“Money Heist” Part 5 Vol. 2 Review: An Intense & Satisfying Bella Ciao To The Popular Crime Series

It started with a heist, it grew into a revolution and now, it’s all out war. In the first half of the grand finale, we saw some insane twists and turns. The Professor and his team have lost many friends and lovers along the way but they’ve also gained new ones. The plan to extract gold from the Bank of Spain, the very financial heart of the nation, hasn’t exactly gone smoothly. The first half of Part 5 served as a sort of contemplation on the bonds, the joys and losses our beloved rogues have had incurred thus far.

Sure there were some amazing maneuvers and intimate character moments throughout, but it felt like it was merely the prelude to something bigger. “Money Heist”, much to our infinite joy and frustration, takes its time in setting up the board. Making sure that all the key players are in place. This journey has taken over three years but alas, we’re finally here. So, will Part 5 Vol. 2 prove to be a the magnificent bella ciao to the most popular Spanish series of the last decade? Let’s find out!

Still reconvering after the death of Nairobi in Part 4, “Money Heist” proceeded to rip our hearts (along with Denver’s) to pieces with Tokyo’s bloody last stand against the Spanish Army ending in death. Little time is left for the thieves to mourn as they begin to tighten their grip on the Bank of Spain. After a devastating loss for the armed forces, Sagasta and his soldiers are at the robber’s mercies. Colonel Tamayo and his forces are scrambling to find the Professor and Alicia Sierra, who have forged a temporary alliance of convenience. All the while, there is a hidden third player in this game. One that threatens everything Tamayo and Professor have fought for throughout the entire series. The walls are coming down and this is the end of the heist!

There was never a moment in which our sphincter wasn’t clenched tight enough to crack a walnut in half. Vol. 2 is a beautiful case study in orchestrating organized chaos. In every episode, there is always a heart-breaking takedown, a jaw-dropping revelation or a fantastic action sequence.

In Vol. 1, we had issues with the fact that the show didn’t really make use of the robbers’ wider socio-political influence but this time around, Vol. 2 more than makes up for it. It gets downright metatextual, the way the show leans into its characters’ popularity within the narrative. It becomes as much of a plot device as any other physical element of Palermo, Berlin and Professor’s plan. There were definitely a few moments in which it felt like the showrunners were winking at the audience.

In typical “Money Heist” fashion, the plot tends to get a little, too convoluted near the end with double-crosses, secret contigency plans and dramatic flips being thrown left, right and centre. For the most part, you’ll roll with the punches; mourning and rejoicing as our beloved anti-heroes battle with the Spanish government.

While Vol. 2 triumphantly delivers on scale, it doesn’t quite have the same biting rivalry as the previous parts. With Alicia Sierra now on the side of the robbers, we’re left with the wormy Colonel Tamayo to fill the shoes as Vol. 2’s main antagonist. While Fernando Cayo does an excellent job as a self-serving, corrupt bureaucrat, his character can’t quite measure up to Sierra. Thus, his evolution from middling side-character to the gang’s main foil feels more of a evolution out of necessity than genuine creativity.

Then, there’s the hidden third player, and the major role they play in the series finale that will definitely rub some viewers the wrong way. Now, while we thoroughly enjoy “Money Heist” for its uber-absurd complexity and gripping emotional drama, there have been some late-night telenovella style twists that left us rolling our eyes. None of them can compare to the one you’ll be witnessing this time around. The kind that feels deeply unearned, especially if you’re a mega-fan of the show’s lore.

Regardless of these issues, “Money Heist” still manages to deliver on all the heart-pounding thrills and brain-breaking sleights of hand fans have come to expect. It all culminates in the final episode that leaves us with a sentimental and catharthic send-off that will have fans bawling their eyes out.

The most memorable performances in Vol. 2 goes to Álvaro Morte and Najwa Nimri as Professor and Alicia Sierra. Watching the ebbs and flows of their complicated relationship is by far the most entertaining aspect of the series. There were even some moments we sensed romance in the air between them, or could it be begrudging respect? Rest assured, they’ll definitely be folks there shipping them. Rodrigo de la Serna’s Palermo takes a more prominent role this around, since Tokyo’s death, as the leader within the bank. Serna really comes into his own in Vol. 2, as we learn more about what drives his character’s obsession for the plan.

While Jaime Lorente’s Denver brings the same insane energy we’ve come to expect from the character, his post-Tokyo romantic arcs detract from the overall impact of the previous half of Part 5. Jennifer Miranda, though, as the ruthless Arteche is the true dark horse of Vol. 2. The way she stalks and hunts the team throughout Vol. 2 created an additional element of tension throughout the final episodes. That being said, we would have liked to see more of her in the finale. She certainly made quite the impression.

Netflix’s “Money Heist” Part 5 Vol. 2 strikes gold with fans, ending the series on an emotionally satisfying note with plenty of high-octane action that would make previous parts blush. While it occasionally buckles under the weight of its many, many plot threads, it prevails where it matters most: its characters and their stories. Creator Álex Pina has done Spain proud and has solidified “Money Heist” as the quintessential heist series.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwsmkWh0S5Y&ab_channel=Netflix

Years from now, people will talk about this show the way critics talk about “West Wing” and “Game of Thrones”. Truly, truly a bella ciao. You can now catch Vol. 2 on Netflix today!

So what was your favourite moment in Netflix’s “Money Heist”? Be sure to let us know in the comments and if you can’t get enough of the series and want to know more about the cast, click here to find out more!