Money Heist season 5, part 1, spoilers follow – including its ending.
Netflix's breakout hit La Casa de Papel returned with its first batch of season five episodes, only to break fans hearts with the death of one of its main characters.
Look away now if you don't wish to find out – but the dramatic final episode confirmed that it's the end of the road for Tokyo (Úrsula Corberó). But what could this mean for Money Heist season six (or season five, part two, as it's officially being presented)?
Here's everything we know so far.
Money Heist season 6 release date: When will season 5 part 2 arrive on Netflix?
We'd known for quite some time that Netflix was planning to split the final season of the story into two separate volumes – with part one now available to stream, and part two coming very soon.
With the show's release schedule announced back in May, we can already confirm that the last lot of Money Heist episodes (ie season five part two, which many are unofficially calling season six) will launch on the streaming platform on December 3.
Money Heist season 5 part 1 ending explained, and what it could mean for the plot
Barricaded in the kitchen of the Bank of Spain, Tokyo, Denver (Jaime Lorente) and Manila (Belén Cuesta) found themselves in a shootout situation with Commander Sagasta and his military squad.
A nifty trick with a hand grenade left the bank's bodyguard César Gandía with a red face, and alerted Tokyo's on/off love interest Rio to the fact that his friends might be in danger. In an attempt to rescue them, Rio uses the team's jackhammer to start drilling through the ceiling to try and create access through the room's floor.
Sagasta also started drilling through the walls in an attempt to infiltrate, and a subsequent shooting through the holes leaves some of his team out of action and Tokyo severely injured. Her bulletproof vest no doubt saved her life, but she had lost the use of her limbs due to injury.
But the only safe way out of the kitchen was through a lift shaft, which would have meant using cables to lower themselves down multiple floors. This is something that an injured Tokyo could not do, so she pushed Denver and Manila to go without her. She planned for them to layer the bottom of the drop with soft items so that she could jump down to join them.
Rio manages to create a small hole to reunite with Tokyo, but the gap is too small for her to escape through. Before the lift jump was made possible, the military blasted its way into the kitchen and opened fire at Tokyo. Outnumbered, she accepted her fate – but not before detonating the grenades that were strapped to her chest, in a bid to take the squad with her and save the rest of her team.
The finale ended with the group coming to terms with the emotional loss of Tokyo.
The big question going forward is whether her narration of the series will continue, despite her death, or whether the mantle will be passed onto another character – and, if so, who?
We're also yet to find out the fate of Helsinki – who was trapped under a pillar and now in need of a leg amputation – and Stockholm, who has self-injected morphine.
The first part of season five also seems to have dedicated quite a bit of time to setting up an important role for Rafael (Patrick Criado) in future episodes. Through a series of flashbacks involving his father Berlin (Pedro Alonso), we discover how Rafael was manipulated into doing a heist with him. He's made it abundantly clear that he has no desire to follow in the footsteps of his late father, leading many Money Heist fans to speculate whether he may end up saving the day in the show's final season.
Money Heist season 6 cast: Who will return for season 5 part 2?
Despite her demise, there's every possibility that Tokyo will play a role in the remaining episodes. Flashbacks are a common narrative choice for the crime show, and as one of the central protagonists there's sure to be more to her story.
As mentioned above, we also have every reason to believe that popular newcomer Rafael will make a return, and that there's much more to discover about him.
Other key characters that will likely be back include:
The Professor (Álvaro Morte), Rio (Miguel Herrán), Manila (Belén Cuesta), Denver (Jaime Lorente), Stockholm (Esther Acebo), Helsinki (Darko Peric), Rodrigo de la Serna (Palermo), Bogotá (Hovik Keuchkerian) and Alicia Sierra (Najwa Nimri).
Money Heist episodes: How many are left?
We were told that season five would consist of 10 episodes in total, making it the longest so far.
The first part, available to stream now, comprising of five episodes, so the finale will be made up of the remaining five episodes.
Money Heist is available on Netflix, and season 5 part 2 will launch on December 3.
TV Editor, Digital Spy Laura has been watching television for over 30 years and professionally writing about entertainment for almost 10 of those. Previously at LOOK and now heading up the TV desk at the UK's biggest TV and movies site Digital Spy, Laura has helped steer conversations around some of the most popular shows on the box. Laura has appeared on Channel 5 News and radio to talk viewing habits and TV recommendations. As well as putting her nerd-level Buffy knowledge to good use during an IRL meet with Sarah Michelle Gellar, Laura also once had afternoon tea with One Direction, has sat around the fire pit of the Love Island villa, spoken to Sir David Attenborough about the world's oceans and even interviewed Rylan from inside the Big Brother house (housemate status, forever pending).
