Netflix’sNarcosis a three-season triumph that all crime drama fans should watch, and what’s more, it’s based on a real story.Narcoswas a part of the initialrun of Netflix original programmingalongsideJessica Jones,Bloodline, andThe Crown. Those shows were lauded by fans but somewhat buried critically and by the industry.
Netflix streaming, and streaming in general, was still in its early years, and the world wasn’t ready for prestige television on the same app that they watched old movies.Those who did decide to check out the streamer’s original offerings were rewardedwith one of thebest crime drama shows of the modern era.
Narcos Is About The Rise And Fall Of Pablo Escobar’s Drug Empire
The Three-Season Series Ran From 2015-2017
Narcostracks the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar, played by a mesmerizing Wagner Moura, and the formation of the Medellín Cartel. The series is told through the eyes of the DEA, specifically agent Steve Murphy (Boyd Holbrook) and agent Javier Peña (Pedro Pascal). Murphy narrates the series, dropping bits of backstory about the whole enterprise.
Both the DEA and the drug lord are given equal weight in the story, and we come to understand how a man like Escobar rises from a low-level smuggler to one of the most powerful drug lords in history. However, we also come to understand how interference from America both hindered and contributed to drug proliferation.
Season 1 is concerned with the rise of Pablo Escobar, while season 2 shows what happens after Escobar achieves his domination of the drug markets, and all eyes turn towards him. The final season, post-Escobar’s death and Murphy’s departure, sets up the next stage of the cartels in the Americas.
What Made Narcos One Of Netflix’s Best Original Shows
Narcos Gives Audiences A Bird’s-Eye View Of The Medellín Cartel
Narcosis an exceptional show, not just anothercrime drama about gangstersaccruing their power or gaining their comeuppance.There’s a real effort to “teach” withNarcos, mostly via Murphy’s narration, which offers sardonic insights into the events happening in a “can you believe this happened?” tone.
The dueling storylines of the DEA and Escobar also provide satisfying counterweights.
There’s an exhaustion toNarcosthat, while never boring, makes you, as the viewer, wonder if and how the drug trade in America will ever end. It’s a sobering reality that pairs nicely with the exciting, thrilling moments of the series, of which there are many. The dueling storylines of the DEA and Escobar also provide satisfying counterweights.
You can plot the journey of drugs up from South America to North America through the show, making for a tense and exhilarating ride.The cast is also incredible, with Moura, Holbrook, and Pascal leading an ensemble of lesser-known but impressively talented Central and South American actors.
How Historically Accurate Narcos Really Is
Narcos Gets Most Of The Major Details Right
Narcoscertainly dramatized some events from real lifefor the show, but the changes mostly had to do with names, combining characters, and slightly altering the fates of certain characters to fit within the timeline of the story. A notable change often pointed to is Escobar spending his final days with his father, of which there is little evidence.
The meat ofNarcos, however, is largely based on reality. Pablo Escobar’s personality, his “attention” given to the poor, the unbelievable amount of money he made, his death, and how it led to the formation of even more dangerous cartels, are all very true to history, even if some of the minor details are not.
The details ofNarcoscan get a bit messy, but it’s a good place to start for anyone interested in the subject. A major change the show makes is that agent Peña never went after the Cali Cartel as depicted in season 3. The real Peña and Murphy said about the series (viaTHR),
“We told them how it actually happened. There’s some artistic licenses, but the timeline is accurate.”
The show can’t be that inaccurate if the people who were there don’t have a big problem with it.
After Watching Narcos, You Should Also Watch Narcos: Mexico
Narcos: Mexico Is Arguably Better Than The Original
Narcosis only three seasons long, with only 30 episodes to chew on. However, there’s more for those who find themselves completely absorbed by the story.Narcos: Mexicois a companion series that may beas good or better thanNarcos. As the title suggests,the series tracks the proliferation of the Mexican Cartels.
Narcos: Mexicowas originally supposed to be seasons 4-6 ofNarcos.
The series ran from 2018 to 2021 for three seasons, mirroringNarcos' length, and earned a 90% onRotten Tomatoesoverall, compared toNarcos' 89% overall onRotten Tomatoes.Narcos: Mexicoprimarily stars Michael Peña as DEA agent Kiki Camarena and Diego Luna as Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, the de facto originator of the modern Mexican drug trade.
LikeNarcos,Narcos: Mexicotakes some creative liberties in order to streamline the story, but, for the most part, is a factual representation of what happened, and consequently, what is still happening. Netflix’s companion show is even more violent and dire, but a hard show to turn off once you get started with it.
