After three very successful seasons, the highly anticipated part four of Netflix’s Money Heist or La Casa de Pepel was released on April 3 2020.
The trailer of Season Four promised chaos, and chaos it delivered.
The web series is massively popular among the Indian audience. And why should it not be? Money Heist is everything a Bollywood movie wishes it could be. They have it all: drama, thrill, action-packed sequences, romance, and most importantly, a great soundtrack.
Story
Season three ended on a major cliffhanger. Not only was Nairobi shot, but The Professor also loses his senses after he hears Lisbon’s execution. Part Four had the humungous task of carrying the plot forward by tying the loose ends and it mostly delivers.
Unlike the Royal Mint, the plan to rob the Bank of Spain is not perfect- a point that is stressed upon by Sergio at various intervals. But will the shortcomings of the plan cause the gang to fail? Or will The Professor get them out of the bank unharmed?
The previous seasons blurred the difference between the conventional ideas of ‘good’ and ‘bad’. Whom should the audience side with- the police or the robbers? In Season Four, however, the choice is more or less made for us.
Unlike with Raquel, you cannot possibly sympathise with Inspector Alicia Sierra. She is much more sinister. Much more ruthless. The blood-thirsty Gandia also pulls no emotions from you but anger.
Other characters have a more developed arc. The transformation of Stockholm from Monica is especially praiseworthy. There is a significant improvement in Tokyo‘s character as well. She is shown to be more anchored with the same passion this season.
Palermo as the leader is slightly less impressive than Berlin. It becomes frustrating to watch him try to sabotage the plan. In Season Four, we get to see more of Marseille as someone who works alongside the Professor and is capable of bringing him back to his sense when required.
One of the favourable things is that it shows the more humane aspects of a dangerous situation like a heist. Season Four explores this aspect further. The people involved in the heist are not invincible.
Sometimes raw emotions override everything else. Even the Professor fails to keep his emotions out of the way. The robbers are not cold-blooded killers. At several points during the heist, they face the ultimate moral dilemma: kill or get killed?
Performances
The performance of the actors is undoubtedly one of the biggest strengths of Money Heist. Even when you want to challenge a seemingly implausible plot point, the conviction of the actors sways you to believe everything they say.
Positives
The creators’ decision to not only talk about mental health but also treat Rio’s PTSD with sensitivity is to be appreciated. They also treat their trans character with utmost dignity. There is a particular scene in which Julia‘s father Benjamin asks the Professor, “How’s my daughter?” which spoke volumes about the writers’ attention to plot points.
The soundtrack forms a vital part of the viewing experience. Who can forget the iconic notes of ‘Bella Ciao’? The soundtrack of season 4 is powerful. The inclusion of songs during particularly moving scenes enhances the emotions of the audience. You feel the adrenaline that the characters on screen are feeling.
Negatives
The flashbacks do get tedious at times. The non-linear narrative is the show’s strength that keeps the suspense factor intact. Yet, in Part 4, you do not feel the same urgency as in the previous seasons.
There is also a lot of blood and gore involved. The surgeries performed on various characters may make you squirm in your seat.
Some of the scenes involving Arturo seem a bit unnecessary.
Worth it?
Absolutely. As mentioned earlier, if you can handle the gore, then there should not be anything or anyone stopping you from watching it.
Netflix has not officially announced Season five but it’s safe to assume we will get to see the gang once again.
Also read: Panchayat review: An authentic dive into rural India