El ministerio del tiempo

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.

I have developed a mild obsession with Spanish drama over the last six months and whilst I've enjoyed Grand Hotel and Velvet, the Ministry of Time is something very special. Cleverly written, beautifully acted it has so much depth to it, it has taught me about Spanish history but still managed to retain warmth and heart and not be just give facts. It has made me laugh and genuinely weep, it makes you consider so many things in life - would you want to know your fate and how you die? I can't recommend it highly enough.

This show is very good. The characters really grow on you. I like the concept of the doors through time. The Ministry of Time also has a great sense of humor. I find the acting quite good and engaging. It is refreshing to watch a show from a different country with a totally different perspective. The costumes are very lush and lovely. I have learned so much about a history I knew almost nothing of. This has been a fun side bonus. I liked the American show Timeless, which is not even half as good as this one and seems rather silly and ham-fisted compared to this one. The company that owns MOT, took Timeless to court for ripping them off and I totally can see why. This show is much better than Timeless. Which I will still watch, but now I will be comparing it to this show. If you are American and watching this show, you will get a total laugh out of the very bad American accents, when they attempt some some stories involving American figures. That is fun too. When J Edgar Hoover introduces himself the rolling R's in the attempted American accent cracked my family up. We replayed that about 5 times, laughing our heads off. If you like history and time travel, give this show a try. All three seasons with English subs is now on Netflix. I highly recommend it. I hope they make a 4th season.

How accurate these series are, I'm not sure. I'm no expert, but so far all the historical facts seem quite correct, and that is part of the fun. This series is funny, and also smart and exciting. Well written, well acted, decently edited, professionally directed. I'm really enjoying watching it!

Even for those not familiar with Spanish history, many of the characters are fictitious anyway, and those who are not are big names. And in case someone in the audience wouldn't recognise those big names, they are all explained so the plot makes sense for everyone.

So give it a try, you won't regret it!

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.