How Arturo Román became the most hated character in Netflix history
Netflix has many such stories that deserve a place in the hall of fame. But it has twice as many characters who have the audience wishing they were real, except for one: the most hated character in Netflix history, Arturo Román.
Netflix has given several characters that have had everyone daydreaming and hoping for a real-life incarnation. However, Money Heist brought the most loathsome character of all time, who had the viewers wishing for reduced screen time.
If a Netflix character fits the bill of spell for disaster, it has to be Arturo Román. Once you observe his arc in the heist thriller, you’ll realise just how irredeemable he is, although he is not even one of the kidnappers. As one of the most meme-worthy Netflix characters, Arturo is not short of drawbacks. In fact, it’s not just about his actions; it’s related to his personality and palpable cowardice.
While it’s okay for characters to reek of saviour syndrome in such dire situations, Arturo’s heroism is ultimately ironic. Despite his constant attempts to lead the other hostages out of danger, his motivations have always been selfish, rendering the plan to backfire each and every time. Not only does he fail to save his fellow hostages time and again, but he somehow manages to push them towards even greater uncertainty.
Arturo also thinks highly of himself, often underestimating the meticulous robbers, which only ends up increasing the perils. Sure, he wants to come out as the hero every time. But deep underneath, everything he does is driven by his own self-interest. If anything, he’s the perfect opportunist who has used every situation to his advantage, manipulating and exploiting other people while at it.
While Arturo’s arc during the heist was detestable, his personal arc is no less colourful. Before the heist, he was involved in an affair with his secretary despite being married. But guess who was to blame? His pregnant secretary, Monica. Yet, as Money Heist progresses, he turns himself into something worse than all of this.
When he returns to the heist situation, he comes across as an attention seeker. But in his attempt to reconnect with Monica, he commits sexual assault, making his character the most-hated one in Netflix history. Although the major criminal act of Money Heist is anchored by the kidnappers, Netflix subverts the idea of villains with them, who actually end up being heroes. While the writers may have made it a point to make Arturo deplorable, it goes without saying that they actually succeeded with the character development.