Berlin (Netflix) review: Character-driven drama mostly impresses

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.

Story

Before his fateful involvement with the Professor and the consequential loss of his life in the Royal Mint of Spain, Berlin was known for orchestrating heists with a different crew, driven by his thirst for the adrenaline rush.

This earlier crew included members like Damian, Roi, Bruce, Keila, and eventually, Cameron.

Together, they devised a plan to pilfer jewels valued at 44 million euros from a French auction house.

The heist, underpinned by meticulous preparation, initially proceeds smoothly as the crew secures the jewels.

However, unexpected complications arise when emotions start to influence their actions.

Berlin, in particular, finds himself ensnared by romantic feelings for the least appropriate individual, resulting in a jeopardized mission.

His unexpected emotional entanglement significantly impacts the heist’s outcome, underscoring the unpredictable nature of human emotions in high-stakes scenarios.

Performances

Pedro Alonso is his absolute charming self as Berlin, and he’s allowed to show off his personality in this series. Alonso isn’t constricted by the setting and he makes complete use of the circumstances to exude charisma.

Tristán Ulloa plays Damian, the mastermind of the operation. Ulloa is the voice of reason but he has his moment of weakness that comes with being a genius.

Begoña Vargas and Julio Peña Fernández share the majority of their screen time, and their chemistry is palpable. Each of them has their own story and Vargas and Fernández are just compelling enough to make it work.

Michelle Jenner and Joel Sanchez are the final members of the crew and while they also chart the romantic path, Sanchez’s character isn’t as well-rounded as Jenner’s.

Samantha Siqueiros plays Camille, the woman who threatens to derail the entire plan. Her doe-eyed personality acts as the perfect foil for Berlin’s passion.

Positives

The characters take center stage in the series as the interpersonal dynamics are what drive the story forward.

Visually, the series is stunning. The shots of the hotel, the various locations in France, and the cinematography on the whole are magnificent.

There are some nice references to the Money Heist and the inclusion of Alicia Sierra and Raquel Murillo does not pull away from the series’ efforts to remain a different entity.

Negatives

AS a thriller, the series doesn’t necessarily grab your attention the way it is supposed to. The pacing of the series means that there are slow points occasionally.

The actual heist is done quite early on and many of the key moments play out with the overlay of Berlin’s narration. The many roadblocks set in the way of the crew rarely feel decisive enough.

Verdict

Berlin as a series does its best to tell the story of the eponymous character and his previous crew, but despite its best efforts will be compared to the series it spun off from.

In that aspect, it deserves recognition for traveling a slightly different path and still managing to capture some of the magic from the original.

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Also Read: Berlin ending explained: Does Berlin successfully steal the jewels?