How a Small Budget Spanish Heist Show Stole America’s Heart
Game of Thrones. The Walking Dead. Criminal Minds. During the peak of quarantine, when most of America was stuck inside their homes, none of these perennial favorites were at the top of the television charts. Nope. The most in demand show in the country was a small Spanish TV series that was on the brink of getting cancelled. Money Heist, or La Casa de Papel, became the most in demand show not just in the US, but worldwide, after Netflix revived the show at the end of 2017. The show revolves around a unique group of thieves whose leader has been plotting out an obscenely intricate heist on the Royal Mint of Spain which involves the printing of 2.4 billion euros along with 67 hostages. It’s safe to say that the master plot doesn’t always go exactly as planned, but it does result in three raunchy romances, two impossibly unpredictable plot twists, and an island escape. The show is addictive and the type of adrenaline-fueled entertainment that will keep you hooked episode after episode, which during quarantine, was exactly what people sought after.
“It’s sort of Ocean’s Eleven meets Killing Eve, but in Spanish and with no serial killers.” - Patricia Puentes (CNET)
So, how did this Spanish crime drama with a painfully generic name and the added difficulty of subtitles make its way into the hearts of so many Americans? Some would attribute the series’ incredible success to the major theme of anti-capitalism/resistance against the system. Because the 2008 financial crash, which set the scene for Money Heist, was a global event, it’s unsurprising that the show has resonated among so many people in so many different countries. The mastermind behind the series and show’s director Alex Pina explains, “First and foremost, the series is meant to entertain, but an idea runs underneath. Skepticism towards governments, central banks, the system …” Money Heist has thrived during quarantine in America because of this underlying theme.
The robin hood story appealed to a wide group of Americans at the start of the pandemic. Since the start of the Covid outbreak, Americans have actualized the level of police brutality and racial equality that affects our country through the use of social media and relevant movements such as the Black Lives Matter movement. A central theme of Money Heist was rebellion against the system which included the corrupt police force and the unscrupulous politicians who held positions of power. While the Money Heist criminals were committing illegal acts and were portrayed as the “bad guys” of the show, you couldn’t help but root for them because of how corrupt the authority figures were. The show was clearly attempting to create a robin hood-esque narrative in which the police, politicians, and other various people abusing power were the real antagonists of the show. The show’s theme of rebellion and the fight for the underserved community rang true with Americans. As a result, Money Heist shot to the top of streaming charts and essentially went viral across the entire country. Now, what implications are associated with the unprecedented rise in popularity in our country?
Furthermore, with the destruction of small businesses and economic struggles that Americans faced as a result of Covid, people yearned for the newfound wealth and opportunity to live a comfortable life that the cast of Money Heist achieved during the show. The show offered an escape and an outlet during a time when it was desperately needed.
Ingrained in the show are several unique symbols of resistance: the Dali masks, the red jumpsuits, and the Bella Ciao. These physical symbols all have historical significance. When the famous Spanish artist Salvador Dali was alive, a lot of his work was created during Zurich’s Dada movement which rejected modern capitalism. The red color symbolizes revolution, and it is also a color of Marxist ideology. And the famed Bella Ciao song was used as an anthem against fascist resistance during World War II. These symbols are unique to Spain, but have become global symbols of rebellion and resistance against the system because of Money Heist’s worldwide impact.
Equally important to the show’s success in America are the boundary pushing and socially relevant characters. American heist films have traditionally been told with a male Anglo-centric focus. Money Heist enters a new dimension having a strong Spanish identity and a female narrator in one of the protagonists, Tokyo. Additionally, one of the main members of the team, Nairobi, is a strong female lead who accompanies Tokyo. In one of the iconic scenes of the first season, Nairobi takes charge from the male leader of the group, Berlin, and says defiantly, “Let the matriarchy begin!” The strong female presence in the show and the ubiquitous feminist themes ring true with Americans as our country is working through similar issues of female equality and inclusion. Additionally, the inclusion of a gay character in Helsinki provided a different element to a genre that is traditionally known for its “tough guy” nature. All of the members of the crew are strong and powerful in their own way but also all clearly have their own personal flaws. This allows audiences from any country to see themselves in the form of the different characters and be able to feel for them through their struggles and ride alongside them during their triumph.
And finally, Money Heist has drawn so much interest from Americans because of its Latin flare. One of the show’s stars Úrsula Corberó describes, “It has something different, especially for non-Spanish people. We have this way of expressing ourselves, of exchanging our feelings that goes through the screen.” This cultural specificity is one of the show’s main selling points. I think that the Spanish perspective and style appealed to American audiences because in traditional American/ British heist films that are well known in America have a familiar setup: a priceless haul, a perfect plan, and a team of smooth criminals trying to beat the odds and not get caught. While Money Heist certainly does not lack in these areas, it also stands in its own category because of the structure and details of the show that are unique to Latin audiences. Director Alex Pina explains: “In Money Heist, feelings, fraternity and love are as important as the plots. A perfect heist, rational and cool, becomes something else when spiced up with Latin emotions.” What’s fascinating about the show is how successful it has become in so many regions of the world while remaining true to its Latin roots.
So, will Money Heist’s massive success in America pave the way for more Latin entertainment to thrive in our country? Maybe. But what we know for sure is that because of the show’s underlying theme of anti-capitalism and resistance against the system, its socially relevant characters, and the show’s cultural specificity and Latin flare, Money Heist was able to thrive across borders and sneak its way into the hearts of millions of Americans.
“To rise up against the system is reckless and idealistic — it’s Don Quixote!” -Alex Pina
Works Cited
Alex Pina, creator. La Casa De Papel (Money Heist), Atresmedia & Vancouver Media, 2017–2020. Netflix, www.netflix.com/mx-en/title/80192098
Hartup, Andy. “Terrible Name, Brilliant Show — Why Money Heist Is the Best Netflix TV Show You’re (Probably) Not Watching.” Total Film, GamesRadar+, 23 July 2018, www.gamesradar.com/terrible-name-brilliant-show-why-money-heist-is-the-best-netflix-tv-show-youre-probably-not-watching/.
Jones, Ellen E. “‘It’s Pure Rock’n’roll’: How Money Heist Became Netflix’s Biggest Global Hit.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 2 Apr. 2020, www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/apr/02/how-money-heist-became-netflix-biggest-global-hit.
Katz, Brandon. “Why Netflix’s ‘Money Heist’ Is the Most In-Demand Show in the World.” Observer, Observer, 8 Apr. 2020, observer.com/2020/04/netflix-money-heist-la-casa-de-papel-most-watched/.
Puentes, Patricia. “Money Heist on Netflix Is the Show You Should Be Watching Right Now. Here’s Why.” CNET, CNET, 3 Apr. 2020, www.cnet.com/news/money-heist-on-netflix-is-the-show-you-should-be-watching-right-now-heres-why/.
