El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time — Episode 6: Tiempo de pícaros/Time of rascals: A Review

6th December, 2018.

Yes: it’s another day, another dollar … 

And, for those of you keeping an an eye on these things?

Another day in the life of … 

Me … you … 

And just about everyone else.

Although, for me … ?

There’s been a frustrating event event: one that’s hit me, and many others.

Yep: I’ve a nice shiny smart phone … 

That’s on O2 … 

As you can imagine, my usual stroll along Brentwood High Street, today … ?

Was uninterrupted by any phone calls.

I have a problem … as O2, my mobile service, was affected by whatever software issue has caused a problem that’s affecting people in the UK: and in Japan.

And, apparently, in other parts of the world.



Right now, there’s not a lot I can do about it: bar complaining.

Oh … possibly having a word with the shop in the morning.

After all, if you’re job hunting, and one of your main contact numbers goes offline, through no fault of yours?

Meaning you can’t be contacted by potential employers?

Complaining is just about all you CAN do.

~≈§≈~

At any rate … ?



There’s upsides to the free time unemployment brings.



No, really.



You get to catch up on a lot of TV that you otherwise wouldn’t have seen.

You’d possibly realised.

You’d possibly also realised that — for the past few days? — I’ve been watching — Series 1 — of the Spanish language show, El Ministerio del Tiempo/The Ministry of Time.

And yes: it’s very good … !

~≈§≈~

Episode 6 — Tiempo de pícaros/Time of rascals — opens with two archaeologists breaking into a sealed off cave, just outside Salamanca.

A cave sealed in 1520, containing serious amounts of 16th century archeology: paintings, gold, assorted other bits and pieces.

The one thing they don’t expect?

Is the 16th Century mobile phone.

Complete with working sim card.

Back at the Ministry?

Back at the Ministry, the Yndersecretary, Salvator Martí (Jaime Blanch*) — with help from Don Ernesto (Juan Gea†), and Irene (Cayetana Guillén Cuervo) — have worked out the phone belongs to one Alberto Díaz Bueno (Francesc Orella) … 

Who’s seems to be very good at finding very good forgeries of 16th century art.

You can tell Alonso, Julián and Amelia have their hands full, can’t you … ?

~≈§≈~

Now … 

Good … ?

Topical … ?

Oh, lord, topical is the word, alright!

After all, given the fact my mobile provider’s gone down, today, a mobile phone kicking this episode off seems to be if not topical, then certain appropriate!

Good?

Good, though?

Good is, again, the word.

After all, we’ve another littler cracker of an episode: with the team figuring out how to make sure Lázaro‡’s story gets told, get the villainous Bueno out of 16th century Salamanca … 

And find out exactly where Lola’s keeping the official door.

On top of that?

We seen the Ministry has problems of its own, in the 21st Century.

After all, it seems Washington has insisted on Walcot being extradited back to the US …

And Lola … ?   Isn’t the only rogue agent in the Ministry’s vintage woodwork.

This first series … ?

Is showing us not only action, but machination …

And genuine emotion.

Irene is the show’s moral heart, there!

Frankly?



El Ministerio del Tiempo is weaving one hell of a spell … !

*        Am I the only person who thinks Jaime Blanch looks vaguely like Robert Vaughan: of The Man from UNCLE fame?   Well, maybe not like him: they look more like they’re related … 

Jaime Blanch.

Robert Vaughan, in Hustle.

†        Normally, I refuse to take part in speculating which actor would be a good fit for which fictional character.   But give Juan Gea a goatee beard?   You’ve got Lord Vetinari of Ankh Morpork … 

Juan Gea, as Ernesto

‡        It seems the character is the subject of a anonymous written story the 16th century: one considers as influential, in it’s way, as Don Quixote.