The legend of ‘Money Heist‘ is over, and it’s time to accept it. There’s no point in dragging out the story of the most famous gang of thieves on the small screen with spin-offs and remakes: the Spanish heist series that became a global phenomenon has nothing left to tell, and the poor quality of its spin-off—available on Netflix since May 15 with a second installment titled ‘Berlin and the Lady with the Ermine’—is proof of that.
Berlin and the Lady with the Ermine: the plot
Let’s start with the plot. The second season of ‘Berlin’ tells the story of a new big heist in Seville. Berlin and Damián, in fact, reunite the gang for a new brilliant heist: pretending to steal Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘Lady with an Ermine.’ But, in reality, it’s all a ruse because the real targets are a duke and his wife, a couple who think they can blackmail Berlin, unaware that they will end up awakening his darkest side.
Berlin and Lady with an Ermine: A Rather Disappointing Season
The second season of ‘Berlin’ is decidedly disappointing both in terms of content and the series’ structure itself, which is designed more for binge-watching than for leaving a lasting impression on the viewer. There are eight new episodes in the series, but each one suffers from poor quality. The characters—both old and new—lack depth and dimension, and even Berlin himself—who should be at the center of the narrative—is relegated to almost a secondary role compared to the stories of his gang members.
There is more focus on the pace of the narrative and plot twists than on telling a compelling story worth watching and remembering. “Berlin 2,” in fact, has a plot so forgettable that it’s forgotten the moment the credits roll on screen. And that’s a real shame for a title tied to one of Netflix’s biggest hits ever.
Why the ‘Berlin’ spin-off has no reason to continue
After watching “Berlin and the Lady with the Ermine,” there’s only one feeling: this spin-off has no reason to exist anymore. Rather than enriching the “Money Heist” universe, this series almost discredits it by failing to measure up to the original and, above all, by adding nothing to a story that, perhaps, should have been left as it was.
It often happens that streaming platforms get carried away by a series’ success. This is how spin-offs, sequels, and prequels are born—created more to exploit a brand than to tell a truly necessary story. And “Berlin” is part of this modus operandi, unfortunately. So let’s do the “Money Heist” legend a favor: let’s let it shine in its own TV Olympus without continuing to distort it. Instead, let’s create new legends, tell new stories, and give space to characters who haven’t yet had the chance to shine on screen. The world of TV series needs something new—not just to live off memories.
The problem isn’t that ‘Berlin’ continues to exist. The problem is that it has nothing left to say.
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