Narcos

Could this be the most meticulously crafted series I’ve ever seen? Quite possibly. The first season of Narcos grips you like few things have before. I’ve never paid much attention to television productions, as they often don’t have the highest budgets, but Narcos defies those preconceived notions with every minute. It approaches the level of a blockbuster, and that’s an undeniable fact. The casting was spot-on. For the role of Escobar, a Latin American actor was a must, and with Wagner Moura on hand, who has the talent and a striking resemblance to the criminal, hesitation was not an option. Moura gave his all, and it showed. Even his gaze was deadly, reflecting the intense preparation he undertook for the role. The supporting roles were also excellently cast; you won’t find anyone who feels out of place. As a probe into the operations of drug lords and the underworld, it functions superbly. The atmosphere is palpable, everything is depicted with no restraints and boundaries, and it is simply authentic. At times, it felt like I was watching a documentary (though there was real, albeit quite dramatic, footage, it helped understand daily life in Colombia). The action scenes were also perfectly handled. I have nothing to criticize. I’m looking forward to the next season; a series about such a notorious criminal hasn’t been seen in a long time, and likely won’t be again soon. It’s definitely worth savoring. I’m giving it 96%. (03.08.2019)

Could this be the most meticulously crafted series I've seen so far? I'd say so. The first season of Narcos pulls you into your seat like few things before. I’ve never really paid much attention to TV productions, as they usually don’t have big budgets, but Narcos defies these expectations with every minute. It’s on par with blockbuster films, and that’s an undeniable fact. The casting was perfect. To play Escobar, you needed to recruit a Latin American actor, and when you have Moura, with his talent and a similar appearance to this criminal, you simply can’t hesitate for a second. Moura gave it his all, and the result was evident. Even his gaze was deadly—you could tell he prepared for the role with great care. The supporting roles were also cast perfectly; you won’t find anyone out of place. As a deep dive into the workings of drug lords and the underworld, it works brilliantly. The atmosphere is thick, everything is depicted without restraint or limits—authentic, in a word. At times, I felt like I was watching a documentary (there were real scenes in the show, though they were quite graphic, but they helped you understand what everyday life in Colombia looked like). The action scenes were also executed perfectly. I have nothing to criticize, and I’m really looking forward to the next season—there hasn’t been a show about such a notorious criminal in a long time, and there probably won’t be one like it again. That’s why it needs to be savored to the fullest. I give it 96%. (04.08.2017)

The second season doesn’t slow down and continues to uphold the high standard of the first. While in the first season we watched Escobar slowly but surely claw his way to the top, where he had no real competition, in the second we witness his downfall, as he gradually loses one loyal associate after another, his enemies grow immensely stronger, and it's clear how it will all end. What surprised me the most was the return of Colonel Carillo—his character was one of the best in the first season, but I didn’t expect his return at all. And of course, once he returned, he couldn’t stick around for long (his death at the hands of Escobar was one of the most emotional moments of both seasons). Up until this point, Escobar was still somewhat afloat, but then the real rollercoaster began. The penultimate episode was, for many, quite boring and meaningless, but that’s not true. Escobar’s personality was perfectly captured here, and it was amusing to see an episode where, instead of scheming and shootouts, you watch a gangster helping his father repair a fence and doing things that probably weren’t very familiar to him until then. The final episode was masterfully intense, and the ending only reinforced everything. This is a series that will stay in my head for a long time because it was created by true geniuses. I give it 96%. (10.08.2017)

I must admit from the start that I was skeptical about the third season because I simply didn't believe that the absence of Escobar wouldn't have an impact. I was wrong, as I have been many times before. Yes, at times the absence of this character is slightly felt, but it is immediately compensated elsewhere, so you don’t notice this minor issue after a few seconds. A big plus is the return of the recurring character DEA agent Peña; without him, the season would have been a disaster because his narrative inserts were worth it, he’s Spanish, so his accent didn’t seem awkward, and he delivered a flawless performance. I grew fond of the central quartet of Cali drug lords, and I was surprised at how each one could boast an absolutely different personality. But in the end, they were all pretty nasty characters. Objectively, the first half of the series would rate around four stars, but in the second half, the pace of events picked up so quickly that even a five-star rating doesn’t suffice. I must praise the script; nothing could be faulted there, as well as the authentic filming locations and the cast. And, of course, the unpleasant realism that is quite chilling. I place the penultimate episode at the peak of the iceberg, not only for this season. We’ll see how the change of country affects things; I’m definitely looking forward to Juárez in Mexico and hope the quality remains at the highest level as it has so far. This is one of the best series in terms of maintaining quality, and I give it 91%. (18.02.2018)