National Police Corps

Lore & Background

The Corps operates under significant political scrutiny, with ministers frequently overriding police protocols for public relations or strategic advantage. This creates internal friction among officers who must balance legal procedure with the urgent demands of national security. Key officers like Raquel Murillo often find themselves personally invested in the outcome, blurring professional lines. The series traces two long-prepared heists led by the Professor, one on the Royal Mint of Spain and one on the Bank of Spain, told from the perspective of one of the robbers, Tokyo. The story relies on an unreliable narrator, flashbacks, time-jumps, and hidden character motivations for complexity.

In Their Own Story

The command center hummed with low electricity and tension. Outside the reinforced glass, rain slicked the Madrid streets, mirroring the mood inside. A Chief Inspector stared at the monitors showing the hostages moving within the vault. The phone buzzed, a reminder from above that time was running out. There were no easy wins here, only choices between safety and justice. The series was initially intended as a two-part limited series, with its original run of 15 episodes on Spanish network Antena 3 from 2 May 2017 through 23 November 2017. Netflix acquired global streaming rights in late 2017, re-cutting the series into 22 shorter episodes and releasing them worldwide beginning with the first part on 20 December 2017, followed by the second part on 6 April 2018.

Reader's Guide

Leadership within the National Police Corps during these heists is centralized under Chief Inspectors who coordinate with government ministers. Raquel Murillo emerges as the primary leader during the Mint siege, managing both tactical teams and media relations. Shared goals focus on recovering stolen assets and securing hostages without bloodshed. However, internal conflicts arise from political interference, where ministers prioritize public image over police strategy. This often forces officers to make risky decisions under tight deadlines. Key members include Raquel Murillo, who drives the investigation; Ángel Rubio, a deputy inspector and Raquel's second-in-command; and Colonel Alfonso Prieto, a member of the Spanish Intelligence who oversees Raquel's work on the case. Over time, the Corps evolves from pure antagonists into complex figures who understand the criminals' motives, sometimes crossing ethical lines to achieve closure.

Did You Know?

• The series was initially intended as a two-part limited series, with its original run of 15 episodes on Spanish network Antena 3 from 2 May 2017 through 23 November 2017.
• Netflix acquired global streaming rights in late 2017 and re-cut the series into 22 shorter episodes, releasing them worldwide beginning with the first part on 20 December 2017.
• The series was filmed in Madrid, Spain, with significant portions also filmed in Panama, Thailand, Italy (Florence), Denmark, and Portugal (Lisbon).
• A South Korean remake set in an alternate universe, Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area, was released in two parts on 24 June and 9 December 2022 respectively.
• The Italian anti-fascist song 'Bella ciao' became a summer hit across Europe in 2018 after playing multiple times throughout the series.