Netflix's hit show Money Heist examines several different questions. One of the main themes of the show is examining the gray area between good and evil. Expectations are turned on their heads as the show demonstrates that the world is not black and white.
This exploration extends to the characters as well. The Professor is one of the most beloved characters in a show filled with deeply complex and well-rounded characters. But that doesn't mean that The Professor is perfect. Like many of the characters on the show, he has moments where fans root for him and other moments that had fans cringing and screaming at their television.
Hated: Harassment Of Raquel
Much of the show's initial appeal existed in the push and pull of The Professor's negotiations with the police. The show was interesting and engaging, as fans enjoyed watching The Professor's strategy unfold. Raquel was a worthy opponent and the battle of wits ensued.
The Professor used many tactics to discredit Raquel or throw her off. However, something that is overlooked is that some of his questioning was entirely inappropriate. He harassed her by asking personal intimate details, knowing she would be forced to answer in front of all of her male colleagues. His smug attitude as he took pride in sexually harassing her was disgusting.
Felt Bad: Plans Started To Fail
Fans couldn't help but root for The Professor and his group. It was immediately clear that The Professor is an incredibly calculated man who needs to prepare before implementing a plan. When something unexpected happens, The Professor tends to break down and panic.
When he realized that Helsinki had not destroyed the car as planned, The Professor faced an insane amount of anxiety as he was forced to react on the spot. His pain and fear were palpable as The Professor was forced to put himself at risk and self-harm in an attempt to cover up evidence in the car.
Hated: Became Romantic With Raquel
Though The Professor and Raquel grew to be a beloved couple, the beginning of their relationship was extremely cringy. While the two had chemistry, The Professor was working to discredit and take down Raquel while working on the heist and then courting her in his time off.
This was made even worse by the fact that Raquel almost caught Sergio several times, only for him to make her believe that she is crazy and a horrible person. When they began sleeping together, fans couldn't help but feel that Sergio had crossed a line.
Felt Bad: Revealed The Plan Was His Father's
It is clear that the Royal Mint heist was incredibly important to Sergio. While at first, it seemed as though he was just excited about his plan, it quickly became clear that there was a deeper and more significant meaning behind this heist.
The entire plan was concocted to honor The Professor's father, who had died when he was young. Listening to him talk about his father's passing, his childhood, and his plan to enact the heist in memory of his father was extremely moving.
Hated: Almost Killed Mariví
Raquel's mother Mariví had little screen time, but it didn't take long for fans to fall in love with her. It was clear that she was kind, compassionate, and well-intentioned. Mariví was also sympathetic as she was dealing with memory loss by trying her best to remain independent despite.
One of the reasons that fans can empathize with The Professor and root for him is because he prides himself on not hurting others. He is extremely clear that although they are trying to pull off an insane heist, they shouldn't harm anyone in the process. But The Professor almost crossed the line when Mariví relayed Angel's message to The Professor. When he went to Raquel's house and planned to murder Mariví, The Professor almost lost the support of fans.
Felt Bad: Palermo Blames Him For Berlin's Death
The Professor is an introvert who struggles to connect. For this reason, his relationship with his brother was extremely important to him and his last remaining link to his family. Berlin's death was difficult for The Professor, as his plan had gone wrong in the worst way.
But Sergio wasn't the only one upset over Berlin's death. Palermo was a good friend of Berlin and was in love with him. When The Professor went to Palermo following Berlin's death, Palermo lashed out at Sergio, blaming him for the loss of Berlin.
Hated: Framing Raquel's Ex
Raquel has an abusive ex-husband. She confided in Sergio when she shared this information with him. While many people at her job were unsupportive and even critical of her, Sergio provided Raquel with comfort and sympathy.
But when Alberto began to investigate the case, Sergio couldn't let him get close to catching him. Sergio concocted a plan to get a piece of evidence back from Alberto's car, but it required him to knock Alberto out for a few minutes. Once arrested, The Professor used Raquel's mistrust of Alberto to manipulate her into believing that Alberto had maliciously attacked him. Though this was a clever plan and no one was upset to see Alberto in trouble, using sensitive information about Raquel's past to manipulate her seems like crossing a line.
Felt Bad: Nairobi's Death
Despite The Professor's original insistence that no one form relationships, him and Nairobi had gotten very close. It was even revealed that he planned to help her conceive a child.
The Professor wanted to protect all of the members of his group, but it was clear that his relationship with Nairobi was special. When Nairobi died, it hit The Professor very hard and fans mourned her death along side him.
Hated: Calling Raquel The Weakest Link
Raquel abandoned her entire life to join The Professor. She shed her old identity and began going by the name Lisbon. When The Professor was planning the Bank of Spain heist, he made it extremely clear the Raquel was now part of the group and should be treated as such.
Lisbon stayed on The Professor's team outside of the heist to assist him in countering the police's attacks. As she knows the officers and the inspector in charge of the case, Lisbon has crucial insight that could help with negotiations. But The Professor can't handle not being in control and immediately began lashing out at her for handling the situation differently than he would, calling Raquel the weakest link.
Felt Bad: Thought Raquel Was Dead
Despite all of his questionable behavior towards Lisbon, he does love her. When she varied from the plan, Raquel was caught. As the police knew that The Professor would be listening, they decided to throw The Professor off by faking her execution.
The Professor began to run towards her, telling her to tell them he was surrendering. But when Lisbon didn't, The Professor heard exactly what the police wanted. The most moving moment in the entire series was when The Professor fell to the ground, crying out in agony, following what he believed to be Lisbon's death.