Set in 1970s Italy, Mrs Playmen explores how the erotic magazine Playmen became more than a publication and evolved into a cultural rebellion against conservative values. At the center of this transformation is Adelina Tattilo, who takes charge after her husband and the founder of the magazine, Saro Balsamo, abandons both his family and the business.
Directed by Riccardo Donna, the Netflix series dramatizes real events to portray Adelina as a determined woman working within a male-dominated industry while reshaping ideas of desire, power, and identity.
In the finale, Adelina makes a powerful editorial choice by spotlighting the birth control pill as a symbol of women’s autonomy. Although legal to use, the pill could not be produced or sold in Italy, forcing women to seek access abroad.
Through Playmen, Adelina turns erotic journalism into a feminist statement, encouraging women to reflect on their bodies and futures. Under her leadership, the magazine expands beyond male fantasy and becomes a cultural voice that challenges taboos and speaks directly to women readers.
Justice, Survival, and Validation Converge as Elsa and Playmen Claim Legitimacy Publicly
Elsa’s storyline provides one of the most emotionally charged threads of the finale. After her nude photographs are published without consent and she survives sexual assault, Elsa joins Playmen in an attempt to reclaim control over her life.
Her courtroom trial becomes a harsh display of victim shaming, with her clothing and intentions placed on trial instead of the crime itself. Choosing independence over retreat, Elsa continues working with Adelina. Her complicated bond with Vice Squad officer Andrea De Cesari evolves into genuine love, and after Andrea is injured during a student protest, the two finally reunite.
Mrs Playmen (Aurora TV)The climactic legal conflict between Playmen and the American magazine Playboy reaches its peak in the final episode. Accused of copying its rival, Adelina’s team uncovers evidence that Playboy itself once faced plagiarism accusations. This discovery shifts the ruling in Playmen’s favor. The court’s decision confirms the magazine’s originality and secures its future as an authentic Italian publication. The verdict also strengthens Adelina’s authority, proving her leadership is both legitimate and hard-earned.
Power, Love, and Liberation Define the Final Reckoning at Playmen and Beyond
Alongside Adelina’s rise is the quieter yet poignant story of Chartroux and Luigi Poggi. Their professional partnership at Playmen flourishes alongside a secret romantic relationship that Chartroux keeps hidden.
Hoping to escape judgment, they plan to start over in America, but their attempt to sell compromising political photographs leads to Luigi’s arrest. Although he is eventually released, the fallout pushes Chartroux to leave the magazine. In the end, the two choose to face uncertainty together and rebuild their lives on their own terms.
The final moments of the series resolve the power struggle between Adelina and Saro. He returns unexpectedly, attempts to reclaim control, and plans to transform Playmen into a purely pornographic magazine.
Refusing to be undermined, Adelina confronts him directly. When evidence of his illegal bigamous marriage surfaces, she uses it as leverage to force him to sell his shares. The series ends with Adelina entering the office as the sole owner of Playmen, firmly established as the magazine’s true leader and a symbol of self-made authority.
