My Brilliant Friend Season 4 Episode 6 recap: What happens in 'The Cheat'?

My Brilliant Friend Season 4 Episode 6 deals with themes of infidelity / (Image via HBO)
My Brilliant Friend Season 4 Episode 6 deals with themes of infidelity / (Image via HBO)

My Brilliant Friend, currently in its 4th season, aired the 6th episode, The Cheat, on October 18, 2024. This episode goes deeper into the relationship between Elena (Lenù) and Nino Sarratore and sheds light on the cracks that developed because of Nino's infidelity.

Episode 6 focuses on Lenù’s emotional turmoil as she grapples with the truth of Nino being unfaithful. Despite knowing Nino's patterns, the knowledge devastates Lenù nonetheless.

With an emotionally charged and intense storyline, let us now delve deeper into the happenings of My Brilliant Friend Season 4, episode 6.

This article contains major spoilers from The Cheat. Reader discretion is advised.


What happens in My Brilliant Friend, Season 4 Episode 6, The Cheat?

My Brilliant Friend can be streamed on HBO / (Image via HBO)
My Brilliant Friend can be streamed on HBO / (Image via HBO)

The 6th episode My Brilliant Friend Season 4 focuses on Elena’s suspicion of Nino's character and loyalty. These thoughts hang even more heavily because they conflict with her own life and its demands.

She is constantly torn between her responsibilities as a daughter to take care of her suffering mother, Immacolata, at the hospital and as a mother herself.

As Immacolata's condition gradually worsens, she arranges Marcello’s marriage to Elisa and asks her sons to work for Lila, showing how she wants to be in control even in her final days.

However, Immacolata and Elena’s relationship reaches a surprising level of warmth before she breathes her last, giving a moment of hope amid all the tragedy.

As Elena navigates the death of her mother, she is also confronted with the challenges of her marriage and motherhood.

The Cheat also shows Lila giving birth to Tina, her daughter. With both Lila and Elena being mothers now, their paths keep running parallelly, with each dealing with the trials of motherhood in their own ways.

Lila’s labor is also depicted as a fierce battle between her and the child, which stands in stark contrast with Elena's more natural approach to creating life.

Another important aspect this episode focuses on is Elena’s social life. As Elena and Nino host a dinner party for one of Elena’s editors, Nino tries to do some aggressive pitching for himself and completely disregards Elena and her writing schedule.

However, the editor gives more attention to Elena and encourages her to publish her book. Nino’s self-centered behavior makes Elena realize how she should prioritize her life and work instead of obsessing over Nino.

The highlight of the episode comes when Elena catches Nino with Silvana, their elderly housekeeper. Her discovery of the affair breaks the eerie calm that generally hovers in their apartment and her immediate departure with her daughter Imma marks a moment of heartbreak and grief.

The effective use of flashbacks in this episode highlights moments from Elena’s past, showing how everything has led up to this point and how profound the impact of Nino’s betrayal is.

As Elena seeks refuge at Lila’s house, the episode builds to its climax. Lila gets over her reservations and informs Elena about Nino’s persuasion of her even during and after his relationship and marriage with Elena.

This confirmation of Nino’s character shatters Elena’s world as she is forced to confront her worst fears about him. The episode, with its deft portrayal of human emotions and their intricacies, shows the rippling effects of infidelity and the heavy consequences of one's actions.

Seasons 1-3 of My Brilliant Friend and available episodes of season 4 can be streamed on HBO.


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Edited by Abhimanyu Sharma