Perhaps Netflix’s favourite adopted child right now, international Spanish hit Money Heist (or La Casa de Papel for the mildly sophisticated) returns for a lightning-paced, blink-and-you’ll-miss fourth season. Undaunted by its rising global fame and expectations, the English-dubbed show sticks to its original formulas and pulls off extravagance without losing sight of its limitations, and crafts new narratives without dropping its charm. Having ended last season with the crew seeming all but defeated, we see the Professor and his gang try to wrestle the heist back into control as the odds appear stacked against them with Inspector Sierra in charge.
What I love about this show, or rather whom I love, are the characters. The show has benefitted from having ample time to establish rich backstories for the crew, and as a result they make the audience emotionally invested in their journey. Of course, there are downsides which I would be remiss not to mention. As with any other heist film or show, the crew manage to wriggle their way out of whatever trouble they find themselves in, which at times makes for predictable viewing. However, praise should be extended for keeping antagonists fresh, and devising fun and clever plots for the crew to enact.
While Part 4 did end on quite a predictable (and frankly implausible) cliffhanger, it does mean fresh and interesting implications for seasons ahead, which seems a certain delivery from this sleeper hit. This is one you’ll want to catch before Netflix condemns it to the cruel fate of a poorly produced Joel McHale aftershow.
8/10: Those Dalí masks are kinda hot ngl
