Seasons three and four of the successful Spanish series proved a hit amongst Netflix subscribers, but many felt Money Heist could have done without the return of the team’s most cowardly hostage, Arturo Román. Before the series finally returns after coronavirus delays, fans went online to call for his removal.
Money Heist became one of Netflix’s most successful international exports when the first season dropped on the streaming service in 2017.
Subscribers were riveted by the Professor (Álvaro Morte) and his team’s hit on the Royal Mint of Spain, and the series was quickly renewed for a follow-up.
During the first heist, Arturo Román (Enrique Arce) caused issues for Berlin (Pedro Alonso) and the rest of the robbers by causing frequent disruptions.
His salacious affair with his secretary, Mónica (Esther Acebo), often proved a distraction and his cowardice often threatened to derail the Professor’s master plan.
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Upon the conclusion of season two, Arturo took advantage of his traumatic experiences inside the Royal Mint and became a prolific public speaker about the dangers of hostage situations.
However, when the Professor sends the gang into the Bank of Spain for their second ambitious heist, Arturo manages to sneak in after them to cause even more chaos.
Arturo’s inclusion in the latter instalments of Money Heist have caused considerable controversy thanks to his irritating and predatory tendencies.
Many more critical viewers felt the series went a step too far when he drugged and raped fellow hostage Amanda (Olalla Hernández), and attempted the same assault on Manila (Belén Cuesta).
While the Professor’s brother and unpredictable partner-in-crime Berlin constantly threatened to relieve Arturo of his life in the first two seasons, the former Director of the Royal Mint was somehow spared.
Perhaps no one on the Professor’s new team is quite as trigger happy as Berlin, who sacrificed himself at the end of season two, but there’s nothing stopping them from kicking Arturo to the curb.
Other fans agreed whole-heartedly, with one adding: “Exactly.. such a useless character.”
It may not be necessary for the robbers to start killing off hostages, but viewers argued it would be simple enough to lock Arturo in a separate area to prevent his usual antics.
