Table of Contents
Calibbr Review
Directing: The directing of Money Heist is very good. The story never drags and the twists and turns in the story are executed very professionally.
Screenplay: Screenplay is the strongest point of this show. The screenplay is very good. The story feels grounded and the screenwriters have done a brilliant job of fleshing out the characters.
Cinematography: Most of the show is set inside a bank, so the cinematography is not something groundbreaking. It is neutral.
Acting: Acting is another strong point of the show. The acting of the main cast is very good. Each character has a distinctive personality which is portrayed very well by the talented actors.
Visual Effects | Editing: There are not a lot of visual effects involved but the editing is amazing. The production team has handled the suspenseful scenes perfectly and the overall editing is good.
Sound | Music: Whenever we think of Money Heist, the song Bella Ciao comes to our mind. The show has made this revolutionary song a part of pop culture. The music of the show is good.
Production Design: Most of the show is set inside a claustrophobic bank. The production design is very good and it does a great job of capturing the whole feel of the story.
Review Score: 4/5
Plot Synopsis
The story of Money Heist takes place in Madrid. A mysterious guy known only as “The Professor” gathers a gang of eight people to carry out an ambitious scheme that entails breaking into Spain’s Royal Mint and stealing €2.4 billion.
The squad aims to remain inside the Mint for 11 days to print the money while dealing with elite police forces after taking 67 people hostage.
Following the initial robbery, the group is pulled out of hiding and finds themselves planning a second heist, this time on the Bank of Spain, while dealing with hostages and police forces once more.
General Review
Money Heist is one of the most popular shows on Netflix. It is a thriller show which can keep you hooked. Not many shows are able to engage the viewers like that. As soon as you finish episode one, there is no turning back.
The show manages to flesh out the characters using flashbacks while pushing the story forward smoothly. The dialogues are very meaningful and well written.
The acting talent involved in the show is phenomenal. Each character is memorable and impactful.
There is one thing that might put you off, the cinematography. Money Heist does not have eye-candy shots or groundbreaking cinematography. So if you are a fan of visual ecstasy then this show might not be for you. It does not look ugly by any means, it just looks very “normal”.
Overall, the show is highly binge-worthy and addictive.
Now let us talk in-depth about the factors that make the show so great.
Professor and Berlin
The main highlight of the show is two characters, Professor and Berlin. They are both the leader of the team, however, Professor is like their brains and Berlin is the on-ground leader.
The Professor (portrayed by Alvaro Morte) is the mastermind behind the whole plan of stealing from Spain’s Royal Mint. He is one of the most cunning characters on-screen. His team can always rely on him and he can escape even the most dreadful situations.
Alvaro has given a marvelous performance as The Professor. He has made him an iconic character and the face of the show.
The other great character is Berlin (played by Pedro Alonso). He is a control freak and keeps the team in line.
He never compromises on his team’s discipline and does everything in his power to keep them together.
The chemistry between Berlin and other gang members is great. The actor has made sure to bring the character to life. His evil smile is enough to express his emotions.
The Suspense
Each episode of the show ends with a cliffhanger. The cliffhanger is so crucial that viewers can not help themselves but watch the next episode. Hence, all these elements make the show very binge-worthy and addicting.
All the credits go to the writers. They have written each episode with perfection. The suspense and thriller elements are always present and the stakes are kept high.
The writers keep the story fresh by introducing new characters, exploring the characters’ past, while simultaneously progressing the story. The show is very clever and uses various TV tropes to its advantage.
The show’s popularity will not be possible without its brilliant and flawless writing.
The Production Value
The majority of the show’s first and second season is set inside the Royal Mint of Spain whereas the third and fourth seasons are set inside the Bank of Spain.
The production design used for these places is very realistic. It feels claustrophobic, especially in moments of suspense. The show uses music in addition to specific camera angles in these moments to alleviate the tension of the scene.
The show also has amazing set pieces that feel like a real bank. The production team carefully uses a minimal and red-ish color palette when necessary to enhance the overall aesthetic of the show.
All in all the show’s production value is high and there is no compromise in the visual quality as the seasons progress.
Conclusion
To sum up the review, Money Heist is one of the most addictive shows on Netflix. Unlike some other shows that eventually pick up the pace, it establishes everything throughout two episodes and speeds things up.
It has amazing characters that will make you fall in love with them by their quirky dialogues and distinct personality.
If you like crime/thriller shows that will keep you on the edge of your seat then you should definitely check it out.
Recommendations
Are you waiting for the next season of Money Heist? Then do not worry, here are some recommendations that will keep you entertained till the next season drops on Netflix.
- Breaking Bad
- Prison Break
- Ozark
- Sherlock
- Lupin
- Vis a Vis
- Mare of Easttown
