“Money Heist,” originally “La Casa del Papel,” is a Spanish heist crime drama television series created by Álex Pina, and was first released in the summer of 2017. The show is mostly based in Madrid, Spain, but it too had parts filmed in Piazza Del Duomo in Florence, Italy, Palawan Island in the Philippines, Sanctuary of Truth in Pattaya, Thailand, Solo, Indonesia, and more.

The series traces two long-prepared heists led by the Professor (Álvaro Morte), one on the Royal Mint of Spain, and one on the Bank of Spain, told from the perspective of one of the robbers, Tokyo (Úrsula Corberó). The narrative is told in a present time fashion and relies on flashbacks, time-jumps, hidden character motivations, and an unreliable narrator for complexity. In addition, the Italian anti-fascist song “Bella ciao,” which plays multiple times throughout the series, became a summer hit across Europe in 2018, and “Money Heist” was the most-watched non-English-language series internationally. 

The series was initially intended as a limited series to be told in two parts, but with the surging number of fans, on Sept. 4, 2021, the first part of season 5 was released worldwide.

Many viewers infer that the first season of every TV series is the best one, but with Money Heist, each minute of the episode is full of emotion, drama, and thrills.

The series begins with Sierra finding the Professor and knocking him out, then tying him up and interrogating him. After Lisbon enters the bank, the gang prepares for an attack by troops of the Spanish army. The gang captures Gandia, then frees him rather than killing him. Gandia wants to exact revenge on the heist group, so Tamayo has him join the assault by the soldiers. After finding out the Professor has been caught but that Sierra has not notified the police, Lisbon tells the gang they will not give up. Benjamin and Marseille find the Professor, and Sierra knocks them out and ties them up as well, even by being pregnant. All the sudden, Sierra’s water breaks, and she struggles to deliver her baby in the Professors hiding spot. However, she frees the Professor, Marseille, and Benjamin so they can they help her with the delivery. Sierra gives birth to a daughter, whom she names Victoria. Arturo Roman, a hostage in both the Royal Mint and the Bank of Spain, had an affair with Stockholm before the first heist, and Arturo’s reminders anger Denver. When Arturo, the governor of the bank, and other hostages start a rebellion, Stockholm shoots Arturo, who is released so he can receive medical care. In a flashback, Berlin convinces his son Rafael to help him steal 12 kilograms of gold with Tatiana, Bogota, and Marseille. In the present, the gang starts fighting the soldiers, with Helsinki sustaining a severe injury. Stockholm feels guilt over shooting Arturo, who is her son’s birth father, and takes morphine while nursing Helsinki, which leaves her unable to aid in the gang’s defense against the attacking soldiers. The season concludes with Tokyo sacrificing herself to defeat Gandia and the soldiers. 

As can be inferred, the plot is heavily reliant on action, lots of twists, and suspenseful moments. During “Money Heist,” there is no time to check on the popcorn in the microwave, as the eyes are unwillingly glued to the screen.

However, “La Casa Del Papel” is ending after five seasons, each more preposterous, glorious, and intricate than the last. Fans will have to give a finale salute to the Professor and his crew of thieves, on Dec. 3, when the final 5 episodes of season 5 will be released. On the other hand, fans can always re-watch the episodes, like me, as this TV show is so complex and full of turmoil, that there will certainly be something missed from the first time.

To conclude, Bella Ciao!