Within the grand custom of spin-offs that ought to have by no means seen the sunshine of day, Netflix’s Berlin, a prequel to the acclaimed Cash Heist, arrived on the platform on Friday night. Trying to delve into the glory years of the enigmatic Berlin, performed with a sure stage of finesse by Pedro Alonso, the 10-episode collection is as illogical because the plot itself, and a haphazard concoction of recycled components, endorsing problematic themes with none trace of self-awareness. Additionally learn: December internet collection to take a look at
The plot: a masterclass in coincidence
Set within the pre-Cash Heist period, Berlin decides it is time to showcase his brilliance by stealing €44 million price of jewels from a Parisian financial institution vault. What may go unsuitable? Properly, apparently, not a lot on this planet of Berlin. The plot unfolds with the precision of a drunkard stumbling by a area of banana peels, relying closely on good luck moderately than any semblance of a well-thought-out plan.
In a surprising show of originality, the collection shamelessly borrows characters and roles from its guardian present, as if hoping we would not discover. Aside from Berlin, the group consists of a contemplative but restrained genius, who serves because the mental drive (embodied by Tristán Ulloa within the position of Damián, an older, bespectacled counterpart to Álvaro Morte’s El Profesor), a charismatic however simpler-minded particular person (Joel Sánchez as Bruce, a much less nuanced model of Jaime Lorente’s Denver), and an journey seeker haunted by a earlier relationship (Begoña Vargas, seemingly destined for disappointment as her character, Camerón, intently mirrors Úrsula Corberó’s Tokyo).
The parallels within the present are overtly acknowledged, and the characters will not be all unoriginal; an instance is Keila (performed by Michelle Jenner), a brand new and distinctive addition as a timid hacker. Nevertheless, it comes throughout as an inside joke that one character, Roi (portrayed by Julio Peña Fernández), has a reputation that’s an anagram of Rio, the character performed by Miguel Herrán within the authentic collection.
It is a cut-and-paste job that leaves you questioning if the creators, Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato, had been on a decent deadline or simply taking the lazy route for kicks.
Misogyny unleashed
If there’s one factor Berlin is constant about, it is its endorsement of misogynistic conduct. The feminine characters, sadly, fall into the drained tropes of being naive, irresistibly drawn to the lads round them, and unable to assume clearly when love and need come into play.
The present’s try to debate misogyny and sexism is like slapping a band-aid on a gaping wound – it would not make the issue disappear, it should make you wince as an alternative. It is virtually that the writers thought that throwing phrases round like “misogyny” and “sexism” would make the collection appear conscious of it, however it ended up like they needed to say, “We all know it is unsuitable, however let’s do it anyway.”
Pedro Alonso: chaos fanatic
Amidst the rubble of misguided plotlines and questionable character decisions, Pedro Alonso emerges because the saving grace of Berlin. His portrayal of Berlin showcases a personality thriving on chaos and adrenaline, reminding us of the brilliance one might witnessed in Cash Heist. Alonso’s efficiency injected life right into a collection desperately gasping for substance.
In truth, the one “heist price” component within the collection is the ensemble forged. Whereas the plot could also be flatter than a pancake not noted within the solar, the ensemble forged manages to salvage some delight for Berlin. Their performances have power and moments of real connection, offering occasional reduction from inducing yawns, due to the tedious narrative.
In conclusion: A slog with no stakes
Berlin would not simply fail to stay as much as the legacy of Cash Heist; it stumbles, falls, and faceplants right into a pit of mediocrity. The try to humanize Berlin backfires spectacularly, leaving us with a personality research that lacks depth and goal. What may have been an attention-grabbing exploration of a darkish character turns right into a heist of missteps, endorsing questionable themes and counting on coincidences like a crutch.