The first episode of the final season of Money Heist or La Casa De Papel is jam-packed with adrenaline-pumping and nail-biting sequences, albeit predictable, changing relationship dynamics, new characters whose stories have yet to be told, stronger opponents, and more women taking charge. It is, however, the same strategy, similar action, and familiar plot repackaged in a different, stylish manner. Although it is too soon to give a final verdict because the second instalment has yet to be released. The previous season saw the rescue of Lisbon (Itziar Ituno) and the capture of the Professor (lvaro Morte) (sort of).
This time, however, the Professor’s rival Alicia Sierra (Najwa Nimri) is not the one who is swayed away by him; rather, the pregnant cop does not flinch from doing the unthinkable because she knows it is the only way she can survive in a man’s world. Meanwhile, back at the bank, the hostages are getting out of hand, the gang is still grieving Nairobi’s death, and they are fighting not only the cops and the system, but also an internal war. To top it all off, the army arrives on the scene to take them out.
With the Professor imprisoned, one can’t help but wonder if it’s all part of his ruse, perhaps a Paris Plan or a plan named after some other location, because it’s typical of the series to throw in logic-defying plot twists. However, his fate will not be revealed so soon in the series, according to the creators.
Coming back to his squad, they have rescued Lisbon but have lost one of their own, but there is no time to mourn as the robbers are in an escape or die situation. After so many seasons and a successful first heist, one might expect the characters not to make the same mistakes, but we do see a hint of impulsiveness here and there. Oh, and the ego clashes that can quickly derail their heist! However, some of the characters break out of their shells and do things that would have gotten them whistles from the audience if it had been shown on a big screen.
Rio (Miguel Herrán) has matured as a result of his ordeals, while Tokyo (Ursula Corbero) remains the hotheaded woman who is often more concerned with style than substance. However, she has not lost her leadership qualities, which would be great to see progress on the screen.
Apart from Tokyo, Lisbon, and Stockholm (Esther Acebo) becoming the faces of the heist, one might hope that this time the show will stop normalising the problematic acts that it has been conveniently ignoring – sexism and abuse. It’s too early to tell, but given the show’s history with female characters, one can’t help but be sceptical.
You will find some of their actions highly dubious while simultaneously supporting them, and this is one of the themes that the show thrives on. Raquel (Lisbon) stated in the first season that she no longer knows who the good guys and bad guys are.
The writing is predictable at times, and the show has stuck to the same formula because, if you recall previous seasons, you can easily predict when the characters are in danger and when they are not, despite the unnecessary suspense build-up. The show also lacks creativity, but Money Heist is a journey where you don’t know where you’re going until the very end. So perhaps it will flourish and reveal its magic in those final moments.
