EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 3, EPISODE 1: CON EL TIEMPO EN LOS TALONES (LA 1)

Forget the US copycat, El Ministerio del Tiempo, one of the best contemporary television series, returns in all its glory. And even more glorious.

Series 3 of El Ministerio del Tiempo, the acclaimed Spanish sci-fi/adventure drama, premiered this week on pubcaster TVE's main channel La 1. Though ratings suffered last year, the creation of Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel) got this third series thanks to its pop culture phenom status in Spain, a solid fanbase outside its country, format sales, and a decisive deal between RTVE and VOD giant Netflix. Hence an increase of the production budget.

Regrettably, Rodolfo Sancho and the producers couldn't reach an agreement so his character Julián Martínez is absent of these 13 new episodes (1). That's why El Ministerio del Tiempo welcomes back Pacino, played by Hugo Silva. Silva replaced Sancho during the previous series when the latter wasn't available (2). The title of this series premiere, Con el tiempo en los talones, is a nod to Con la muerte en los talones, the Spanish title of Alfred Hitchcock's movie North by Northwest (1959). Written by Carlos de Pando & Javier Pascual and directed by Marc Vigil, the episode is a brilliant tribute to the Master of Suspense.

A mission in the middle of the Battle of Teruel in 1937 ends dramatically in the epic opening scene. Later, in 1958, Pacino and his colleague/love interest Marta Sañudo are in San Sebastian, where Alfred Hitchcock attends the film festival with his wife Alma. After a confrontation with a Soviet agent, Pacino finds Marta dead at the bottom of the stairs and he calls Amelia and Alonso. The team tries to prevent the KGB to kidnap Hitchcock as Soviet Union wants to turn the director into the new Eisenstein! Meanwhile, in 2017, the courtyard of the Ministry is under renovation. Stuck in a wheelchair because of a leg in a cast, Salvador notices a curious construction worker with a walkman.

Vertigo, Rear Window, Rope, Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock who wants to make Amelia a star (which could have consequences for Antonio Banderas...) Add Kirk Douglas, a X-Men joke, a traitor a la Mendieta, etc. The wait is over and it was worth it:  El Ministerio del Tiempo is back. Also starring Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez) and Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí). Guest starring José Ángel Egido as Alfred Hitchcock, Belén Fabra (Marta), French-German actor Pierre Kiwitt as Petrov, Óscar de la Fuente (Francisco Morales), Julia Fossi (Alma Hitchcock) and Álex Piñeiro.

Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE. María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), Juan Mayne & Augusto Rovegno (Netflix), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares & Abigail Schaaff (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce. Luis Gutiérrez is the production manager.  Anaïs Schaaff and Javier Carillo are the associates producers for Cliffhanger TV. Isaac Vila is the cinematographer. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama, in full Bernard Hermann mode for the occasion. 

(1) Though Javier Olivares doesn't rule out the possibility of a return.
(2) Rodolfo Sancho was filming crime drama Mar de Plastico.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/
http://cultura.elpais.com/cultura/2016/12/12/television/1481560867_287999.html http://www.fotogramas.es/series-television/El-Ministerio-del-tiempo-temporada-3-detalles

WATCHED THIS WEEK (TIME AND NOT THE RANI EDITION)

Right now I'm too busy coughing and sneezing (and impersonating Marlon Brando in The Godfather) for the usual reviews.

- Timeless (NBC):

[Spoiler-Free] NBC's new sci-fi drama is accused of being a rip-off of El Ministerio del Tiempo, the acclaimed Spanish sci-fi/adventure series. Javier Olivares, co-creator of El Ministerio del Tiempo with his late brother Pablo, expressed his irritation against the similarities between the two formats. Onza, the distributor, sued the parties behind the conception of Timeless, claiming that some of them were involved in discussions about an American version of El Ministerio del Tiempo. The Spanish format has already been sold in Portugal, China and France. 

Though there are (indeed) a few similarities between the US and Spanish dramas, the premiere of Timeless is more in line with shows like Seven Days, The Time Tunnel or Sliders. Clichéed beyond reasonable but competently packed, this first hour has neither the charm, nor the specific humour or even the spirit of El Ministerio del Tiempo. Of course, it paves the way for the mandatory mythology. There's the legendary Matt Frewer and a time machine which looks like the CBS logo. The main asset of Timeless is undoubtedly actor Malcolm Barrett. 

We'll leave the rest to legal experts and we'll stick to El Ministerio del Tiempo, one of the best contemporary television series. Timeless stars Abigail Spencer (Lucy Preston), Matt Lanter (Wyatt Logan), Malcolm Barrett (Rufus Carlin), Paterson Joseph, Sakina Jaffrey, Goran Visnjic, etc. Created by Eric Kripke and Shawn Ryan. Produced by MiddKid Productions, Kripke Enterprises and Davis Entertainment for Universal Television and Sony Pictures Television.

http://deadline.com/2016/09/timeless-lawsuitshawn-ryan-sony-nbcu-sued-over-claim-that-timeless-idea-was-stolen-1201827221/
http://www.the-medium-is-not-enough.com/2016/10/review_timeless_1x1_us_nbc.php 

- Emma (TF1):

A veteran cop is assigned a new partner, who's actually an experimental android. Holmes & Yoyo? No. Future Cop? No. Total Recall 2070? Wrong. It's Emma, a 2 x 52-minute pilot for a new French crime drama which premieres on TF1 this thursday. A grumpy detective, a weird police intern who could be Spock's cousin (or Vicki from Small Wonder as a cop), literal jokes, "Emma is a fourth generation android.", Asimov's three laws... Well, it's really as bad as it sounds.

Meanwhile, still no new episodes of TF1's Instinct in spite of the 5.533.000 viewers (22%) of its enjoyable two-part pilot in January 2016. Emma stars Patrick Ridremont (Commandant Fred Vitulo), Solène Hébert (Emma Faure), Slimane Yefsah, Sabrina Seyvecou, Vanessa Larré, Sophie Rodrigues, Mathieu Delarive, etc. Created by Manon Dillys and Sébastien Le Délézir. Produced by Mandarin Télévision with TF1.

http://www.tf1pro.com/press-kit/communiques/programme/tf1-emma-pilote-de-serie-de-2x52-arrive-le-jeudi-6-octobre-2055-79257

A THIRD SERIES FOR EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO (AT LAST!)

Spanish pubcaster RTVE has announced today that El Ministerio del Tiempo will (finally) have a third series.

Four months after the end of Series 2, the board of TVE has greenlit 13 new episodes of the acclaimed sci-fi/adventure drama El Ministerio del Tiempo. Though ratings suffered during its second series, the creation of Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel) is more than ever a pop culture phenomenon in Spain and gained a solid fanbase outside its country even before it started to interest foreign markets.

Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE, El Ministerio del Tiempo is one of the best contemporary television series and it's also (without exaggeration) a fantastic cultural ambassador of Spain. Starring Rodolfo Sancho (Julián Martínez), Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez) and Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí). Hugo Silva played Pacino in Series 2.

http://www.rtve.es/television/20160922/ministerio-del-tiempo-tendra-tercera-temporada/1407524.shtml

You can find spoiler-free reviews of episodes 1 to 11 of the second series on this blog. Episodes 12 and 13 were not reviewed due to unforeseen circumstances.

EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 2, EPISODE 11: TIEMPO DE LO OCULTO (LA 1)

[Spoiler-Free] The existence of the Ministry of Time is about to be revealed but Salvador has a solution.

 

Sebastián Lombardi used to host a TV show about paranormal and other mysteries where he told his viewers that General Franco is frozen with Walt Disney or that if you listen to a LP of Argentine singer Luis Aguilé backwards your head explodes. Then he discovered the Ministry of Time by accident. Except that Lombardi didn't know that the Ministry was actually financing his programme and they managed to handle the problem.

Eight years later, the man is on an internet video platform and he seeks revenge. Salvador Martí invites Sebastián to visit El Ministerio del Tiempo, or rather an obscure branch of the Ministry of Public Works. After four hours of transformation of the Ministry into the dullest administration of Spain, Lombardi arrives with his daughter Sonia to film a video. Things don't go as planned and both end up in 1485, where they meet... Christopher Columbus.

Alonso must deal with a very modern concept. There's a crowd in the men's room of the Ministry of Time. Velázquez doesn't "scribble". A new face appears on banknotes in 1992. There's a confrontation involving "Christiano", "Ronaldo" and "Ronaldinha da Silva Mourinho". An hilarious episode written by Borja Cobeaga & Diego San José and directed by Javier Ruiz Caldera. Pure comedy was undoubtedly needed after the powerful Separadas por el tiempo.

Starring Rodolfo Sancho (Julián Martínez), Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez) and Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí). Guest starring Roberto Drago (Sebastián Lombardi), Anna Castillo (Sonia Lombardi), Joan Carreras (Christopher Colombus), Susana Córdoba (Elena),  José Ramón Iglesias (Germán), Emilio Linder, Ramón Merlo and Julián Villagrán as Velázquez.

Created by Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel). Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE. María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce. Anaïs Schaaff and Abigail Schaaff are the content coordinators for Cliffhanger TV. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama. In Tiempo de lo oculto we learn that the Ministry can influence ratings (the joke about the films of José Luis Garci), which certainly explains the little improvement of the numbers with this episode.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/

EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 2, EPISODE 10: SEPARADAS POR EL TIEMPO (LA 1)

[Spoiler-Free] Written by Diana Rojo, Carlos de Pando and series co-creator Javier Olivares, Separadas por el tiempo (aired on May 2) is definitely the best episode of El Ministerio del Tiempo to date.

 

Irene notices the presence a teacher with a group during an exhibition. The woman explains who was Spanish feminist Clara Campoamor. Suddenly, one of her pupils spots the doppelganger of her teacher on a photo from 1930 about Las Sinsombrero (the women of "The Generation of '27"). Meanwhile, Amelia receives the visit of Enriqueta Martí, the ex-maid of the Folch family, that she fired in Óleo sobre tiempo. 

The problem is that Enriqueta has seen her future: she will become the "Vampiress of El Raval", a (real life) sadly famous child serial murderer amongst other horrible activities. This has consequences in several eras so Salvador, who insists that Enriqueta is not related to his family, asks the team to stop a potentially chaotic situation. And Ernesto meets his son. Separadas por el tiempo is beyond brilliant. The script equals those of the best episodes of Doctor Who. The performance of Maria Rodríguez Soto (1) as Enriqueta Martí is absolutely extraordinary.

Starring Rodolfo Sancho (Julián Martínez), Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez) and Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí). Carlos Cuevas (Javier), Fanny Gautier (Carmen Folch), Mario Tardón (Dr. Madrigal) José Antonio Barón, Luna Fulgencio, Arnau García and Alexandra Jiménez (Julia/Teresa) are the other guest stars of this episode, perfectly directed by Abigail Schaaf.  

Created by Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel). Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE. María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce. Anaïs Schaff and Abigail Schaff are the content coordinators for Cliffhanger TV. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama. El Ministerio del Tiempo is one of the best dramas currently on the air. And it's also a fantastic cultural ambassador of Spain.

(1) Credited as Maria Rodríguez.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/
http://theculturetrip.com/europe/spain/articles/la-generacion-del-27-spains-tragic-literary-generation/
http://www.lassinsombrero.com/#!home/cjp6

EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 2, EPISODE 9: ÓLEO SOBRE TIEMPO (LA 1)

[Spoiler-Free] The second series of El Ministerio del Tiempo came back on April 25 after a three-week break.

 

In 1734, a commando led by Lola Mendieta raids the Royal Alcázar of Madrid, the residence of King Felipe V, before the fire which devastated it the same year. They steal the paintings and replace them by forgeries. Meanwhile at the Ministry, the great Diego Velázquez writes another of his resignation letters when he learns about the auction of one of his works (via an alert on his mobile phone!)

The thing is that this painting was amongst those destroyed in the fire of the Alcázar. Salvador Marti sends Irene and Velázquez to the court of Felipe V in 1734 in order to investigate this case of "intertemporal art trafficking". They meet the Queen, Isabel de Farnesio, who's the de facto ruler of Spain because of the poor mental health of her husband. Of course, old foes of the Ministry of Time are behind the heist: the American company Darrow. Lola learns that her colleague Paul Walcott is severely ill. What he tells her from his hospital bed prompts Lola to have a talk with Ferguson, the chief of Darrow.

Amelia, Julián and Alonso arrive in 1734 as a backup. Lola makes to Salvador "an offer he can't refuse". Amelia has a problem with her maid and Alonso meets again the lookalike of his wife. Felipe V and Julián have a touching conversation. Written by Javier Pascual & Anaïs Schaaf and directed by Jorge Dorado, Óleo sobre tiempo is both brilliant and surprising. Starring Rodolfo Sancho (Julián Martínez), Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez) and Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí).

Guest starring Fernando Conde (Felipe V), María Álvarez  (Isabel), María Rodríguez (Enriqueta), Fanny Gautier (Carmen Folch), Xavier Boada (Enric Folch), Algis Arlauskas (Ferguson), Susana Córdoba (Elena Castillo), Markos Marín (Bennett) and Jimmy Shaw (Paul Walcott). With Julián Villagrán (Diego Velázquez) and Natalia Millán (Lola Mendieta). Created by Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel). Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE. María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce.

Anaïs Schaff and Abigail Schaff are the content coordinators for Cliffhanger TV. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama. The three-week pause of this second series, which was supposed to return (according to some initial plans) in September, certainly didn't help the already declining ratings. The episode caught 1.911.000 viewers (9.9%). Unfortunately the launch of El Embajada, the (lacklustre) new series of Bambú Producciones for Antena 3, did the rest.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/
http://www.abc.es/madrid/20141114/abci-alcanzar-madrid-incendio-misterio-201411131650.html
http://cadenaser.com/ser/2016/03/29/television/1459251323_939940.html 

EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 2, EPISODES 7 & 8: TIEMPO DE VALIENTES I & II (LA 1)

[Spoiler-Free] The Philippines in 1898. Julián travels from Manila, the capital city, to Baler. In 2016, Salvador must face an audit from a supervisor of the Ministry. He asks the team to check the files and the doors,

In June 1898, during the Spanish-American War, 57 soldiers of the Spanish troops in the Philippines fortified the church of the isolated town of Baler to protect themselves from Filipino insurgents. They held the place for 337 days until June 1899. Cut off from communications, the defenders of Baler ignored that the war ended officially in December with the Treaty of Paris, in which Spain transferred the sovereignty over the Philippines to the United States. The story of these men, known as "Los Últimos de Filipinas" ("The Last of the Philippines"), is the basis of this epic and moving two-parter written by Carlos de Pando & Anaïs Schaaff with Javier Olivares, and directed by Marc Vigil. 

Absent of most of the second series of El Ministerio del Tiempo because of his commitments on the Antena 3 crime drama Mar de Plastico, Rodolfo Sancho returns as Julián Martínez. While Julián shares the destiny of the Last of the Philippines, Ernesto deals with personal matters. Alonso meets someone whose face is familiar and he accepts a very special mission. Pacino gets closer with Amelia but he takes an important decision. Tiempo de Valientes guest stars Pedro Alonso (Bajo Sospecha, Gran Hotel) in an award-worthy performance as Lieutenant Cerezo, Paco Marin (Dr Vigil), Aitor Merino (Menache), Susana Córdoba, Nieve de Medina (Marisa), etc. The cinematic treatment and the emotion leave some room for nice touches of humour and the usual references.

The series watched by Amelia and Pacino in the first part is Historias para no dormir (1966-1982), an excellent anthology created for TVE by Narciso Ibáñez Serrador and hosted by himself a la Alfred Hitchcock or Rod Serling. This week it was announced that the second series of El Ministerio del Tiempo will take a break after the second part of this decisive double episode (5 episodes remain to be aired). The format has been sold recently by Onza Distribution to Guan Yue International for a Chinese version. There are discussions about adaptations with several other territories like France or Germany.

Also starring Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez). With Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí) and Hugo Silva (Pacino). Created by Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel). Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE. María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce. Anaïs Schaff and Abigail Schaff are the content coordinators for Cliffhanger TV. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/
http://www.spanamwar.com/Baler.html
http://www.vertele.com/noticias/el-creador-de-el-ministerio-del-tiempo-explica-el-paron-y-avanza-cuando-planea-volver/ 
http://www.elmundo.es/television/2016/04/08/5706bf17ca474112628b457c.html

EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 2, EPISODE 6: TIEMPO DE MAGIA (LA 1)

[Spoiler-Free] Madrid, 1924. The Marquis of Santa Cara, introduces his son, Joaquín Argamasilla, to his friends. He wants Joaquín to demonstrate them his metapsychic powers as he pretends that his son can see through things ("the incredible man with X-Ray in his eyes").

The demonstration is convincing and Gromek, a circus impresario, wants to bring Joaquin Argamasilla to America. Except that the young man is a top agent of the Ministry, which suspects that Argamasilla wants to tell its secrets to FBI director J. Edgar Hoover.

A patrol goes undercover to meet the Marquis and his son: Amelia as a journalist, Alonso as her photograph and Pacino as... The Great Benito, a psychic. The presence of Josefa, a hairdresser, gives him the opportunity to shine with his knowledge of a criminal case from the era. The "powers" of the Great Benito allow the team to travel with Joaquín Argamasilla to New York. Some familiar adversaries are already there and the legendary magician Houdini helps Amelia, Alonso and Pacino to avoid an assasination.

Irene recovers a bit of dignity and the annoying Susanna Torres is unmasked in this brilliant episode. The story is based on a real-life 1924 controversy when Joaquín Argamasilla got the attention of Harry Houdini, who decided to expose the Spaniard as a fraud. The Great Benito/Pacino remembers a famous 1924 criminal case, the disappearance of three little girls of the Hilarión Eslava Street in Madrid. Other references include the Marx Brothers, Grease (an hilarious nod) or Mission: Impossible. The sets, visual effects and costumes are first class. The episode is directed by Paco Plaza ([Rec]).

Starring Hugo Silva (Pacino), Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez) and Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí). Guest starring  Miki Esparbé (Joaquín Argamasilla), Glasgow-born actor Gary Piquer as Houdini, Marcos Marín (Bennett), Rick Zingale (Gromek), Mari Carmen Sánchez (Josefa), Miguel Hermoso (J. Edgar Hoover), Mar Saura (Susanna Torres), Natalia Millán (Lola Mendieta), etc.

Created by Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel). Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE. María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce. Anaïs Schaff and Abigail Schaff are the content coordinators for Cliffhanger TV. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama. El Ministerio del Tiempo is distributed by Onza Distribution.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/

See also:

https://www.escepticos.es/repositorio/elesceptico/articulos_pdf/ee_11/ee_11_harry_houdini:_un_capitulo_de_su_lucha_contra_el_fraude.pdf
http://www.abc.es/20110324/archivo/abci-houdini-argamasilla-201103241300.html
http://www.abc.es/espana/20150705/abci-crimen-historia-tres-ninas-201507041609.html

EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 2, EPISODE 5: UN VIRUS DE OSTRO TIEMPO (LA 1)

[Spoiler-Free] Irene Larra catches the Spanish flu during a mission in 1918 with Dr. Vargas, the boss of the Ministry's medical staff.

Vargas prefers to leave her behind given the risks of contagion but Susanna Torres orders him to bring her back. Her decision threatens the civil servants of the Ministerio del Tiempo and the History of Spain itself.

Amelia, Pacino and Alonso cannot go to the Seville April Fair in 1991 because all the missions are cancelled. The Ministry is quarantined and two agents are trapped in the Cave of Altamira during the Upper Palaeolithic era. The great Velázquez, Alonso and Germán (the Ministry's beadle) are infected. Ernesto informs Salvador of the situation.  

Galician heroine Maria Pita, who prevented the soldiers of English pirate Francis Drake from invading La Coruña in 1589, appears in 2016 because of a door glitch, which forces Ernesto to give a History lecture to Susanna ("Fish and chips in Sangenjo"). Angustias helps as a nurse. Pacino convinces Amelia and Ernesto that Dr. Vargas hides something.

A great episode punctuated by some moving flashbacks about Velázquez, Alonso and Germán. The scenes with Mariano and Pepe, the two agents of the Ministry stucked in 15000 BC, will stay as some of the best moments of this series. Starring Hugo Silva (Pacino), Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez) and Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez). 

With Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí). Guest starring José Luis Torrijo (Vargas), José Ramón Iglesias (Germán),  Tania Villamarín (Maria Pita), Mar Saura (Susanna Torres), Julián Villagrán (Diego Velázquez), etc. Created by Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel).   Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE.  

María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce. Anaïs Schaff and Abigail Schaff are the content coordinators for Cliffhanger TV. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama. El Ministerio del Tiempo is distributed by Onza Distribution.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/ 

EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 2, EPISODE 4: EL MONASTERIO DEL TIEMPO (LA 1)

[Spoiler-Free "mini review"] 1808. Napoleon is about to spend Christmas at the convent of Santa Clara in Tordesillas. Salvador Marti must send there a team to save Rodolfo Suárez, an ancestor of Adolfo Suárez (the father of Spain's democratic transition) from an execution by the Emperor's troops.

Rodolfo and two other men are accused of espionage and the abbess of Santa Clara died before pleading their case before Napoleon. Salvador Marti needs someone who has the "profile" of the abbess so he chooses Angustias, his secretary, to go with Amelia and Pacino. Alonso has a couple of days off to adjust to his new situation with a little help of Ernesto. Irene understands that Salvador has a way to contact Julián. The scheming Susanna Torres manages to push her agenda one step ahead, at the expenses of the boss of the Ministerio.

Pacino must pass as a priest and gets too much attention from Marshal Ney. Angustias can't sing and her mastery of the French language is not quite what's in her resume. A very funny "lighter" episode including a short reappearance of Rodolfo Sancho as Julián Martínez (come on, the intro spoils it anyway...) Julian is absent of most of the second series due to the commitments of the very busy Rodolfo Sancho on the Antena 3 crime drama Mar de Plastico.

Also starring Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez). With Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí) and Hugo Silva (Pacino). Guest starring Fernando Cayo (Napoleon), Ismael Martínez (Rodolfo Suárez), Jordi Martínez (Marshal Ney), Mar Saura (Susanna Torres), etc.

Created by Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel). Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE. María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce. Anaïs Schaff and Abigail Schaff are the content coordinators for Cliffhanger TV. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama. El Ministerio del Tiempo is distributed by Onza Distribution.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/
http://www.elnortedecastilla.es/valladolid/201603/08/ministerio-tiempo-recuerda-napoleon-20160308183131.html
http://www.lavozlibre.com/noticias/ampliar/1137094/rodolfo-sancho-obligado-a-dejar-el-ministerio-del-tiempo-para-centrarse-en-mar-de-plastico

EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 2, EPISODE 3: TIEMPO DE HIDALGOS (LA 1)

[Spoiler-Free "mini review"] The Ministry of Time has a big problem: Spain has lost Don Quixote! Pacino (Hugo Silva), Amelia (Aura Garrido) and Alonso (Nacho Fresneda) try to save Cervantes' masterwork with the assistance of Gil Pérez (Miguel Rellán), while the author is eager to fulfil his ambition as a playwright.

The impressive Jimmy Shaw returns as Paul Walcott, the American time traveller who first appeared last year to threaten another Spanish national treasure (Guernica). Miguel de Cervantes is performed by Pere Ponce in this wonderful Tiempo de hidalgos (aired on Monday) which includes a charming and elegant tribute to Vincent and the Doctor, the tenth episode of the fifth series of 2005's Doctor Who. There are shades of The Shakespeare Code too.

Victor Clavijo is back as Lope de Vega and the legendary Manuel de Blas also appears in this episode packed with talent. We have not finished yet with Lola Mendieta (Natalia Millán), the adversaries of the Ministry travel Star Trek-style and does the Darrow Ltd Co. really plan to "build a better future"?

Also starring Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez) and Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí). Created by Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel) and directed by Marc Vigil. Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE.

María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce. Anaïs Schaff and Abigail Schaff are the content coordinators for Cliffhanger TV. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama. El Ministerio del Tiempo is distributed by Onza Distribution.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/

http://www.vayatele.com/ficcion-nacional/el-homenaje-de-el-ministerio-del-tiempo-y-cervantes-a-doctor-who-y-van-gogh

http://desdemibutaca.com/2016/02/29/el-ministerio-del-tiempo-el-mejor-homenaje-al-quijote-en-el-centenario-de-cervantes/

EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 2, EPISODE 2: EL TIEMPO EN SUS MANOS (LA 1)

[Spoiler-Free "mini review"] After last week's unexpected development, the Spanish sci-fi series goes Serpico and Life On Mars with this incredible episode introducing new lead Hugo Silva as undercover cop Jesús Méndez (nicknamed "Pacino").

Andrés Gertrúdix plays a ruthless adversary of the Ministry of Time. The series has a new intro. Great running gag about Méndez particularly upset that his new colleagues don't know the 1973 Sidney Lumet movie which inspired his nickname. El Ministerio del Tiempo is the epitome of "Must See TV".

Also starring Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez) and Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí). Created by Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel) and directed by Marc Vigil. Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE.

María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce. Anaïs Schaff and Abigail Schaff are the content coordinators for Cliffhanger TV. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama. El Ministerio del Tiempo is distributed by Onza Distribution.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/

EL MINISTERIO DEL TIEMPO - SERIES 2, EPISODE 1: TIEMPO DE LEYENDA (LA 1)

[Spoiler-Free "mini review"] Sci-fi TV series El Ministerio del Tiempo, one of our favourite Spanish dramas of 2015 (if you followed us on social networks you know how much we like it), returned tonight on TVE's main channel La 1.

Created by Pablo Olivares & Javier Olivares (Victor Ros, Isabel) and directed by Marc Vigil, El Ministerio del Tiempo is about a secret Spanish government institution called The Ministry of Time. Its mission is to prevent anyone from altering the past. The premiere of this second series (13X70-minute episodes) really starts after a  long "Story So Far" sequence but the episode, centered on El Cid, undoubtedly worths the wait. Someone films a fight in 1079's Valencia. The status of a regular character is reassessed, with a radical consequence for the team.

Starring Rodolfo Sancho (Julián Martínez), Aura Garrido (Amelia Folch), Nacho Fresneda (Alonso de Entrerríos), Cayetana Guillén Cuervo (Irene Larra), Juan Gea (Ernesto Jiménez), Francesca Piñón (Angustias Vázquez) and Jaime Blanch (Salvador Martí).  Ramón Langa (Ambrosio Spínola) and Julián Villagrán (Diego Velázquez) are amongst the guest stars.

Produced by Cliffhanger TV, Onza Entertainment and RTVE. María Roy & Maite L. Pisonero (TVE), José María Irisarri & Gonzalo Sagardía (Onza Entertainment) and Javier Olivares (Cliffhanger TV) exec produce. Anaïs Schaff and Abigail Schaff are the content coordinators for Cliffhanger TV. Music composed by Dario González Valderrama. El Ministerio del Tiempo is distributed by Onza Distribution.

http://www.rtve.es/television/ministerio-del-tiempo/

http://cadenaser.com/ser/2016/02/15/television/1455555429_193860.html

http://www.culturaenserie.com/critica-del-primer-capitulo-de-la-segunda-temporada-de-el-ministerio-del-tiempo.html