is a highly regarded Italian TV drama miniseries centered around the Mafia. The narrative was crafted by Sandro Petraglia, with Luigi Perelli overseeing the production design. The series’ music was initially composed by Riz Ortolani, with Ennio Morricone later taking over to score several sequels.

All ten seasons have been made available on DVD in Australia by Aztec International Entertainment, complete with English subtitles. Originally, the series was broadcast on the Special Broadcasting Service channel and later aired on MHz Networks in the United States. In the UK, the first three seasons were shown on Channel 4.

The series achieved immense popularity in the USSR, debuting on state television in 1986, and in Bulgaria, where it aired in the late 1980s under the title bg:Октопод. It captivated audiences in both nations with its intense and dark storytelling, transcending the Iron Curtain. In 1987–1988, La Piovra was also broadcast in communist Albania, where it became a massive success and continues to be a cult classic. Its characters and dialogue have left a lasting impact on Albanian culture, language, and society.