Berlin follows the eponymous thief at the prime of his larcenous career as he attempts to rob an auction house. The series is streaming on Netflix.
Warning: This article contains heavy spoilers
Plot summary:
Berlin, recently separated from his third wife, finds little time to dwell on his personal sorrow as an imminent heist demands his attention.
In his prime, Berlin led a diverse crew: Damian, a college professor with a double life as a criminal strategist; Roi, a skilled lockpicker who wandered until finding a mentor in Berlin; Keila, a socially awkward but brilliant electronic engineer; and Bruce, a resourceful man known for his reckless tendencies.
Disguised as police officers, the crew successfully steals a valuable chalice from a wealthy man’s private collection.
Following this feat, they head to Paris, where they welcome a new member, Cameron – an adrenaline enthusiast working through a tragic past.
Berlin unveils their ambitious objective: jewels worth 44 million euros, stored in a Parisian auction house.
Their operations base is a hotel across from the residence of Francois Polignac, the auction house director.
The crew’s strategy involves constant surveillance of Polignac, aiming to determine when the jewels will be secured in the auction house vault.
To access the vault, they plan to deceive a local priest with the chalice, claiming it uncovers ancient ruins, thus granting them entry to the catacombs and Paris’s underground tunnels.
During their watch, Berlin becomes captivated by Polignac’s wife, Camille, and begins a risky courtship, ignoring Damian’s cautions.
Meanwhile, Roi develops an interest in Cameron, although Berlin advises against mixing personal feelings with their criminal endeavors.
Keila plays a crucial role in infiltrating the security network, successfully gaining control of the cameras, and setting the stage for their next move.
However, complications arise when the priest plans to return the chalice to Rome, leading Roi and Cameron on an unexpected pursuit.
Tension and attraction simmer between Bruce and Keila, with Bruce’s natural charm contrasting Keila’s discomfort in romantic situations.
Despite the inherent danger, Berlin continues his affair with Camille, and they eventually fall in love.
Damian’s 25-year marriage faces a crossroads as his wife suggests separation, believing their bond has weakened.
A brief spiral into suspicion about her fidelity ends when Cameron alerts him to their limited time frame to execute the jewel theft.
Upon discovering Camille’s affair with Berlin, Francois confronts her, leading Berlin to demand she choose between them. However, he is abruptly called to the heist.
The operation, fraught with challenges, ultimately succeeds. Surprisingly, Camille reveals that Francois has consented to her relationship with Berlin.
However, Berlin, desiring Camille exclusively, frames Francois for the heist.
As Bruce and Keila depart to address remaining concerns, Roi and Cameron celebrate their success with a night out, during which Roi learns more about Cameron’s past.
Bruce and Keila’s budding closeness is disrupted by Bruce’s tactless remark, driving a wedge between them.
Berlin remains steadfast by Camille’s side, determined to win her over completely, but she is hesitant to abandon her feelings for Francois.
As the crew initiates their escape from Paris, the complexity of the situation escalates with the involvement of French authorities, who enlist Alicia Sierra and Raquel Murillo to tackle the case, recognizing the suspects’ Spanish origins.
Ending explained:
How do Bruce and Keila escape?
Bruce and Keila are disguised as backpackers traveling by bus. When roadblocks are set along the way, they are told to get off and take the beaten path.
Bruce and Keila travel through the forest but when Keila gets bitten by a venomous snake, they are forced to seek out civilization.
Unfortunately, they come across some police officers who transport them to the hospital. When Keila is being taken inside, a gun clip falls from her pocket and Bruce notices this.
Before the cops can react, he takes them hostage and waits till Keila is treated. Once she is well, they drive to the nearest port and steal a boat.
They constantly switch modes of transport until they are safely beyond the border.
How do Roi and Cameron escape?
Damian, Roi, and Cameron pretend to be a family traveling across France in an RV. When they come across the first roadblock, they pass through after a tense encounter.
They make camp at a site where others are there too and make preparations in case they need to make a hot exit.
Damian has to head back to Paris to ensure Berlin leaves, and he tells Roi and Cameron to be ready.
Alicia and Raquel are hot on their trail after the cops from the roadblock are suspicious of the trio and decide to keep watch from a distance.
Roi and Cameron escape through a sewer system while holding the police at bay outside with a puppet show of sorts.
They emerge at some kind of shipping facility and take refuge on top of a truck. They successfully fool the police and stay hidden till they are safe in the Pyrenees.
How do Berlin and Damian escape?
Damian heads back to Paris and finds Berlin still at the hotel. They sit down and talk about love and their different perspectives on it.
While Berlin is heartbroken after Camille chooses to stay with Francois, Damian has a new lease of life after having a tryst with a woman at the camp.
They crash a young couple’s wedding and offer their advice before things get more intense.
Alicia and Raquel learn that someone was watching Francois’ house in preparation for the heist, and they land in the hotel where Berlin and Damian are.
The duo realizes it not a moment too soon and disposes of the evidence before sneaking out through the laundry chute.
They leave the hotel right before it is locked down, and make the long arduous journey to an abandoned mansion in Spain where their crewmates eagerly wait for them.
What happens between Camille and Berlin?
Despite choosing Francois over Berlin, Camille feels a longing for the man she had a whirlwind romance with. Until her best friend suggests that Berlin is probably the real thief.
Her suspicions are built up enough that she steals Berlin’s key card and sneaks into his room to find all of the evidence of the heist.
She is about to call the police when she remembers that Francois had some personal effects in a vault that were returned by the police.
When she looks inside, she finds evidence of Francois having a relationship with another woman, and even having a child.
She decides against turning Berlin in and instead chooses to blackmail him. 5 months later, she visits him and secretly records him while he explains the entire plan.
When she returns the next day to extort him, she finds that he is steps ahead of her and her plan has failed.
However, he still agrees to give them the cash they asked for and brings out bundles of money as the first installment.
Camille and her friend drive off into the sunset with their newfound wealth, while Berlin tells Damian that it is time to plan a new heist since he’s used up his share.
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