Narcos
Genre
Created by
Starring
Narrated by
  • Boyd Holbrook (seasons 1–2)
  • Pedro Pascal (season 3)
Theme music composerRodrigo Amarante
Opening theme"Tuyo"
ComposerPedro Bromfman
Country of originUnited States
Original languages
  • English
  • Spanish
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes30
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Christophe Riandee
  • Jason George
  • Tim King
  • José Luis Escolar
  • Paul Eckstein
Production locations
CinematographyMauricio Vidal
Running time43–60 minutes
Production companyGaumont International Television
Budget$25 million (first season) est.
Original release
NetworkNetflix
ReleaseAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28) –
September 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
Related
Narcos: Mexico

Narcos is an American crime drama television series created and produced by Chris Brancato, Carlo Bernard, and Doug Miro. Set and filmed in Colombia, seasons 1 and 2 are based on the story of Colombian narcoterrorist and drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, who is the leader of the Medellin Cartel and became a billionaire through the production and distribution of cocaine. The series also focuses on Escobar's interactions with drug lords, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, and various opposition entities.[1][2] Season 3 picks up after the fall of Escobar and continues to follow the DEA as they try to shut down the rise of the infamous Cali Cartel.

Season 1, comprising 10 episodes, originally aired on August 28, 2015, as a Netflix exclusive.[3] The series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on September 2, 2016, with 10 episodes.[4] On September 6, 2016, Netflix renewed the series for its third and fourth seasons.[5] Season 3 premiered on September 1, 2017, but on July 18, 2018, the directors announced that season 4 would instead reset as season 1 of a new Netflix original series, titled Narcos: Mexico. The new series, released on November 16, 2018,[6] is set in Mexico in the 1980s.[7]

Plot

Season 1

Season 1 chronicles the life of Pablo Escobar from the late 1970s, when he first began manufacturing cocaine, to July 1992. The show is told from the perspective of Steve Murphy, an American DEA agent working in Colombia. The series depicts how Escobar first became involved in the cocaine trade in Colombia. He was an established black marketeer in Medellín, moving trucks of illegal goods (alcohol, cigarettes, and household appliances) into Colombia during a time when this was strictly forbidden, when he was introduced to Mateo "Cockroach" Moreno, a Chilean exile and underground chemist, who pitched the idea that they go into business together, with Moreno producing and Escobar distributing a new, profitable drug—cocaine.

They expand beyond Moreno's small cocaine processing lab by building additional, larger labs in the rainforest and, using the expertise of Carlos Lehder, transport their product in bulk to Miami, where it gains notoriety amongst the rich and famous. Soon enough, Pablo develops larger labs and more extensive distribution routes into the United States to supply growing demand. With cocaine's growth into a drug of importance in the American market, one that accounts for a large flow of U.S. dollars to Colombia and escalating drug-related violence in the United States, the Americans send a task force from the DEA to Colombia to address the issue. Murphy is partnered with Javier Peña. The purpose of Murphy's task force is to work with the Colombian authorities, led by Colonel Carrillo, to put an end to the flow of cocaine into the United States. The season ends with Escobar's escape from the prison.

Season 2

Season 2 continues where season 1 ended. Soldiers see Escobar and his entourage right outside the perimeter of 'La Catedral' prison but are too petrified of Escobar to make an arrest. At the embassy, the United States sends a new ambassador who brings the CIA into play. In the beginning, little change occurs for Escobar, as he still has the loyalty of his cartel. This loyalty, however, starts to slip as Escobar needs more time and resources to hide from the government. Among the tricks he uses to avoid being seen are riding around town in the trunk of a taxi cab and using young lookouts to report police movements to him.

Initially, Escobar easily adapts to his new life, giving money to the community while ruthlessly killing those who try to break away from his empire. The Colombian police and Escobar engage in massive battles, resulting in high tension and unrest in Colombia. Escobar's rivals in the Cali cartel form an unlikely alliance with ousted members of his own cartel, as well as with a CIA-backed anticommunist paramilitary group. Agent Peña secretly works with this group, who kill members of Pablo's organization and claim responsibility as "Los Pepes".

After two of Escobar's top cartel members are caught and betray him, Escobar goes on the run. He and his bodyguard hide in a safehouse, where he celebrates his 44th birthday. When Pablo tries to make contact with his family, the DEA and military track him down via radio triangulation and corner him on the rooftops. Pablo is hit twice in the ensuing shootout, and although he might have survived his injuries, a Colombian policeman named Trujillo executes him, amidst shouts of "Viva Colombia!"

Escobar's wife Tata goes to the Cali cartel for their help in leaving the country. Peña returns to the United States, in expectation of being reprimanded by the disciplinary committee for his associations with Los Pepes, but is surprised when asked to provide intelligence against the Cali cartel, implying his future involvement with the DEA.

Season 3

Season 3 was released on September 1, 2017.[8] The story continues after Pablo Escobar's death and shows the DEA's fight against the Cali cartel. With Escobar out of the way, business for the cartel is booming, with new markets in the United States and elsewhere. To everyone's surprise, Gilberto Rodríguez Orejuela, the leader of the Cali cartel, announces that within 6 months, the cartel will leave the cocaine business entirely to focus on legal business interests. The decision is met with mixed reactions within the cartel.

Episodes

SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
110August 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
210September 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
310September 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)

Season 1 (2015)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
11"Descenso"José PadilhaChris Brancato and Carlo Bernard & Doug MiroAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
22"The Sword of Simón Bolívar"José PadilhaChris BrancatoAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
33"The Men of Always"Guillermo NavarroDana CalvoAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
44"The Palace in Flames"Guillermo NavarroChris BrancatoAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
55"There Will Be a Future"Andi BaizDana Ledoux MillerAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
66"Explosivos"Andi BaizAndy BlackAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
77"You Will Cry Tears of Blood"Fernando CoimbraDana Calvo & Zach CaligAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
88"La Gran Mentira"Fernando CoimbraAllison AbnerAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
99"La Catedral"Andi BaizNick Schenk & Chris BrancatoAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)
1010"Despegue"Andi BaizNick Schenk & Chris BrancatoAugust 28, 2015 (2015-08-28)

Season 2 (2016)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
111"Free at Last"Gerardo NaranjoAdam FierroSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
122"Cambalache"Gerardo NaranjoZachary ReiterSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
133"Our Man in Madrid"Andrés BaizZachary Reiter and Steve LightfootSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
144"The Good, the Bad, and the Dead"Andrés BaizTeleplay by : Zachary Reiter and Carlo Bernard & Doug Miro
Story by : T.J. Brady & Rasheed Newson and Steve Lightfoot		September 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
155"The Enemies of My Enemy"Josef WladykaTeleplay by : T.J. Brady & Rasheed Newson and Carlo Bernard & Doug Miro
Story by : T.J. Brady & Rasheed Newson		September 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
166"Los Pepes"Josef WladykaJulie SiegeSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
177"Deutschland 93"Josef WladykaCarlo Bernand and Doug MiroSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
188"Exit El Patrón"Gerardo NaranjoTeleplay by : Gideon Yago & Curtis Gwinn
Story by : Gideon Yago		September 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
199"Nuestra Finca"Andrés BaizJulie Siege & Clayton TrussellSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)
2010"Al Fin Cayó!"Andrés BaizCarlo Bernard & Doug MiroSeptember 2, 2016 (2016-09-02)

Season 3 (2017)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
211"The Kingpin Strategy"Andi BaizCarlo Bernard & Doug Miro & Eric NewmanSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
222"The Cali KGB"Andi BaizCarlo Bernard & Doug Miro & Eric NewmanSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
233"Follow the Money"Gabriel RipsteinDavid MatthewsSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
244"Checkmate"Gabriel RipsteinAndy BlackSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
255"MRO"Josef WladykaAshley Kyle & Bart NickersonSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
266"Best Laid Plans"Josef WladykaJason GeorgeSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
277"Sin Salida"Fernando CoimbraSanta Sierra & Clayton TrussellSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
288"Convivir"Fernando CoimbraAndy BlackSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
299"Todos Los Hombres del Presidente"Andi BaizJason George & Carlo Bernard & Doug MiroSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)
3010"Going Back to Cali"Andi BaizCarlo Bernard & Doug MiroSeptember 1, 2017 (2017-09-01)

Cast and characters

Main

Recurring

  • Luis Guzmán as Gonzalo Rodríguez Gacha – founding member and former leader of the Medellín cartel (season 1)
  • Juan Pablo Raba as Gustavo Gaviria – Escobar's cousin and one of the founding members of the Medellin Cartel (seasons 1–2)
  • Juan Riedinger as Carlos Lehder – Lion's contact in the United States, give the task of distributing the cocaine (season 1)
  • Richard T. Jones – a CIA officer, also on Murphy's task force (recurring season 1; guest season 2)
  • Jon-Michael Ecker as El León or "The Lion" – a childhood friend of Escobar's who becomes his first drug smuggler into Miami and subsequently runs Escobar's Miami operations, based on George Jung (guest seasons 1–2)
  • Ana de la Reguera as Elisa Álvarez – the co-leader of the M-19 guerrilla faction (season 1)
  • Danielle Kennedy as Ambassador Noonan – a United States ambassador deployed to Colombia under Ronald Reagan (season 1)
  • Patrick St. Esprit as Colonel Lou Wysession – a Marine officer fighting against communism (recurring season 1; guest season 2)
  • Gabriela de la Garza as Diana Turbay – a Colombian journalist who was kidnapped by the Medellín cartel (season 1).
  • Ariel Sierra as Sureshot – one of Escobar's sicarios (recurring season 1; guest season 2)
  • Julián Díaz as Nelson ("El Negrito" or "Blackie") Hernández – a member of the Medellín cartel, who is frequently seen by Escobar's side (in real life, Escobar had a close friend named Jorge "El Negro" Pabón[17]) (seasons 1–2)
  • Carolina Gaitán as Marta Ochoa – the Ochoas' sister, who is kidnapped by M-19 (season 1)
  • Julián Beltrán as Alberto Suárez – an officer with the Colombian National Police (season 1).
  • Thaddeus Phillips as Agent Owen – a CIA agent on the Colombia task force (recurring season 1; guest season 2)
  • Laura Perico as Marina Ochoa – the Ochoas' sister, who has an affair with Escobar's cousin Gustavo (season 1)
  • Vera Mercado as Ana Gaviria – the wife of César Gaviria and the First Lady of Colombia (recurring season 1; guest season 2)
  • Juan Sebastián Calero as Navegante – a violent associate of the Cali cartel who works as their top henchman (seasons 1–3)
  • Leynar Gómez as Jhon "Limón" Burgos – a pimp and taxi driver from Medellín who becomes one of Escobar's sicarios, based on Alvaro de Jesús "El Limón" Agudelo (season 2)
  • Martina García as Maritza – an old friend of Limón's roped into unwittingly helping Escobar (season 2)
  • Brett Cullen as Ambassador Arthur Crosby – a former Navy officer sent as US Ambassador to Colombia by George H. W. Bush in 1992, replacing Noonan (seasons 2–3)
  • Konstantin Melikhov as Edward Jacoby - A U.S. intelligence officer involved with Centra Spike (season 2)
  • Germán Jaramillo as Gustavo de Greiff, Colombia's attorney general and vehement critic of President Gaviria's drug policy (season 2)
  • Mauricio Cujar as Diego "Don Berna" Murillo Bejarano (recurring season 2; guest season 3)
  • Mauricio Mejía as Carlos Castaño Gil (recurring season 2; guest season 3)
  • Gustavo Angarita Jr. as Fidel Castaño (recurring season 2; guest season 3)
  • Juan Pablo Shuk as Colonel Hugo Martínez – Carrillo's successor as the commander of Search Bloc (seasons 2–3)
  • Raymond Ablack as Agent Neil Stoddard (season 3)
  • Miguel Ángel Silvestre as Franklin Jurado (season 3)
  • Carlos Camacho as Claudio Salazar (season 3)
  • Taliana Vargas as Paola Salcedo (season 3)
  • Andrés Crespo as Carlos Córdova (season 3)
  • Julian Arango as Orlando Henao Montoya - a high-ranking member of the North Valley cartel (season 3)
  • Gaston Velandia as Rosso José Serrano – General of the Colombian National Police (season 3)

Notable guests

  • Luis Gnecco as Cucaracha or "Cockroach" (né Mateo Moreno) – the Chilean chemist who first introduced Escobar to cocaine trafficking (season 1).
  • A.J. Buckley as Kevin Brady – a DEA agent and the partner of Steve Murphy (season 1).
  • Adria Arjona as Helena Sotomayor – a top-class prostitute from Bogotá, a spy for the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Search Bloc (season 1).
  • Rafael Cebrián as Alejandro Ayala – one of the leaders of M-19 in Colombia and the boyfriend of Elisa Álvarez, the co-leader of the group (season 1).
  • Adan Canto as Rodrigo Lara Bonilla – a Colombian lawyer and politician (season 1).
  • Dylan Bruno as Barry Seal – an American drug smuggler working for the Medellín cartel who uses the alias "McPickle" (season 1).
  • Juan Pablo Espinosa as Luis Carlos Galán – a Colombian journalist and politician (season 1).
  • Alfredo Castro as Abel Escobar, Pablo's father (season 2)
  • Tristán Ulloa as Ernesto Samper – Colombian president (season 3).
  • Gabriel Iglesias as Dominican gangster (season 3).

Production

The series was announced in April 2014, through a partnership deal struck between Netflix and Gaumont International Television. The first season, consisting of 10 episodes, was estimated to cost about $25 million.[18] The series was primarily written by Chris Brancato and directed by Brazilian filmmaker José Padilha, who also directed the critically and commercially successful Elite Squad (2007) and its sequel in 2010, which became the highest-grossing film ever in Brazil.[19] On September 15, 2017, one of the show's location scouts, Carlos Muñoz Portal, was reported as having been found murdered with multiple gunshot wounds, in his car on a dirt road in central Mexico, near the town of Temascalapa.[20][21] A spokesman for the attorney general in Mexico state said there were no witnesses due to the remote location, and the authorities will continue to investigate.[22] The possibility of narco gangs' being involved is being considered.[23]

Opening theme and title sequence

Narcos opens with a title card, from which the narrator reads: "Magical realism is defined as what happens when a highly detailed, realistic setting is invaded by something too strange to believe. There is a reason magical realism was born in Colombia".[24][25]

Narcos' opening theme, "Tuyo", is a bolero written and composed for the show by Brazilian singer-songwriter Rodrigo Amarante.[26] The theme scores the visual montage comprising the title sequence, created by DK Studios under artistic director Tom O'Neill. The 1980s-themed images address Colombian drug trafficking in general, the United States' attempt to control it, the era's glamour, footage from the mountainous regions of Bogota and surrounding underprivileged neighborhoods, shots of local residents, archival news coverage, and violence. The montage excludes some people who were unwilling to appear in the credits, but it does include some news clips and images "of Pablo Escobar and his entourage, like those at the zoo, [which] came directly from the drug baron's personal photographer, who goes by the name El Chino." According to O'Neill, "the production team took inspiration from James Mollison's photo book The Memory of Pablo Escobar."[27][28][29][30]

Etymology

Narcotics is a late Middle English word derived from Old French narcotique, in turn derived via medieval Latin from the Greek narkōtikos, from narkoun ("make numb" or "produce stupor").

In Spanish, the term narco (or its plural, narcos) is an abbreviation of the word narcotraficante (drug trafficker).[31] In the United States, the epithet "narc" (or "narco") refers to a specialist officer of a narcotics police force, such as a DEA agent.[32][33]

Reception

Critical response

Critical response of Narcos
SeasonRotten TomatoesMetacritic
179% (45 reviews)[34]77 (19 reviews)[35]
292% (22 reviews)[36]76 (13 reviews)[37]
396% (22 reviews)[38]78 (9 reviews)[39]

Season 1

Rotten Tomatoes, a review aggregator, surveyed 45 reviews and judged 79% to be positive. The site reads, "Narcos lacks sympathetic characters, but pulls in the viewer with solid acting and a story that's fast-paced enough to distract from its familiar outline."[34] On Metacritic, season one holds a weighted average score of 77 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[35]

IGN gave the first season a 7.8 out of 10 score, saying: "It's a true-to-life account, sometimes to a fault, of the rise of Pablo Escobar and the hunt that brought him down laced with stellar performances and tension-filled stand-offs. Its blend of archival footage reminds us that the horrors depicted really happened, but also manage to present an Escobar that is indefensible but frighteningly sympathetic."[40] Writing for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Tirdad Derakhshani reviewed the season positively, calling it, "Intense, enlightening, brilliant, unnerving, and addictive, Narcos is high-concept drama at its finest."[41] Television critic Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter also reviewed the series positively, saying, "The series begins to find its pacing not long after, and we see the strength of Moura's acting, which to his credit never races, in the early going, toward over-the-top menace or the drug-lord cliches we're all used to at this point. Credit also the fact that Padilha brings a documentary feel to Narcos."[42] Nancy deWolf Smith of The Wall Street Journal wrote, "The omniscient-narrator device works very well for a complex story spanning many years and varied sets of players."[43] Critic Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times said, "It's built on sharp writing and equally sharp acting, as any good series needs to be."[44] However, chief television critic Mary McNamara of Los Angeles Times wrote, "It's a grand if inconsistent experiment that, from the moment it opens with a definition of magic realism, wears its considerable ambitions on its sleeve."[45] Writing for IndieWire, Liz Shannon Miller said, "An unlikeable character, no matter the circumstances, remains unlikeable, but an unlikeable character trumps a bland blonde man whose position of authority appears to be his only really interesting character trait, no matter how much voice-over he utters."[46]

The show received criticism for the quality of the spoken Spanish. Dr. Alister Ramírez-Márquez, a member of the North American Academy of the Spanish Language, faulted the accents, pronunciation, intonation, and incorrect use of Paisa colloquialisms.[47] Speaking of the show's reception in Colombia, Sibylla Brodzinsky of The Guardian stated, "audiences have been bemused by the stars' ropey accents, irritated by its portrayal of the country's recent history, and – in some cases – simply bored by yet another narco-drama."[48] The Brazilian accent of Wagner Moura was particularly criticized for being incongruent with Escobar's Paisa background.[48][49] Gisela Orozco of the Chicago Tribune said the show would not engross Latinos due to the mishmash of accents and contrasted Narcos with Pablo Escobar: El Patrón del Mal.[49] In his review of the show, Colombian TV critic Omar Rincón wrote in El Tiempo, "Narcos is the Miami and US vision of NarColombia – something like Trump's idea of us: the good guys are the gringos ... and the narcos are comically dysfunctional or primitives with bad taste ... Narcos may do well outside Colombia, but here it produces anger and laughter."[48]

Season 2

Rotten Tomatoes gives the second season an approval rating of 92% based on 22 reviews and an average rating of 7.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Narcos' sophomore season manages to elevate the stakes to a gut-wrenching degree in what continues to be a magnificent account of Pablo Escobar's life."[36] On Metacritic, season two holds a score of 76 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[37]

IGN gave the second season a score of 7.4 out of 10, calling it "Good" and wrote "It may go overboard with its love of Pablo Escobar, but I can't truly fault the show for taking advantage of its best performer and character – or for scrambling to find an emotional core on a show that can feel rather clinical."[50] Joshua Alston of The A.V. Club lauded Moura's performance and said, "While the show never soft-pedals the havoc Escobar created, it makes him surprisingly sympathetic, thanks in part to Moura's shrewd, affecting performance."[51] Critic Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times said, "Mr. Moura is inscrutably brilliant at the center of it all."[52] Entertainment Weekly's Jeff Jensen also reviewed the series positively, saying, "Where season 1 spanned 10 years, season 2 captures Escobar's last days on the loose. Each tightly packed episode moves quickly without sacrificing richness, chronicling the uneasy alliances and gross tactics employed to snare Escobar."[53] Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter said, "What works in the early going of season two is that the fall is almost always more thrilling, if not engaging, than the buildup. Escobar senses the loss of power and Moura does some of his best work as viewers read the worry and interior thinking on his face."[54]

Season 3

On Rotten Tomatoes, the third season holds an approval rating of 96% based on 22 reviews and an average rating of 7.46/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Narcos continues to evolve in its third season, drawing on historical details to take viewers on a thoroughly gripping – and unsettlingly timely – journey into darkness."[38] On Metacritic, season 3 holds a weighted average score of 78 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[39]

IGN gave the third season a score of 8.0 out of 10, calling it "a flawed-but-thrilling improvement over its first two seasons".[55] Critics praised the show for its ability to still be engaging after moving on from the Pablo Escobar storyline. Liz Shannon Miller of IndieWire said, "Outside of the overhanging threat of [Pablo] Escobar, 'Narcos' proves its ability to excel as an ongoing drama by not just introducing new members of these syndicates, but giving them real, fleshed-out lives beyond basic confrontations."[56] Writing for The Telegraph, Ed Power called the show "A sweltering thrill ride you'll want to stay with all the way until the end."[57] Critics praised Pedro Pascal's performance of DEA agent Javier Peña, who became the main protagonist after the departure of Boyd Holbrook, who played Steve Murphy. Kevin Yeoman of Screen Rant wrote, "The charismatic actor is finally offered a chance to lead the semi-anthological series."[58] Writing for Collider, Chris Cabin said, "Pascal carries the series admirably, expanding the scope of his character through Peña's relationship with his father."[59] Despite the positive reviews, some critics said the show got off to a slow start in the first few episodes. Critic Scott Tobias of The New York Times wrote, "Setting aside the 'Goodfellas' narration, the earliest episodes of 'Narcos' were distinguished by a meat-and-potatoes approach to the crime genre that rebuffed the slickness that usually comes with the territory."[60] Some critics acknowledged the expository flaws while praising the last sequence of episodes. Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "After a slow start to its third season, Netflix's cartel drama proves that it's able to be gripping TV even without Wagner Moura's Pablo Escobar."[61] Writing for Entertainment Weekly, James Hibberd said, "The narrative picks up its pace as the season progresses into a final run of episodes that feature the most suspenseful sequences Narcos has ever had."[62]

Accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2015 Hollywood Music in Media Awards Original Score – TV Show/Digital Series Pedro Bromfman Nominated
2016 Golden Globe Awards Best Television Series – Drama Narcos Nominated
Best Actor – Television Series Drama Wagner Moura Nominated
Writers Guild of America Awards Best Episodic Drama Andy Black (Episode: "Explosivos") Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Drama Series Narcos Nominated
Guild of Music Supervisors Awards Best Music Supervision in a Television Drama Liza Richardson Won
Golden Trailer Awards Best Trailer/Teaser for a TV Series/Mini-Series Netflix, Transit (Trailer: "Lines") Won
British Academy Television Awards British Academy Television Award for Best International Programme Nominated
Imagen Foundation Awards Best Actor – Television Wagner Moura Nominated
Best Actor – Television Pedro Pascal Nominated
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards Outstanding Main Title Design
Designers
  • Tom O'Neill
    Nik Kleverov
    David Badounts
    Josh Smith
 Nominated
Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music Rodrigo Amarante Nominated
Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series Leo Trombetta (Episode: "Descenso") Nominated
Hollywood Music in Media Awards Best Main Title – TV Show/Digital Streaming Series Rodrigo Amarante Nominated
Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Casting Television Pilot – Drama
Casting directors
  • Carmen Cuba
    Carla Hool
    Wittney Horton
 Nominated
2017 43rd People's Choice Awards Favorite Premium Drama Series Narcos Nominated
Golden Trailer Awards Best Action (TV Spot / Trailer /Teaser for a Series) Netflix, Transit (Trailer: "Lines") Won
Golden Reel Awards TV Short Form – FX/Foley
Sound editors
  • Randle Akerson
    Steve Hammond
    Dino R.DiMuro
 Nominated

Historical inaccuracies

As the series is based on a historical period of Colombia it is essential for viewers to be critical when it comes to how some of the historical events are portrayed. It has been criticized for overlooking the environments and settings in which it exists while it depicts the consequences of mass drug production in poverty-stricken areas of Colombia. Furthermore, it has been criticized for simplifying and romanticizing brutal periods of Colombian history, causing the creation of inaccurate narratives around the history of the country; however, aspects of the show were also eye-opening to the historical period, for example, the representation of Pablo Escobar. Narcos built the persona of Pablo Escobar as a “Robin Hood” figure amongst the poor, through the lens of tackling the “disparate class system” which Colombia was riddled with. Escobar came from a working-class family, and he eventually became a hero in the eyes of the poor through building soccer fields, medical clinics, etc, enabling him to “defy social-inequalities and become a man of power”.[77] It is in this way that the series humanized Escobar’s character,[77] consequently creating a more nuanced approach to the “villain” versus “protagonist” complex relationship in America’s war on drugs in Colombia.

Another nuanced approach taken by the series is through its discussion of the US involvement in foreign politics as an “irritating violent intrusion,” leaving the Colombian government feeling “manipulated by America’s hypocritical and counterproductive policies on drugs”.[77]

In the scrutinization of America’s role in the “war of Drugs,” drawing parallels to America’s “war on Terror,” Narcos most significant limitation rests on the framing of the war on drugs in Columbia from the perspective of “an american DEA agent,” failing to consider perspectives of “non-criminal latinos” [77] during this period. “Analysis of these works are necessary to consider all the nuances and complexities of the black markets these shows are discussing”.[77] While the show did a great job at tackling these nuances and complexities, there were a few historical inaccuracies which should not be overlooked.

The way the 1985, Colombia's Palace of Justice Siege is shown is one example of historical misinformation. It is a perfect illustration of a historical event being romanticized and simplified. It is actually one of the most significant insurgencies in South America and was not carried out by a "small group of bandits”.[78] Although it is untrue that it was carried out on a shoestring budget or impromptu, President Belisario Betancur was put on trial in a symbolic trial for breaking the peace agreements reached in August 1984 between the government, the M-19, and the Popular Liberation Army (EPL), another guerrilla insurgency that had taken part in the peace talks.[78] Another illustration is the entry of Israeli mercenaries into the nation in the late 1980s, when they helped right-wing troops in the Magdalena Valley region of the nation by arming and training them.[78] Gonzalo Rodriguez, Escobar's business partner, is depicted as having launched it in the television programme. A partnership of politicians, active and former army and police personnel, and drug lords sent the retired Israeli officers to Colombia, according to research by academics, historians, and journalists.[78] With the crystal-clear intention of eradicating the political left of the nation in the Magdalena Valley Region.[78]

Spin-offs

Narcos: Mexico was released on November 16, 2018. The story goes back to the 1980s, in Mexico, where it sets a shared world with the previous seasons of Narcos (which focus on Colombia), bringing back characters like Amado Carrillo (José María Yazpik) and Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura), for small roles, and introducing new ones like the famous DEA Agent Kiki Camarena (Michael Peña), the drug kingpin Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán (Alejandro Edda), and Miguel Felix-Gallardo (Diego Luna), creator of the first Mexican drug cartel, depicting the clash between them and the eve of the catastrophic Mexican war on drugs.[6]

A spinoff mobile game, Narcos: Cartel Wars Unlimited, was released in January 2023 for Android and iOS. It is available exclusively for Netflix subscribers, who can play it for free. Players control a drug kingpin and run their own cartel.[79]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Netflix Plans To Create Original Series About Colombian Drug Lord Pablo Escobar". Fox News. April 2, 2014. Archived from the original on April 11, 2014. Retrieved December 23, 2014.
  2. ↑ Moreno, Carolina (May 3, 2014). "Netflix's 'Narcos' Series On Pablo Escobar 'Will Be Like Nothing Ever Seen Before'". The Huffington Post. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  3. ↑ O'Connell, Michael (April 1, 2014). "Netflix Orders 10 Episodes of Pablo Escobar Drama 'Narcos'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  4. ↑ Petski, Denise (June 13, 2016). "'Narcos' Sets Season 2 Premiere Date". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  5. ↑ Hibberd, James (September 6, 2016). "Narcos Renewed for Two More Seasons". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2016.
  6. 1 2 "Netflix 'Narcos: Mexico'". Netflix. Archived from the original on June 2, 2020. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  7. ↑ Strause, Jackie (July 18, 2018). "Netflix Releases First Look at Reset 'Narcos: Mexico'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 18, 2018. Retrieved July 18, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Narcos | Season 3 Teaser [HD]". Netflix. July 14, 2017. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Boyd Holbrook Won't Return For Narcos Season 3". February 12, 2017. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  10. ↑ Harvey, Chris (August 1, 2015). "The terrible reign of cocaine king Pablo Escobar". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  11. ↑ "Maurice Compte boards the Netflix series Narcos". Digital Spy. October 10, 2014. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  12. ↑ "Entrevista exclusiva con la nueva chica Bond mexicana". Publimetro (in Spanish). Metro International. March 12, 2015. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved March 12, 2015. Hago a Valeria Velez, un personaje distinto basado en la amante de Pablo Escobar, Virginia Vallejo, un personaje importante en Colombia
  13. ↑ "Stephanie Sigman Joins Netflix Series 'Narcos'". Variety. July 20, 2014. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  14. ↑ Treaster, Joseph (July 23, 1992). "Colombian Drug Baron Escapes Luxurious Prison After Gunfight". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 19, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  15. ↑ Bowden, Mark (November 26, 2000). "A Former Ally Offers A Profile Of Escobar". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  16. ↑ W. John Green (2015). A History of Political Murder in Latin America: Killing the Messengers of Change. SUNY Press. p. 153. ISBN 9781438456638. Archived from the original on April 7, 2023. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  17. ↑ Guryney, Kyra (December 5, 2014). "Top 10 Tales from Pablo Escobar's Son's Book". InsightCrime. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
  18. ↑ "15 Most Expensive To Produce Netflix Original Series (& How Much They Cost To Make)". Screen Rant. September 1, 2020. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  19. ↑ Buckmaster, Luke (September 1, 2015). "NARCOS REVIEW (NETFLIX)". IGN. Archived from the original on September 4, 2015. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
  20. ↑ "La violencia en México supera a la ficción". El País (in Spanish). September 11, 2017. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  21. ↑ "Narcos filmmaker shot dead scouting for locations in rural Mexico". The Telegraph. September 17, 2017. Archived from the original on January 11, 2022.
  22. ↑ Collins, Pádraig (September 17, 2017). "Netflix scout for Narcos TV show found shot dead in Mexico". The Guardian. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2017.
  23. ↑ "Narcos location scout shot dead in Mexico". BBC News. September 17, 2017. Archived from the original on September 17, 2017.
  24. ↑ Almario, Alex (September 24, 2016). "REVIEW: 'Narcos' state of mind, ALWAYS RIGHT NOW". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  25. ↑ Sepinwall, Alan (August 27, 2016). "Review: Netflix's 'Narcos' takes on the legend of Pablo Escobar". What's Alan Watching?. Archived from the original on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 4, 2016.
  26. ↑ Romero, Angie (September 11, 2015). "Meet the Musical Minds Behind 'Narcos,' Netflix's New Pablo Escobar Series". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 5, 2016.
  27. ↑ Olité, Marion. "The Story Behind The Opening Credits #1: 'Narcos'". Konbini. Archived from the original on November 16, 2018. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  28. ↑ "'Narcos': A discussion with Creative Director TOM O'NEILL at Digital Kitchen". Art of the Title. September 22, 2015. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  29. ↑ "Review: The Memory of Pablo Escobar by James Mollison". Photo-Eye Bookstore. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  30. ↑ Mollison, James (2007). The Memory of Pablo Escobar. London: Chris Boot. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
  31. ↑ "'El Narco': The Trade Driving Mexico's Drug War". NPR. October 25, 2011. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2018.
  32. ↑ Ramos, R. (1990). Chicano intravenous drug users: The collection and interpretation of data from hidden Populations.
  33. ↑ "EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT 'NARCOS' HYPNOTIC THEME SONG". Decider. August 31, 2015. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
  34. 1 2 "Narcos: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  35. 1 2 "Narcos: Season 1". Metacritic. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  36. 1 2 "Narcos: Season 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  37. 1 2 "Narcos: Season 2". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  38. 1 2 "Narcos: Season 3". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  39. 1 2 "Narcos: Season 3". Metacritic. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
  40. ↑ Wheatley, Chris (August 27, 2015). "Narcos: Season 1 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  41. ↑ Derakhshani, Tirdad (August 27, 2015). "Narcos: Season 1 Review". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2015.
  42. ↑ Goodman, Tim (August 19, 2015). "'Narcos': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2015.
  43. ↑ deWolf Smith, Nancy (August 28, 2015). "Easy to get hooked on Netflix's drug drama 'Narcos'". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2015.
  44. ↑ Genzlinger, Neil (August 28, 2015). "Review: 'Narcos' Follows the Rise and Reign of Pablo Escobar". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2015.
  45. ↑ McNamara, Mary (August 26, 2015). "Netflix's 'Narcos' plays up Pablo Escobar's menace and magnetism". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  46. ↑ Bell, Josh (August 26, 2015). "The Grug War gets a superficial dramatization in Narcos". IndieWire. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2015.
  47. ↑ "Impresiones: El mal español de 'Narcos'". www.univision.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  48. 1 2 3 Brodzinsky, Sibylla (September 17, 2015). "Narcos is a hit for Netflix but iffy accents grate on Colombian ears". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 30, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  49. 1 2 Orozco, Gisela (September 4, 2015). "Por qué el acento de Pablo Escobar en 'Narcos', te hará ver 'El patrón del mal'". Hoy (in Spanish). Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2017.
  50. ↑ Fowler, Matt (August 31, 2016). "Narcos: Season 2 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
  51. ↑ Alston, Joshua (September 1, 2016). "Netflix's Narcos becomes a full-blown addiction in its potent second season". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2016.
  52. ↑ Genzlinger, Neil (September 1, 2016). "Review: In Narcos Season 2, Pablo Escobar's Time Is Running Out". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2016.
  53. ↑ Jensen, Jeff (August 26, 2016). "Narcos season 2: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2016.
  54. ↑ Goodman, Tim (September 2, 2016). "'Narcos' Season 2: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  55. ↑ Fowler, Matt (September 1, 2017). "Narcos: Season 3 Review". IGN. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  56. ↑ Miller, Liz Shannon (August 20, 2017). "Narcos' Season 3 Review: The Drug War Might Be Lost, but the Best Version of This Show Is Found". IndieWire. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved August 21, 2017.
  57. ↑ Power, Ed (September 1, 2017). "Narcos, Season 3 Review: the Drugs Drama Manages to Outlive Pablo Escobar". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  58. ↑ Yeoman, Kevin (September 1, 2017). "Narcos Season 3 Review". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  59. ↑ Cabin, Chris (September 6, 2017). "Narcos' Season 3 Review: New Cartel, Same Problems in Netflix's Drug War Drama". Collider. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
  60. ↑ Tobias, Scott (September 22, 2017). "Narcos' Season 3: Watched It All? Let's Talk". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved September 22, 2017.
  61. ↑ Fienberg, Daniel (August 31, 2017). "Narcos' Season 3: TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
  62. ↑ Hibberd, James (August 31, 2017). "Narcos Remains a Kingpin Even Without Pablo Escobar: EW Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved August 31, 2017.
  63. ↑ "2015 HMMA Music in Visual Media nominations". Hmmmawards.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  64. ↑ Lang, Brent (December 10, 2015). "2016 Golden Globes: Lady Gaga, Transparent and Orange Is the New Black Leads the Race". Variety. Archived from the original on December 11, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  65. ↑ "2015–2016 Awards Timeline". Writers Guild of America. Archived from the original on December 24, 2015. Retrieved December 24, 2015.
  66. ↑ "Satellite Awards (2015)". International Press Academy. IPA. December 2, 2015. pressacademy.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  67. ↑ Chagollan, Steve (January 21, 2016). "'Compton,' 'Carol,' 'Furious 7' Win at Music Supervisors Awards". Variety. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  68. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (May 4, 2016). "'Spotlight' Trailer Wins Best of Show at Golden Trailer Awards". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 14, 2020. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  69. ↑ "Television in 2016 – BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  70. ↑ "Nominations Announced for the 31st Annual Imagen Awards". Imagen Foundation. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved August 3, 2017.
  71. ↑ "Creative Arts Emmys: 'Murderer' & 'Grease Live' Lead The Field On Night 2". Deadline Hollywood. September 11, 2016. Archived from the original on September 12, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  72. ↑ "2016 HMMA Music in Visual Media nominations". Hmmmawards.com. Archived from the original on November 5, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2017.
  73. ↑ "Artios Awards Unveil 2017 Nominees; Joel McHale to Host L.A. Ceremony". The Hollywood Reporter. September 22, 2016. Archived from the original on November 3, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  74. ↑ "People's Choice Awards Nominees 2017 — Full List". Deadline Hollywood. November 15, 2016. Archived from the original on December 2, 2017. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  75. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (June 6, 2017). "'Wonder Woman', 'Lego Batman' & Warner Bros Top Winners At Golden Trailer Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 7, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  76. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (January 27, 2017). "Motion Pictures Sound Editors' Golden Reel Nominees Announced". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 4, 2017. Retrieved February 21, 2020.
  77. 1 2 3 4 5 Anders, C., Ayala, A., Baughman, B., Buehler, N., Cahya, C., Campbell, A., Chinthala, A., Dixon, A., Grega, S., Gronek, L., Haines, H., Hastings, C., Hsu, S., Mitgang, M., kaanpete, Reilly, L., Serrano, M., & Zhai, X. (n.d.). Narcos: Netflix’s complex portrayal of the war on drugs. Retrieved 27 August 2023, from https://iu.pressbooks.pub/perspectives2/chapter/narcos-netlifxs-complex-portrayal-of-the-war-on-drugs/ Archived August 27, 2023, at the Wayback Machine
  78. 1 2 3 4 5 Britto, L. (2016). Car Bombing Drug War History: How the hit Netflix series Narcos echoes the DEA’s version of events, distorting—and commodifying—the rise of Colombia’s drug economy. NACLA Report on the Americas, 48(2), 177–180. https://doi.org/10.1080/10714839.2016.1201278
  79. ↑ Dellosa, Catherine (January 25, 2023). "Narcos: Cartel Wars Unlimited lets you run your own cartel, out now exclusively for Netflix subscribers". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on July 26, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
Wikiquote has quotations related to Narcos.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.