Narcos

I guess, you will not find out what the problem (or more precisely the unpleasant snag) of this series is… It has two central lines. Drug dealers "South American" Spanish-speaking lines that is focused on the late career of the patron of the Medellin cartel Pablo Escobar (fantastic, respectful and, Mour that does not overplay at all), which is full of intrigue, tension, well built and adhering to genre specifics, without however, deviating significantly from reality (after all, there is no reason for that, because even the reality was sometimes hard to believe). The second DEA "North American" English-speaking story line is way too much procedural, addressing the details of the investigation (both agents were actively involved in the development of the series) and the hunt for the drug lord, who was one of the richest/most dangerous people of his time. You already know what the snag is, right? Yes, each story line is completely (but really completely) different. It cannot be said that one is better or worse than the other one, because their style, atmosphere and concept are so different that they are simply incompatible in many respects. In addition, there is a third component in the form of very frequent documentary sequences that are like a radio broadcast and are accompanied by archival then footage. Although each of the components works great independently and there is nothing to complain about (perhaps it just looks like each agency is represented only by one person), they do not fit together and do not form a coherent whole. Which, given their qualities, is rather a letdown. And it is even a bigger letdown since it has already been shown that these seemingly incompatible approaches to this topic can still be successfully combined (I mean Don Winslow). In other words, it is a disappointment, but it is certainly not something that would change the indisputable fact that Narcos has become one of the top shows in contemporary quality TV. (28/08/2015)

The third season about the Cali Cartel is a bit weaker than the first and second, focusing on the life of Pablo Escobar and his capture. But as a whole, it works very well. The smooth interlacing of the plot with documentary footage contributes to the quality of the series. This gave me the feeling that the filmed story did not deviate too much from reality. This comprehensive work is of considerable value, especially in that the viewer unfamiliar with the conditions in Colombia learns what atrocities certain egotistical individuals committed in the interests of power, influence, and wealth. From all that the filmmakers served us on a golden platter, a rather frightening thought has taken root in my head about how easy it is to corrupt perhaps every political system... (05/05/2020)

An amazingly gripping introduction. Pablo’s rise is compelling and Miami in the 80s always brings back memories of Scarface and the days I used to cruise around Vice City. The semi-documentary style and the narrator’s idiosyncratic style perfectly illustrate the atmosphere of success and horrific destruction that the white snow brought to Florida with it, but the money... Season 2: the first half is unbelievably high-speed. Carillo’s return and farewell are some of the high points of the series. Moura is excellent the whole time. Even though the second half (of the second half) is slower overall, it’s that much more methodical... conspiratorial. Introspective. Hard to say if it was a good idea to prolong the series with two more seasons. Of course, it has potential, but I hope that it won’t be a mere dilution and that the creators will continue to keep their feet firmly on the ground. Coma Mierda. (05/10/2015)

The first episode has immediately sucked me in with how informative and documentary-like Pablo Escobar’s story felt. The documentary style of editing gets slower and slower with following episodes, but I didn’t even mind. You’ll be watching every minute and wait for the writers to hit you with another fun fact that will once again assure you that you aren’t watching fiction. Quite the contrary, you’re watching an incredibly cruel reality of Columbia at the time. At times, it’s even hard to believe that all of this could happen. However, exactly this incredulity is the core of the premise that is so strong that not even 5 stars feel enough. It was an absolute blast. Netflix really outdid themselves. (15/05/2018)

The series became an instant favorite of mine. What makes me like it so much is how different it is from the standard. The creators managed to create an excellent, powerful atmosphere right from the first episode. They also did an excellent job regarding action and suspense. If it hadn't been for four somewhat awkward episodes in the second half of the second season, I would have practically nothing to complain about. And I can't even say those episodes were bad, I just got too spoiled by the perfection that precedes them. I really enjoyed Agent Murphy's commentary and the use of real footage, which gave the whole series more depth. I really enjoyed this show. (07/02/2018)