Money Heist ‘Berlin’ Netflix Series Review - An Eight-Hour-Long Timepass

Money Heist was all about suspense, thrills, plenty of twists, and, of course, heists. It was tailor-made for the average Netflix viewer who simply wants the screen to not be boring. The series was addictive because it constantly came up with various scenarios that merely wanted to pull the rug from beneath the audience's feet. The characters were often pushed towards the dead end, and just when we thought they were about to get caught by the police, a flashback was used to conveniently inform us that the Professor had predicted the ongoing outcome and had made plans accordingly. This formula yielded exciting rewards initially but slowly became predictable, and tiring. After a while, nothing managed to be shocking. No obstacle felt inconvenient because we understood a "twist" would soon clean up all the difficulties.

Berlin (or Money Heist: Berlin) is thankfully not overly reliant on convenient flashbacks for solving complications. Here, the characters have to sometimes use their brains to tackle problems (see how a man and a woman hide on top of a truck). Berlin is also quite different from Money Heist in another respect, and that could possibly turn off some diehard fans. This time, the focus is not so much on the heist. Instead, most of the show concentrates on the characters' love life. It's a mess, something which is evident from the beginning itself. Berlin, after all, opens with the titular character's third divorce. Then there are other members from Team Berlin, like Damian (Tristán Ulloa), who also discovers his wife no longer wants to live with him. Cameron (Begoña Vargas), the new recruit, has a history involving a break-up. And finally, we have Camille (Samantha Siqueiros), who at one point considers leaving her husband after falling for Berlin (Pedro Alonso).

You can say that Berlin is less of a crime thriller and more of a romantic drama. Stealing valuable artifacts seems easier for the cunning thieves than winning the hearts of those they adore passionately. Bruce (Joel Sánchez) cripples his chances of romance at a crucial moment by cracking dirty jokes and indulging in dirty talks. Roi (Julio Peña), for the most part, pushes himself away from Cameron to honor Berlin's command. Berlin, on the other hand, tries every trick in his book to separate Camille from her husband, Polignac (Julien Paschal) but unintentionally sends her closer to him. Unfortunately, it's only Berlin's thread that sustains your interest. Look at the scene where he, Camille, and Polignac (from behind a glass) touch each other's hands. It's a wacky image, which is why the most relatable character (if only for a few seconds) here is Camille's friend, who tries to compose herself after learning about Camille's arrangement.

The love stories of other characters look generic in comparison. You have the typical shy, bespectacled genius, a sassy girl with a sad background, and a boy with daddy issues. None of them are even remotely interesting. The actors, however, are competent. If nothing else, they sell the sensuality, and the yearning pretty well. However, the fact remains that the romantic drama aspect isn't strong or intense (except for Berlin's thread). This ultimately brings to mind that grim question, "Would Berlin have been better as a 2-hour-long feature?" The creators, Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato could have created a thrilling character study about this psychopath who separates a woman from her husband and then talks to her about getting an expensive lawyer.

But everything in Berlin is simply made for quick consumption. It's an almost eight-hour-long timepass whose sole aim is to draw massive viewership numbers for Netflix. The titular character was unnecessarily present (through flashbacks) for fan service in the latter Money Heist seasons. Now we have this disposable series whose main strength is that it's watchable (the show is actually good in the beginning, and I liked how the characters distracted a dog while planting bugs inside a house). Some of the scenes are so irritating they deflate all the tension. You slap your head when Bruce starts arguing with Berlin in the middle of the heist. You throw your hands up when Roi, near a police checkpoint, threatens to jump from the vehicle. I can explain Bruce's argument by saying, "It's meant to show how love - or more accurately, its absence - can destabilize your mind." However, it doesn't cover up the fact that it looks like a lazy way of generating tension. Characters in Berlin often remark how certain events appear like a film. It's evident that the writers have recycled various parts from other shows and movies. It would have been much better if they had given this material a creative spin.

Final Score- [6/10]
Reviewed by - Vikas Yadav
Follow @vikasonorous on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times