The premier episode of "Bank Under Siege," entitled "Everybody Down!," kicks off with a gripping prelude to the turbulent political landscape of Spain that emerged after the demise of the dictator Francisco Franco. The series orchestrates the backdrop for the chaotic events of 1981, starting with the aborted coup d'état on February 23rd and culminating in the sensational bank heist on May 23rd. The episode promptly submerges viewers into the core of the action, as a masked mob of thieves storm the Central Bank of Barcelona, seizing everyone inside as hostages.
Maider Garmendia, a vivacious young journalist with a fresh face, makes her debut as she joins the ranks of a renowned Spanish daily newspaper, eagerly anticipating her mark on the crime beat. Her maiden day on the job rapidly transforms into a fiery baptism of fire when she receives a harrowing call about an unfolding coup at the Central Bank. The caller informs her that the thieves have left their demands in a telephone booth, thereby setting the stage for a perilous game of cat and mouse.
Maider, accompanied by her lensman Bernardo (Berni), rushes to the bank, where the air is thick with tension. Inside, the thieves aren't merely after the money; they're after a particular file stored in one of the bank's vaults. Their genuine motives unfold when they insist on the release of pivotal figures implicated in the February coup, including Pedro Mas Oliver, Colonel San Martin, General Torres Rojas, and Antonio Tejero. This isn't a mundane theft; it's a political pronouncement written in bold letters.
As the governor and president are briefed about the heist, the authorities frantically scramble to respond. Captain Lopez, the first to arrive on the scene, endeavors to establish communication with the thieves, precipitating a harrowing negotiation. The thieves, led by a figure ominously referred to as Robber 1, concur to release 50 hostages in exchange for provisions and tobacco, stipulating that the Red Cross provide the meals and an ambulance be dispatched.
Frustrated by the police's scant information and lack of action, Maider and Berni stir up a commotion, ultimately resulting in their temporary incarceration in a police van. It is within this confined space that Berni offers a frank evaluation of Maider's personality, hinting that her inherent goodness might not adequately equip her for the ruthless world of journalism.
Meanwhile, the robbers' demands remain concealed from the public, but the same mysterious woman who slipped the envelope into the telephone booth makes a call to a radio station, which promptly broadcasts the news. This bold act triggers a cascade of events, prompting the robbers to begin releasing the elderly, women, and sick hostages. As the remaining captives voice their dissent, Robber 1 fires a warning shot into the ceiling, then seizes a young, vigorous hostage and shoots him in the leg to maintain his authority.
Maider and Berni manage to break free from their confines and witness the chaos unraveling outside the bank. The lingering question on everyone's lips is whether the robbers belong to the Civil Guard, a suspicion that gains momentum when General Pajuelo, the regional director of the Civil Guards, arrives at the scene. He is adamant that the men inside are not Civil Guards, but upon listening to phone recordings, he is astounded to recognize the voice of Gil Sanchez Valiente, a Civil Guard who vanished after the failed coup. This stunning revelation prompts General Pajuelo to hastily head to Barcelona to seize control of the situation.
"Everybody Down!" serves as a pulse-pounding opener to "Bank Under Siege," setting the stage for a season that promises to delve deeply into the political machinations and moral ambiguities of a nation in turmoil. The episode masterfully balances the personal stakes of its characters with the broader ramifications of the heist, leaving viewers on the brink of their seats as they eagerly anticipate the next twist in this gripping narrative.
