El ministerio del tiempo (English title: The Ministry of Time) is a Spanish fantasy television series created by and Pablo Olivares and produced by Onza Partners and Cliffhanger for (RTVE). It premiered on 24 February 2015 on La 1 of (TVE). The series follows the exploits of an investigative team in the fictional Ministry of Time, which deals with incidents caused by time travel that can cause changes to the present day.
On 24 March 2015, it was confirmed that RTVE had renewed the series for a second season. The show was renewed for a third season on 22 September 2016. On 29 December 2016, it was announced that RTVE had sold the rights to Netflix to broadcast the third season internationally, outside of Spain, resulting in a bigger production budget.
The series was renewed for a fourth season, which started airing on TVE on 5 May 2020. It was known that HBO had acquired the broadcasting rights for the series, at least on HBO Spain and HBO Portugal.
Plot
The Ministry of Time is the best kept and most closely guarded secret of the Spanish government: an autonomous government institution that reports directly to the Prime Minister and the Spanish Monarch. Its patrols watch the doors of time so that no intruder from other eras can change history for their own benefit.
The series follows the assignments of the Ministry's newest patrol: the one formed by Army of Flanders soldier Alonso de Entrerríos, 19th century student Amelia Folch and 21st century SAMUR paramedic Julián Martínez.
Cast and characters Main characters
Julián Martínez (Rodolfo Sancho), one of three members of the new patrol. He is a trained SAMUR paramedic from 21st century Madrid, present as a member of the patrol through season 1 and the second half of season 2. His absence during the first half of season 2 was due to shooting for Spanish crime drama series Mar de plástico, and he left the series at the end of that season after failing to reach an agreement with the show's producers. In November 2019, however, it was confirmed he will return for season 4. Amelia Folch (Aura Garrido), the leader of the patrol. She is a late 19th-century pioneering university student and an only child from an upper-class Barcelona family, still living with her parents. Garrido left the series halfway through the third season, citing scheduling conflicts after she, like Sancho, signed on to other projects due to renewal uncertainty. She left on good terms and was open to returning in the future. In November 2019, her return in season 4 was confirmed. Alonso de Entrerríos (Nacho Fresneda), the third member of the three-member patrol. A highly experienced 16th-century soldier from Seville, he is portrayed as an expert in fields of combat. He was recruited just prior to being executed, and now lives in the 21st century with a wife and a baby. Irene Larra Girón (Cayetana Guillén Cuervo), Head of Logistics inside the Ministry. A lesbian from the repressed 1960s, her character is used to express a less rigid viewpoint within the Ministry. Ernesto Jiménez (), Chief Operating Officer inside the Ministry. Recruited from the 15th century, he is fiercely incorruptible and a perfectionist. In the fourth episode of Season 1 it is disclosed that he is the father of Tomás de Torquemada, the first Grand Inquisitor of the Spanish Inquisition. Undersecretary Salvador Martí (Jaime Blanch), Head of the Ministry. His (and the Ministry's) overriding priority is to protect and repair history. Angustias Vázquez (Francesca Piñón), personal secretary to Salvador and widow of a Ministry agent. Jesús Méndez Pontón (Hugo Silva), AKA "Pacino", a replacement member for Julián in the second and third seasons. He is a handsome police officer from 1981 Madrid, nicknamed "Pacino" due to his resemblance to actor Al Pacino, whom he admires. Lola Mendieta (Natalia Millán): A former agent of the Ministry who was believed to have died on a mission. She provided information about clandestine doors of time to a number of people. Her younger self (played by Macarena García) is recruited to the Ministry, eventually joining the patrol. She is the first and only agent to ever be recruited twice.
Recurring characters Diego Velázquez (Julián Villagrán): One of the most important painters in Spanish history, known for Las Meninas and The Surrender of Breda, who was recruited by the Ministry as a facial composite draftsman. Enric Folch (Xavier Boada) and Carme (Fanny Gautier): Amelia's parents. While he appears more tolerant about his daughter's concerns, she presses her to marry and settle down. Blanca (): Alonso's wife, who believes him to be dead since she does not know his execution was avoided by the Ministry. Elena Castillo (): Alonso's love interest in the present day and Bianca's doppelgänger. Susana Torres (Mar Saura): The Prime Minister's liaison with the Ministry. Her visits usually mean bad news for Salvador. Lucía (Luisa Gavasa): Appears in the 3rd season claiming to be Lola Mendieta's daughter. Ambrogio Spinola (): One of the main generals of the Spanish Army during the 17th century, most notable for the siege of Breda. He works for the Ministry, and admits he made the mistake of reading about his fate in the books. Enriqueta Martí (María Rodríguez): A serial murderer who worked as Amelia's maid for a short time. Marisa (Nieve de Medina): An old love interest of Ernesto's who has returned to work in the Ministry. Armando Leiva (José Antonio Lobato): A former agent who rebelled against the Ministry when Salvador refused to allow him to bring his 10-year-old son, diagnosed with leukemia, to the present so that doctors from the 21st century could tend to him. Maite (Mar Ulldemolins): Julián's late wife, whom he visits by way of the doors of time. Paul Walcott (Jimmy Shaw): An American time traveller who worked for mysterious corporation Darrow Ltd. Bosco de Sobrecasa (): A high-ranking member, possibly the leader, of the Society of the Exterminating Angel, which has discovered the existence of the Ministry and plans to use the time doors to fully restore absolute monarchy in Spain across history. Juan Martín Díez "El Empecinado" (Hovik Keuchkerian): A notable guerrilla combatant who becomes the target of two Napoleonic soldiers who travel to 2015 and find out about his role in the impending Peninsular War.
Cast
CharacterPortrayed bySeasons1234 Julián Martínez Rodolfo Sancho colspan="2" Amelia Folch Aura Garrido colspan="3" Alonso de Entrerríos Nacho Fresneda colspan="4" Irene Larra Girón Cayetana Guillén Cuervo colspan="4" Ernesto Jiménez colspan="4" Salvador Martí Jaime Blanch colspan="4" Angustias Vázquez Francesca Piñón colspan="4" Jesús Méndez Pontón "Pacino" Hugo Silva colspan="4" Lola Mendieta Natalia Millán colspan="3" Macarena García colspan="2" colspan="2" Fiorella Faltoyano colspan="3" Diego Velázquez Julián Villagrán colspan="3" Carolina Bravo Mendoza Manuela Vellés colspan="3" Blanca/Elena Castillo colspan="4" Maite Mar Ulldemolins Susana Torres Mar Saura colspan="2" Lucía Luisa Gavasa colspan="2" Ambrogio Spinola colspan="2" colspan="2" Gil Pérez Miguel Rellán colspan="2" colspan="2" Lope de Vega Víctor Clavijo colspan="3" Federico García Lorca colspan="2" Adolf Hitler Miko Jarry Miguel de Cervantes Pere Ponce colspan="2" Marta Cascajosa Belén Fabra colspan="2" Bosco de Sobrecasa colspan="2" Carlos Munuera Mateu colspan="3" Juan Salcedo colspan="3"
Episodes Season 1
Season 2
Season 3
Season 4
Special appearances
Season 1
Episode 1 Hovik Keuchkerian as Juan Martín Díez "El Empecinado" as Thibaud Iván Villanueva as Benito
Episode 2 Víctor Clavijo as Lope de Vega Miguel Rellán as Gil Pérez Miguel Ángel Somé as Alonso de Entrerríos, Jr. (Alonso's son)
Episode 3 as Heinrich Himmler Pep Miràs as Francisco Franco Miko Jarry as Adolf Hitler Frank Feys as Heinrich Müller Markus Lambauer as Captain Schweinsteiger Pep Sais as Antoni Maria Marcet i Poal, abbot of Montserrat Jorge Pobes as Luis Orcajo Julio Arrojo as Ángel
Episode 4 Michelle Jenner as Isabella of Castile as Tomás de Torquemada Eusebio Poncela as Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros as Rabbi Abraham Levi Carlos Álvarez-Nóvoa as Don Manuel López Castillejo Ben Temple as Aaron Stein as the Inquisition prosecutor
Episode 5 Raúl Pulido as Pablo Picasso Roberto Álvarez as Julián's father Vicente Gil as Fernando Jiménez del Oso
Episode 6 Juan Blanco as Lázaro de Tormes Alberto Amarilla as Fray Juan Francesc Orella as Alberto Díaz Bueno
Episode 7 María Cotiello as Nuria Celaya (Irene's wife) Carmen Sánchez Lozano as Isabella II Carmen Gutiérrez as Maria Christina of the Two Sicilies Celine Peña as Infanta Luisa Fernanda Manolo Solo as Undersecretary Emilio Redón
Episode 8 Ángel Ruiz as Federico García Lorca as Salvador Dalí as Luis Buñuel Antonio Alcalde as Pepín Bello Secun de la Rosa as Antonio Lancha Iria del Río as Silvia (Amelia's granddaughter) Mar del Hoyo as Rosita Díaz Gimeno Jordi Hurtado as himself
Season 2
Episode 9 Antonio Velázquez as Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar "El Cid" Sergio Peris-Mencheta as Rogelio Buendía / Imposter Cid Savitri Ceballos as Jimena Díaz Luis G. Gámez as Ramón Menéndez Pidal Pablo Scola as Charlton Heston Vincente Colomar as Blas de Lezo
Episode 10 Andrés Gertrúdix as as Pacino's father Antonio Reyes as Morán's father Ximena Vera as Morán's mother Carmela Lloret and Eva Llorach as two of Morán's victims
Episode 11 Pere Ponce as Miguel de Cervantes Víctor Clavijo's second appearance as Lope de Vega Jimmy Shaw as Lord Charles York/Walcott Markos Marín as John Bennet Miguel Rellán's second appearance as Gil Pérez
Episode 12 Fernando Cayo as Napoleon Bonaparte as Rodolfo Suárez Jordi Martínez as Michel Ney Nadia de Santiago as Rosa del Amo as Sor Flora Aránzazu Zorate as Sor Paula Sonia Almarcha as Sor Antonia
Episode 13 Elena Furiase as Micaela Amaya José Luis Torrijo as Doctor Vargas José Ramón Iglesias as Germán Tania Vilamarín as María Pita Joaquín Gómez as Germán's father Jaime Zatarain as Ramón de la Vega Pepe Zafra as young Velázquez Guillermo Vallverdú as Mariano Javier Laorden as Pepe as Gregorio Marañón José Luis Patiño as Francisco Pacheco Sergi Méndez as young Alonso de Entrerríos Nicole Valle as young Blanca
Episode 14 Miki Esparbé as Joaquín María Argamasilla Gary Piquer as Harry Houdini Rick Zingale as L. Gromek as Josefa as J. Edgar Hoover Juan Carlos Sánchez as Ramón del Valle-Inclán Juan Antonio Quintana as Santiago Ramón y Cajal Pedro Miguel Martínez as Joaquín José Javier Argamasilla
Episodes 15/16 Pedro Alonso as Saturnino Martín Cerezo as as Antonio Sanchez Menache as José Lafarga Abad Joan Carles Suau as Miguel Borja Maestre as Heredia Alberto Jiménez as Juan José Ballesta as Vicente González Toca Nacho Sánchez as Rafael Ríos Andrey Finanta as Alejo Vanessa Castro as Maria Pastora Vega as Pacino's mother Mónica Estarreado as Asunción as Luis Méndez (Pacino's father)
Episode 17 as Philip V of Spain María Álvarez as Elisabeth Farnese Algis Arlauskas as Ferguson
Episode 18 Carlos Cuevas as Javier Mario Tardón as Dr. Madrigal Arnau García as young Salvador Martí Alexandra Jiménez as Teresa Méndez / Julia Lozano Rosa Vivas as Salvador's adoptive mother
Episode 19 as Sebastián Lombardi Anna Castillo as Sonia Lombardi Joan Carreras as Christopher Columbus
Episode 20 Nancho Novo as Don Fadrique de Villaespesa Alba Ribas as Constanza Chusa Barbero as Claudia Raúl Cimas as Isaac Vila Richard Sahagún as Alberto Ortigosa Garbiñe Insausti as Natalia Vila Maitane San Nicolás as Rocio Patrick Criado as Sancho Félix Arkarazo as Ernest Hemingway Javier Mula as Saavedra Pepe Rodríguez as himself
Episode 21 Carlos Hipólito as Philip II of Spain Carlos Kaniowsky as Víctor Duplá as Agustín Argüelles Jon Ariño as De las Cuevas Carlos Cuevas as Javier