‘Money Heist’ Season 4 Episode 8 Review: Professor's 'Plan Paris' will kill you with thrill until... checkmate!
Spoiler Alert for 'Money Heist' Season 2 Part 4 Episode 8 'The Paris Plan'
Start the countdown. It's time to ponder: Who's the pawn in this game of power? A passionate gay romance, love, death, a masterplan, checkmate and a bleak future with dire consequences draw the curtains to this bold, bodacious battle and make it a f**king fantabulous feast.
Titled 'The Paris Plan', the final hour-long showdown will knock you off your chair so many times that you will lose count. So, what's Plan Paris? In a flashback scene, the Professor sketches it out for his love, Lisbon: "A rescue plan in case any of us gets caught." Flustered with the name of the city, she asks, "And why Paris?" A die-hard romantic and an emotional fool, he is quick to spit it out, "It's the city of freedom and of love!"
Like a shrewd shrimp, the Professor holds all the cards. He knows every move. He has calculated every step, marked his territory and hasn't left a single sign. Played by the immensely talented actor Álvaro Morte, it is his performance that will bowl you over and make your pulse tick as each moment passes by.
A secret affair and au revoir
The episode begins with a stormy relationship. Sparks fly as Berlin (Pedro Alonso) and Palermo (Rodrigo de la Serna) stand across each other. Berlin asks Palermo, "How do I look?" Pat comes the answer, "Powerful. Beautiful!"
Their eyes speak. The relationship is as complex as it can get. "I really like women and you really like me," Berlin warns Palermo, but he is in no mood to give up on his love. The two share a steamy, sensual kiss, with a deep passion like you may have never seen before. Possibly one of the most thunderous scenes in the history of gay romance, Berlin and Palermo's passionate kiss will make you go weak in the knees.
"I'd give anything so I could feel this... But it's impossible," Berlin's stern words break Palermo's heart. When he weighs the plan above their love, Palermo is repulsed by his brother's hand in their split. But Berlin is clear: "Sometimes distance is the only way to find peace. One way or another, time will bring us back together." Sadly, Palermo knew it would never happen and drowned in his grief.
Alicia Sierra: A pendulum swing
After Nairobi's (Alba Flores) death, the police are called for a press conference. As Tokyo narrates, "Nobody noticed the mysterious smile on her face. That face wasn't of someone who was going to lose."
When asked about the heist at the Bank of Spain, she ruthlessly replies to each question with a slice of bitter truth. Talking about Nairobi's death, she says, "She was executed by Gandia, the chief of security at Bank of Spain in full support from Colonel Tamayo." Her words were a rude shock but there wasn't even a flinch on her face. Blaming the government, the NIA, chief of police and the Ministry of Interiors, she blew the gasket with her actions.
No wonder, Colonel Tamayo (Fernando Cayo) is quick to retort, "We have to bury that f**king bitch." Najwa Nimri's wicked side is fun to watch. The way she fills you with hatred and still makes you feel drawn towards her character is a mark of brilliance.
Human complexities and brotherhood
On the Professor's orders, the gang revives Gandia (José Manuel Poga) but the hatred is palpable. One by one, each one pulls the trigger at his face. While one says, "I am gonna kill you with my bare hands," another asks, "Why are we saving this motherf**ker's life? When the Professor is still not ready to get him killed, Tokyo loses her cool. Her anger threatens her faith in the plan, thankfully, not for long.
Helsinki pulls the trigger on Gandia's face. When Palermo sees Helsinki's mental instability, he takes control and hugs Helsinki. "Pain is like a loan. And no matter what you do, you can never pay the debt," Palermo tells him and adds, "I saw it in your eyes and it reminds me of myself." His advice: Don't be a "miserable monster." As a reward, they share their real identities with each other and forge a true friendship. It is such scenes of human complexity that truly sprinkle magic to the series. Yes, it does get frustrating at times, but at the core, aren't we all flawed? It is these imperfections that help bring the relatability factor.
The Professor: Man with a plan
A brilliant mind! Only a few are blessed with it and we can gladly assure you that the Professor is one of the biggest masterminds you've ever known. Call him the replica of Sherlock Holmes or a different version of James Bond, this man has a plan and knows how to execute it. His intelligence is at par and most men can't even think how he does.
Every order from the Professor will make you swoon with pride, the Spanish songs will make your heartbeat thump and as you follow his game, you will be addicted to his charm. He is triumphant in bringing Lisbon back to safety, and how! The final few scenes fill sass and splendor into the rescue mission like no other action movie could have ever done. It plays like a terrifying stratagem that will blow your mind in every possible way. The Professor calls the triumph in the end a David Copperfield moment.
Tricking the trickster, are we?
As Professor chalks out his action-plan, Sierra has a motive of her own. She figures out Antonanzas' involvement and reaches to the bottom of it. But it is too late. While she bites her nails and wracks her brains, the plan is a success. The gang has escaped. The loud cheers of Nairobi's name will echo in your ears for days to come.
By the time the police come to know the real picture and piece the crumbs together, the bread is already a cake. Meanwhile, Alicia knows she falls behind, but the mysterious smile is still there. What's her last step? Alicia Sierra comes to the Professor's hiding and points a gun at his face. "Checkmate, you son of a bitch!" Two words. F**K! WOW! That sums up the sensational finale with the power to transfix you like a magnet to the TV screen. Sing Bella Ciao, and believe in the magic of wit and wisdom as 'Money Heist' arrests you in its charm.