Since Netflix’s inception as the first major streaming service offering original content, the Narcos franchise appeared to be the type of project that the studio was most interested in producing. It was a highly expensive and compulsively watchable show that provided binge-worthy entertainment, but it never quite reached the level of prestige that defined the service’s clear high-water marks. However, the high viewership of shows like Narcos allowed Netflix to invest in auteur projects that pushed the boundaries of the medium and invested in more complex passion projects from renowned filmmakers like Martin Scorsese, Noah Baumbach, and Alfonso Cuaron.
The previous Narcos content wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination and, compared to some of the nonsense that Netflix has greenlit recently, it’s fairly exceptional in its competence and execution. Narcos focused on the rise and fall of the legendary Columbian drug dealer and politician, Pablo Escobar. DEA agent Javier Peña, who joined the second season, brought some much-needed charisma to the show.
However, the series experienced a character development problem in the third season with no compelling antagonists to face-off against Moura, who had to leave the show because of the historical story timeline. The franchise finally solved its character problem with the 2018 spinoff series Narcos: Mexico, which explored the rise of the Mexican drug cartel in tandem with the Columbian exploits.
Narcos: Mexico turned the franchise from fun crime series to serious entertainment that examined the ramifications of the drug trade on the political, social, and economic development of Mexico during one of the nation’s most pivotal moments. It also didn’t hurt to have two of the most charismatic actors on the planet portraying characters with real dramatic potential.
The story is primarily told through the perspective of two ambitious men called upon to defend their families and countries by any means necessary. They’re mirrors of each other as much as they are nemeses. If there are any actors of this generation that can live up to Robert De Niro and Al Pacino’s precedent in Michael Mann’s iconic 1995 classic Heat, it’s Michael Peña and Diego Luna.
Narcos: Mexico examined a more complex political state through Kiki Camarena, the real DEA agent sent to investigate the rise of the cocaine trade in Mexico during the rise of Escobar’s cartel. The show explored how an investigation into the drug cartel would affect local economic markets and who would be blamed if a police investigation revealed the Guadalajara Cartel’s influence. The pregnancy of Kiki’s wife also puts pressure on his decisions throughout the season.
Diego Luna’s portrayal of Miguel Ángel Félix Gallardo, a charismatic drug kingpin, was remarkable. Like Kiki, he’s a family man in search of a way to earn respect; however, Miguel has the future of his country and family on his shoulders. He faces internal pressure from his fellow cartel leaders as he tries to make a name for himself.
Sadly, like its predecessor, Narcos: Mexico had to deal with the constraints of historical fact as it concluded its run. The real-life fates of both characters meant that Peña exited the series after the end of the first season, and Luna departed after the end of the second before the third season let Scoot McNairy wrap up the story. Overall, there are six seasons of the Narcos franchise available to binge for any subscriber, and if you’re only looking to watch one, the beginning of Narcos: Mexico couldn’t be a better start.
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Khushi Patel is a science fiction author who lives in Austin, Texas. She has published three novels, and her work has been praised for its originality and imagination. Khushi is a graduate of Rice University, and she has worked as a software engineer. She is a member of the Science Fiction Writers of America, and her books have been nominated for several awards.
