Netflix’s Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine is a crime drama that knows exactly what it wants to be. Created by Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato, the eight-episode series follows Berlin (Pedro Alonso) as he drags his gang to Seville for a heist that turns a duke into the victim of his own plan. It is a tight, ambitious piece of television that mostly delivers on its promise.
Trailer, via Netflix.
The Heist at Its Core
The central scheme is simple in concept but complex in execution. Berlin sets his sights on a da Vinci masterpiece, and to get it, he decides to turn the ambitious Álvaro Hermoso de Medina, Duke of Málaga (José Luis García Pérez), into the architect of his own downfall. The duke is not a fool, but Berlin is a master manipulator, and the show spends its runtime building the tension between the two men.
Michelle Jenner plays Keila, Berlin’s partner in crime, and her chemistry with Alonso drives much of the early narrative momentum. Tristán Ulloa rounds out the ensemble as Damián Vázquez, while Begoña Vargas, Julio Peña, Joel Sánchez and Inma Cuesta fill out the supporting cast. Marta Nieto plays Genoveva Dante, the Duchess of Málaga, whose presence adds another layer of intrigue to the story.
The series is built around the idea of a man being the architect of his own destruction. That is a classic heist trope, and the show leans into it without apology. What distinguishes Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine is the specificity of its setting and its willingness to let the characters breathe outside the heist framework.
A City Worth Its Weight
Seville is more than a backdrop. The show treats the city as a character in its own right, with the gang navigating its streets, its museums and its social hierarchy. The production design is meticulous, and the series uses the location to create a sense of place that few heist dramas manage.
The action sequences are competent, but they are not the star. The show is more interested in the slow burn of planning, the misdirection and the shifting alliances than in spectacle. That focus pays off in the final stretch, where the reveal of who actually pulled off the heist is genuinely surprising.
“Hungry for a new heist, Berlin summons the gang to Seville.”
The Cast Carries It
Pedro Alonso is the engine that drives the series. His Berlin is charismatic, ruthless and unpredictable, and he sells each twist with a performance that is both physical and emotional. The supporting cast is strong across the board, with Tristán Ulloa delivering a grounded performance as Damián Vázquez and Inma Cuesta adding a sharp edge as Candela.
The pacing is uneven. Some episodes feel padded, while others are lean and effective. The middle stretch drags slightly, but the finale pulls everything together with a sharp turn that redeems the earlier sluggishness.
The Verdict on Netflix
Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine is a confident, if imperfect, entry in the heist genre. It is smarter than most of its competitors and more willing to trust its audience. The cast is uniformly excellent, and the central premise is executed with precision.
It is not perfect. The middle episodes could have been tightened, and some subplots feel extraneous. But the payoff is worth it. The finale delivers a twist that reframes the entire series, and it leaves viewers wanting more.
Key Facts Box
– Title: Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine
– Creator: Álex Pina, Esther Martínez Lobato
– Network: Netflix
– Seasons: 1
– Episodes: 8
– First aired: 2026-05-15
– Last aired: 2026-05-15
– Score: 8.1/10
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