El ministerio del tiempo

Found this whilst browsing Netflix on a boring afternoon. Three 70 minute 'binge' watching later and I was totally hooked. It is subtitled into English but that is really no problem. This is a time travel Ministry located in Madrid - every country has secrets - Spain's is time travel and run by civil servants not the military which makes a change. Imagine a secret branch of the Spanish civil service spread backwards through time - sorting out temporal irregularities whilst complaining about budget cuts. You need a composite drawing of a suspect - no problem - the ministry's artist is Velasquez who is obsessed with Picasso. It is has moments of laugh out load humour and beautiful examples of culture shock but balanced with very dark and challenging ideas all set within strong stories. It has a very 'European' style which feels very different to the American programmes we get swamped with in the UK. There are no 'mini dramatic moments' where you know the advert break would be or the 'meaningful looks to camera' and definately no 'syrupy endings'. I find myself rushing to Wikipedia after an episode to get the background of Spanish history. Enter our heroes - a new 'crash team' - consisting of Spain's first female university student and team leader, As the Under Secretary in charge says 'In our time she could have been anything - make her team leader', a knight from the 16th century ('Put him in a room with a modern marine armed only with a knife and the marine wouldn't stand a chance') and a present day paramedic. These are really strong and complex characters each with their own issues. The acting is really good and the writers are happy to have fun - 'Plan? We are Spanish, we improvise!' If you haven't found this series yet I urge you to do so. Three seasons so far, so fear not - it won't be cancelled if you like me get hooked.

First, I saw it as a nice trip across the history of Spain. But it is more. Second , I was tempted to see it as answer to another simmilar time travel series. But, no doubts, it is more. Better can be fair word but it is bitter for the fine connection between characters, for admirable reacreation of tension and melancholy, dilemmas and personal shadows. So, more a challenge than a simple Sci. Fi, serie.

First, about the show itself ... an unusual team is put together to go to the past and ensure that certain things happen the way they should or that certain historical figures survive to live out their destiny. They travel through doors that are time portals, which sounds totally nutty, but the matter-of-fact way the characters travel through time makes it believable. Most important, however, the show is just a ton of fun! Guau ("wow" in Spanish), I almost died laughing during Episode 2, where the team has to save Lope de Vega. The actor's portrayal of Lope as a shameless womanizer was one of the funniest acting jobs I've ever seen. The episodes are intriguing, suspenseful, funny, and so much fun, all at the same time!

My knowledge of Spanish history isn't good enough to verify the accuracy of the show, but I've read it's quite a bit more faithful to history than "Isabel," although that might not be saying much because "Isabel" gained some notoriety for its dramatic license. What I am sure of is the show accurately reflects the significance and impact of its figures, works, and events from Spanish history. The foreign (that is, non-Spanish) viewer gets a good sense of what Lope de Vega, Lazarillo de Tormes, and El Guernica mean to today's Spaniards.

Finally, I can't recommend this show enough if you're a non-native speaker trying to learn (Castilian) Spanish. First, with Julian (the nurse from 2015), you hear how Spanish is actually spoken today. It's not the Spanish you hear in the classroom, but it is how real, honest-to-goodness, normal Spaniards speak. Then with Amelia (the brilliant university student from the 1880s), you hear perfect formal Spanish - the kind still taught in the classroom. Perhaps the least practical but the most entertaining is the Spanish spoken by Alonso, the 16th Century soldier. Alonso's Spanish is more Siglo de Oro than 21st Century, but it's fun to listen to.

Watch the show because it's massively entertaining. And if you're trying to sharpen your "castellano," you've found a gem in "El Ministerio Del Tiempo." The videos of all eight Season 1 episodes are available on the RTVE website, with captions (but only in Spanish) if you need them.

I can't say enough about this show. There are so many little things that are so good about it A lot of subtle humor that one has to watch out for but it helps if one is Spanish I think to catch it all. Being American I missed out on Spanish history and this show brings some of the important Spanish history to life. Beautifully done with gorgeous scenery and sets. Photography is outstanding with beautiful lighting. Even the dyes used for the 15th century clothing fabric seems right to me. There are no gaudy reds, greens or blues in the 15th century clothes as one might see in American films.. All of the costumes must have been dyed with herbal dyes. The episode about Napoleon and the Mother Superior was so well done; so very warm and nice and funny too. Casting was perfect. Wherever did thy find the guy to play Napoleon? Perfect! I can't say enough about Nacho as Alonzo. We need more men like Alonzo in the world today. Fierce, sensitive, principled, religious; Great job Nacho!. It is interesting to see the way the English and Americans are seen by the Spanish. It makes one think! There is a metaphysical or spiritual aspect to the show too. It is interesting to think about whether one could or does transcend time at some point. This is an outstanding series. Give it a chance, even if you don't know Spanish and don't like sub-titles. It is a great way to learn Spanish, especially if you have been trying to learn it on you own for a while.

Whilst the concept behind this Spanish series has been done before I can not think of a single instance where its been done with such polish.

Ministry of Time takes a well worn idea and infuses it with a sophistication and at times romantic/nostalgic elegance that makes this series instantly addictive.

It works so well because it renders real characters, with human imperfections and asks the question of how these people would cope and react to different situations that are, quite literally out of their time.

The other reason it works is the stories it weaves are intelligently rendered. It asks questions and presents scenarios, that are at once familiar and unfamiliar. Its time travel tales with maturity. On the subject of which this is I would think 16+ fare, definitely not one for the kids.

Suffice to say if you love sci fi this is an absolute "must watch". 8/10 from me.