With over 69 million views worldwide, the Netflix series “Money Heist” is filled with excitement and sadness, leaving viewers wondering what could happen in the next episode or season. “Money Heist” first aired on Spanish television in 2017 and has become the most-watched non-English language series on Netflix. It is a five-season drama and thriller series that is compelling, adventurous and climatic. The story follows a group of eight thieves as they execute an 11-day heist in the Royal Mint of Spain. While the eight thieves kidnap and lock themselves in the building, they face many challenges to stay alive and find a way to steal the precious gold.

The series has an addictive dynamic that makes it difficult for viewers to press pause. The plot draws from similar heist movies such as “Ocean’s Eight“, “The Italian Job“and several other crime and drama films.The thieves holding the hostages in the bank have a sympathetic side and appear more compassionate than typical thieves. Although the plot centers on a heist, the show has a variety of political themes such as modern-day resistance such as Spain being a pluralistic democracy and the importance of recognizing their employment process.

The show was purchased by Netflix and added to its international repertoire, with the original 15 episodes recut into 22 shorter episodes. It quickly became Netflix’s most popular show in six countries: France, Italy, Chile, Portugal, Brazil and Argentina.

In season one, the audience could feel as if they could form ties with the characters because of the deep dive into each of their backgrounds and the hardships that they faced. Moreover, viewers was given a lot of information in certain scenes while other moments were left for interpretation. This contrast created anticipation that made it hard for viewers to stop watching. However, in season two, the heist still takes place in the Royal Mint of Spain after a long, in depth-season prior in the same setting.

Director Álex Pina originally developed the story as a work of fiction to try something new in the film industry. This was not the first series that Pina directed, prior to “Money Heist” she had produced five films all of which were filled with drama, romance and comedy.

“Money Heist” is one of the only series that is scripted during production rather than typical series that are created first and then shot. As a result, neither the cast nor the crew knows what they’ll be shooting the following day. This makes the show even more special than it already is.

The show’s evolutionary impact on real-world protests is what makes it unique and ultimately inspiring. In the series, citizens crowd the streets around the Royal Mint and the Bank of Spain, chanting sympathy for the thieves and condemning the government’s brutality. Protesters in nations such as Lebanon, Iraq and France, among others, have used motifs such as camaraderie, defiance and resistance in their fights for freedom, police abolition, anti-authoritarianism and anti-capitalism.

In every season, the show uses cliffhangers to entice viewers to return. The series brilliantly blends emotions and informative details to keep the viewer engaged. “Money Heist” has depth with meaning and offers real-world, relatable problems. Watching a show in a different language has been encouraging and engaging because it allows viewers to expand their knowledge while still being entertained; learning not to judge a person based on their actions is a crucial lesson that this show can teach others.