Why Money Heist Season 4 Killed Off Nairobi

The director of Spanish-language crime drama, Money Heist, explains why the fan-favorite character, Nairobi (Alba Flores), was killed off in season 4. The popular Netflix show, also known as La Casa de Papel in Spain, is preparing to air its fifth and final season. The Professor (Álvaro Morte), Tokyo (Úrsula Corberó), and the rest of the gang attempt to succeed in their most dangerous heist yet. And even if they don’t make it out of the Bank of Spain with all its gold, they will work their hardest to make it out alive. 

Netflix is splitting the final Money Heist season into two parts, with the first set of five episodes airing on September 3. The Salvador Dalí-masked criminals are facing their most explosive battle ever against the Spanish military. And, for the first time, the trailer shows the Professor’s plan has some unexpected cracks. But the group will stop at nothing to defend the deaths of Berlin (Pedro Alonso), Moscow (Paco Tous), Nairobi, and everyone else who died in the pursuit of the plan. 

Nairobi was one of the most popular Money Heist characters ever — otherwise known as “la puta ama” or “the f**king boss,” in her own words. Her controversial death was painful as all the level-headed criminal dreamt of was making it out alive and reuniting with her son. But in a recent interview with Variety, the director/executive producer Jesús Colmenar explained why her death was necessary for the show. According to the showrunner, Nairobi wouldn’t be a good fit for the impending season 5 showdown. “She wasn’t called for that,” Colmenar said. 

After Nairobi survived a life-threatening assassination attempt at the end of season 3, when she was lured by her son only to be shot by a sniper, her quick murder was a tough blow for viewers. Gandía (José Manuel Poga) captured her, stuffed her head through a hole in a toilet door, and used her as a human shield before shooting her in the head. Even Corberó told Variety she was upset/confused about the departure of her close friend both on and off-screen. While it was a seriously tough scene to watch, Colmenar explains it helps keep the stakes high (and viewers’ adrenaline pumping) as the story goes on. Read what Colmenar said below:

“I think that adds momentum to our characters. We kill our characters and I think it adds tension, and it’s a good thing to not be able to know what happens,” Colmenar said. “I think it contributes to the reality that anything may happen and it contributes to the element of surprise.” 

The impending final season of the Netflix drama is sure to have even more deaths as the violence is put into overdrive. And since the showrunners can no longer rely on cliffhangers and need to tie up loose ends, it seems like no character is safe, even the always elusive Professor. But one thing’s for sure — Money Heist is sure to have a dramatic and unexpected ending. As there’s no other proper way to wrap up such a popular, beloved series.

Source: Variety

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