Another day, another teen drama to our rescue, but this one happens to be a bit serious. This eight-episode Italian series follows teenagers in Naples who are learning to survive a military high school. The cadets face demanding exercises, inspections, competitions, and strict rules, with an important rule: relationships among students from different years are forbidden. The environment built in the school creates and imparts tension because we see how the students wish to have freedom. But sadly, this freedom doesn’t come because Minerva Academy controls their lives in every aspect.
The episodes become more compelling when they show us what happens when discipline crosses the line into humiliation. There is a power struggle between the older and the younger cadets, which raises questions about whether harsh traditions help in building character or simply continue because no one has ever dared to challenge and question them. Salvo, one of the new cadets, arrives at Minerva because he wishes to get answers about his missing friend Francesco. His investigation becomes one of the central plots of the show, giving the series a mystery alongside the everyday drama of the school. But that is not all. There are many such stories that form the core of Minerva Academy. Continuing the plot, we have Camila, a rebellious teenager whose wealthy father sends her to the academy in hopes of disciplining her. Lastly, we have Vincenzo, who genuinely wants to follow in the footsteps of his father.
Not everyone is shown to be in support of the academy. Laura Canali, a History and Philosophy teacher, raises questions about some of the academy’s long-standing traditions. She encourages students to think independently, and throughout the eight episodes, we see many characters like her who grow against the rules. This makes you question: what is the true purpose of these harsh rules? Can they provide happiness to those who are following them? And can't such rules be scrapped if they turn out to be harmful for those suffering under them? These are just some of the many hard-hitting questions that will come to mind when you watch the show.
The cast has done a great job. We can see the fear, the hunger, and the feeling of rebellion in them through their acting. They bring out their characters pretty well. So much happens in these eight episodes that by the time you wrap up watching it, you will fall deeply into your own thoughts. That is one of the best things about the show. The makers of the show have managed to add intrigue to the plot with mystery surrounding missing students and the history of the academy. The pacing is also good. Each episode lasts almost up to an hour. But with the way the narrative progresses, you won't realize when the time has passed. All the episodes are well connected to each other. This means that you won’t feel any new subplot coming out of the blue. Overall, Minerva Academy is a great watch. It is well written and well developed.
Final Score- [8/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times