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Narcos Season 1 Review

     Narcos is a television show that’s exclusive to Netflix and follows the rise and fall of Colombia’s cocaine cartels.  The series is loosely based on real events.  Season One follows Pablo Escobar’s (Wagner Moura) rise to power in the late 1970s until 1992.  In the opening of the first episode, a title card referencing magical realism which is sub-genre of literature pioneered by Colombian novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez.  This becomes a reoccurring theme throughout the rest of the show as the truth is much stranger than fiction and that Colombia itself is a place where the seemingly improbable happens. 
     The series is told through DEA Agent Steve Murphy’s (Boyd Holbrook) perspective.  Murphy also serves as the series narrator in the first two seasons.  Narration is used very effectively by the show’s writers.  Murphy’s narration helps introduce the viewer to new characters, the various law enforcement and criminal factions operating in Colombia, and the intricacies of Pablo Escobar’s cocaine empire.
      Another highlight of Narcos is Wagner Moura’s portrayal of Pablo Escobar and how the show’s writers portray him. At the height of their power, The Medellin Cartel was responsible for over 80% of the world’s cocaine trade and was making over $70 million a week, equaling $20 billion a year, making Pablo Escobar one of the richest men in the world.  Thankfully Narcos does not turn Escobar into an anti-hero like Tony Montana and his actions are not glamorized in anyway.  Escobar is shown for what he is, a ruthless drug lord who eventually turns into a full-blown terrorist in an attempt to get the Colombian government to capitulate to his demands to let him off scot free for his crimes.  Throughout the show, Escobar claims to have tremendous love for the people of Colombia. However, Escobar targets Colombian civilians in terrorist attacks and uses Colombia’s poorest citizens as cannon fodder against law enforcement.
      The dynamic between Steve Murphy and his partner Javier Pena (Pedro Pascal) is also another major them from the show as it shows the struggles that the U.S. government and the Colombian government had to go through in bringing down the Medellin Cartel.  Pena is shown to represent the darker side of America’s involvement in Colombia as he is more than willing to bend the rules in order to bring down Escobar.  Narcos does not hesitate to portray the U.S.’s involvement in Colombia as a double-edged sword. Does it solve Colombia’s problems or does U.S. interventionism and the War on Drugs throw the country into further chaos? This question becomes more important as the show continues.  The writers gladly don’t answer that question for the viewers. It is up for the viewers to decide.
       This show has something for everybody.  If you like true crime and detective shows than Narcos is for you.  If you like drama with great acting and memorable characters than this show is for you.  If you’re into lush set pieces than Narcos has that in abundance as it shows what a beautiful country Colombia is. If you’re into seeing shootouts and explosions Narcos has that too.
        Overall, the first season of Narcos is a highly entertaining show that ramps up the stakes with every episode.  Once you get into it, Narcos is a truly bingeworthy show that you will go through really quickly.
Overall Score:  ****1/2

 

    
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