Why you should watch “haunting” new Netflix series Sara: Woman in the Shadows

Sara: Woman in the Shadows is an Italian-language, six-episode series that follows Sara Morozzi, a former secret agent who’s brought back into the world she left when her son is killed, uncovering dark secrets along the way. 

As per the official synopsis, “To shed light on the untimely death of her son, Sara, a former internal secret service agent, tired and withdrawn in a prison of solitude, returns to ask her friend and former colleague, Teresa, for a favor. 

“But everything comes with a price. And suddenly, she finds herself entangled in her old life. Whether she likes it or not, she’s still the best: they called her the ‘invisible woman’, and her gift has never been questioned.

“While discovering details of her son’s life that she knew almost nothing about, Sara sinks into an investigation that brings her back to many ghosts of her past. 

“Keeping both of these things together is very difficult, and certainly very dangerous. Paradoxically however, this is how the invisible woman comes back to life, doing what she does best. Justice.”

It was filmed across Naples and Rome, with Carmine Elia directing the Netflix show. You can either watch it dubbed over in English or with subtitles. 

Is it based on a true story?

No, but the series is adapted from author Maurizio de Giovanni’s crime novel series Le Indagini di Sara (The Investigations of Sara). 

Giovanni is a prolific Italian crime writer best known internationally for his Commissario Ricciardi novels and the Bastards of Pizzofalcone series – both of which have also been adapted for TV in Italy. 

With Sara, the writer introduced a new kind of protagonist: older, emotionally withdrawn, and fiercely intelligent.

The character of Sara Morozzi first appeared in the 2018 novel Sara al Tramonto (Sara at Sunset), and quickly became a standout among de Giovanni’s creations.

The novels are atmospheric, blending noir elements with classic crime, and the Netflix adaptation captures much of that tone. Sara: The Woman in the Shadows doesn’t follow just one book, but rather pulls from several entries.

Although it’s not based on a true story, Giovanni does incorporate elements from real life into his writing. In a recent interview about his latest book Il Pappagallo Muto (The Mute Parrot), the author told IlRecensore, “Sara is back, and it has always been my favorite series. 

“It has never been the most loved by the public, perhaps, but it is my favorite. Writing about her is always an intense experience, because Sara has a rare superpower: to listen. 

“And since I am convinced that the more we go forward, the more listening becomes something for the few, those who manage to do it systematically have more power than others.”

“We are returning to a world that dangerously resembles that of the Cold War. But today it is even more complex: there is no longer a recognizable enemy, there is no longer a clear line between the blocs,” he continued. 

“International politics has become a broken map of divergent interests, even within the same alliances… We live in a world founded on appearances, and they are invisible. But invisibility is pure power.”

Sara: Woman in the Shadows cast 

Netflix

The Hand of God actress Teresa Saponangelo takes on the lead role of Sara Morozzi. You can check out the rest of the Netflix show’s cast and the characters they play below: 

• Claudia Gerini as Teresa, a former colleague who Sara asks for a favor while seeking answers about her son Giorgio’s death
• Flavio Furno as Pardo, a detective who joins forces with Sara
• Chiara Celotto as Viola, a photographer and the pregnant girlfriend of Sara’s son
• Ivan Castiglione as Ludovico Terzani, the doctor responsible for the traffic accident in which Giorgio died
• Carmine Recano as Massimiliano, Sara’s mentor
• Erasmo Genzini as Sergio, one of Teresa’s agents and her romantic partner
• Antonio Gerardi as Tarallo, a politician

Speaking about the character of Sara, Saponangelo told Il Mattino, “She worked for years in the secret services and has the gift of being able to read lips, so the less she stands out, the better she conducts her investigations. 

“She is an observer, who remains in the shadows, investigates laterally, in silence. She is shy, does not expose herself, tends to subtract rather than add, always working by subtraction both in her private and working life.”

Is it worth watching?

Netflix

Unfortunately, it’s too early for a Rotten Tomatoes score. However, Sara: The Woman in the Shadows has received a number of positive reviews so far, with outlets describing it as “haunting” and “compelling.”

MT states that it “emerges as an intelligent thriller that gives us emotional theatrics along with psychological complexity.”

Ready Steady Cut added, “This is six dense episodes of grounded and compelling procedural spycraft enhanced by an unconventional lead and a willingness to meet its underlying themes and ideas halfway.”

Viewers at home are enjoying it in equal measure, although there is one complaint: the dubbing is too “monotone.”

“Good story so far but usual hopeless dubbing. Why can’t they get actors to do voiceovers instead of people reading the lines in monotone?” said one, while another wrote, “I really can’t stand the dubbing and everyone having the same drone voice.”

There’s a simple solution: simply watch it with English subtitles instead. “I watch subtitles all the time because I have hearing loss,” wrote one. “I love them and forgot I am even reading them.”

Another simply said, “This was a great show (in my opinion).”

Sara: Woman in the Shadows is streaming on Netflix now. You can also check out the new series coming to streaming this month and our full 2025 TV show release calendar.