The Netflix hit Money Heist (La Casa de Papel) has taken the world by storm, extending far beyond Spain and gaining fans from all around the globe. With its fascinating premise, polarizing characters, and shocking twists, it’s not surprising that there are a lot of unpopular opinions about the show.
Reddit has become the ideal platform for sharing these unpopular opinions, with fans coming together to discuss their thoughts about the show. From controversial character deaths to underrated love stories, fans have shared and debated a variety of topics related to Money Heist. With the show finally ending after five exhilarating seasons, it’s the perfect time to look back at some of these unpopular opinions about La Casa de Papel.
Just Call The Show La Casa De Papel
An unpopular opinion sprung up on a subreddit after user dtarias highlighted how “there's no good reason” to call the show Money Heist instead of La Casa de Papel. Most agreed with the Redditor, with other commenters saying that the original title is much better than the English version.
Since the show was originally made for a Spanish network and viewership, with the local cast speaking their language, this argument makes sense. However, Netflix likely decided to change the title to appeal to a wider audience who could understand English. The title Money Heist may not be a direct translation, but most fans would agree that it’s short, impactful, and can grab people's attention, drawing more viewers to the series.
Berlin Is Overrated
There’s no denying that Berlin was instrumental in getting the gang through the first heist. However, one deleted Redditor points out that he’s "highly overrated" in terms of likability and other characters, like Nairobi, the Professor, Lisbon, and Tokyo, "are far more likable than him." It also has been pointed out that flashbacks involving Berlin ruined Money Heist after its second season.
But most fans would probably say that despite being a cruel manipulator, Berlin always had the gang's best interests at heart – the fact that he sacrificed himself to save the crew only proves this point. He definitely wasn't perfect, but his wit, charm, and humor made him one of the most likable characters in the show.
Helsinki’s Reaction Was Worse Than Nairobi’s Death
Nairobi was one of the most beloved characters on Money Heist, which is why her brutal death was so devastating for fans. According to cvsnlol, "Helsinki's reaction to Nairobi dying was sadder than Nairobi's death," which some other Redditors upvoted and agreed with.
Admittedly, Helsinki playing the harmonica with tears rolling down his cheeks was a moving reaction. However, most fans would argue that Nairobi's death was still more painful than any of the characters' responses to it. The crew spent so much time and risked a lot to operate on her, and just as she was on the road to recovery, she was senselessly killed by the unforgiving bodyguard, César Gandía.
Arturo Is A Necessary Evil
One of the bravest hostages on Money Heist is, unfortunately, one of the most annoying characters in the show. However, NT-Deimos- states that without him, "the series would have less plot." Other commenters seem to agree, pointing out that he was necessary for the story.
Arturo is hated because he plays his role as the villain well, however, fans will likely agree that he's overstayed his welcome on the show. He went from manipulating Stockholm to lying about being the hero to thousands of people – he gives viewers every reason to despise him. Arturo may have been necessary for the first season, but he probably shouldn't have recovered from the sniper's bullet or survived Stockholm's gunshot, after everything he has done.
Berlin And Palermo’s Love Story Is The Best
Money Heist has quite a few love stories, but not all of them are popular with fans. This is true for user Pristine_Adagio1166, who uses a Drake reaction meme to express how much better Berlin and Palermo’s love story is compared to Tokyo and Rio’s, simply titling it "Unpopular opinion."
Unfortunately, Berlin and Palermo’s romance is too one-sided to really be fleshed out in the show. This is in stark contrast with Tokyo and Rio's relationship, which fans would likely say changed and evolved since they met in the first season. There's more depth and character development in this relationship, which makes it a much more satisfying story for viewers who may not be looking for a narrative about unrequited love.
Lisbon Shouldn’t Have Joined The Heist
Lisbon was a competent antagonist against the Professor, as she was able to put the pieces together about his true identity. Not everyone agrees that she’s a worthy addition to the gang, however, with one Redditor expressing how her joining the heist "was the most unnecessary thing" because she doesn’t have "any positive meaningful contribution."
While it’s true that Raquel switching sides didn’t have any significant impact on the heist, at first, most fans would say that she has shown in season 5 that she’s a valuable leader. As one of the bravest characters on Money Heist, Lisbon is well-respected by the gang and can hold her own, even under pressure. Her police training lets her anticipate their enemies’ movements and helps her stay calm under pressure.
Denver And Manila Are Underrated
Manila’s confession about her love for Denver came at an awkward time, but it still helped put their backstory into perspective. Redditor S02EP13 explains how the two "aren't talked about enough," and that their flashback with Moscow’s call to Manila’s dad is likely foreshadowing "that Denver will probably die saving Manila or alongside Manila."
While there may be some truth to the fact that they are underrated as romantic partners, fans would agree that there's a good reason for that. Denver's response to Manila's confession was a touching monologue about how in love he is with Stockholm and how grateful he is to wake up next to her every day. Most viewers still want to see Denver and Stockholm together, reunited with their child, Cincinnati. If Denver ever dies for Manila, it's more likely as a fulfillment of his promise to her father and not because he's leaving Stockholm for her.
Rio Should Have Died
Rio is not the smartest character in the show, as despite being a tech genius, he lacks the practical skills necessary for surviving a heist. Other people are always having to clean up his mess, like when he visited the Mint a few months before the heist, jeopardizing their anonymity. This is likely why a Redditor and a few commenters think that "they could've taken Rio instead of Tokyo" in season 5.
While it’s true that Rio can sometimes act young and foolish, his knowledge of cybersecurity has been necessary and unbeatable so far. Fans would probably say that it also wouldn’t make sense to kill him off because it invalidates the entire reason they did the second heist, which was the gang’s attempt to save him from Inspector Sierra’s brutal torture.
Tokyo Isn’t That Bad
Tokyo is a polarizing character, with some fans adoring her for her bravery and others despising her for her recklessness. MynameisntWejdene is somewhere in the middle, agreeing that she’s not the smartest but stating that she "doesn’t deserve all the hate."
Whether viewers liked her or not before the final season, most fans would say that it was definitely harder to hate her after seeing her backstory. Her drive to see the world was a dream she shared with the love of her life, who she lost in the most tragic way. Despite her questionable actions, it can be argued that her emotionality is a source of strength, not weakness – this is especially true in her last moments of bravery and selflessness on the show.
The Show Is Better In Spanish
Like some fans of the show might have experienced, ItsRoastTime didn’t realize Money Heist wasn’t filmed in English until a few episodes in. After switching to the original Spanish, the user found that "the show got so much better."
Deciding to watch any TV series or movie with the original language or dubbed audio is a completely personal choice, but considering how Netflix introduced La Casa de Papel to a global audience, it's understandable how most fans are likely watching the dubbed version. Most viewers may just be more comfortable not having to read the subtitles – and that's okay.